Do do do dee do do do dah dee dee do dee do…
Yes. If you just hummed that based on the title of this post you too are a Harry Potter fan and I’d highly recommend you check out the Harry Potter-themed Lockhart Bar in Montreal, Quebec.
They also have another location in Toronto, Ontario so you could also visit there. Or both!!
I had a chance to visit for brunch with my good friend and fellow Hufflepuff, Stef. Here are the top 9 3/4 reasons you should take the time to go.
9 3/4. Easy Reservation Process
Reservations are recommended. When I tried to get us in on a Saturday night it was all booked up. Stef and I settled for brunch the following day and easily got in. They use Open Table, it was very straightforward and we were on the list in the morning.
9. Friendly Staff
Like a perfect potion, the server was the right blend of attentive and intuitive. She didn’t hover, nor did she abandon us. She was the only staff member visible for quite some time and she did a great job serving food and making cocktails.
8. Share Camaraderie With Fellow Fans
It was fun to find that we were sitting next to other Harry Potter fans who were just as interested in all the quirky aspects that dining at Lockhart affords. We chatted occasionally and remarked about the things we enjoyed from JK’s series.
7. Wear What You Like
There aren’t too many places you can wear a Harry Potter themed corset or a Hufflepuff shirt with cape, but I feel like Lockhart is one of them. I ended up wearing a Hogwarts shirt since I’d be sightseeing after, but had we gone the night before I had my corset all ready!
6. Relaxed Atmosphere
We weren’t rushed out the door. Everyone was pleasant and seemed to just be enjoying the company, food, drinks and atmosphere.
5. Blacklights. All. The. Blacklights.
There are blacklights in the bathroom and, at one point, they closed the curtains and turned on the blacklights in the main restaurant area. The neon dragon on the ceiling looked especially fierce and small touches that you couldn’t see in the light of day became apparent.
4. Moving Pictures, A Door To Divination And Much More
The decor at Lockhart really is one of its best features. The small touches don’t start and end with the blacklights. There are amazing Victorian-esque pictures that change from still life to horrific when you move next to them.
The mirrors on the bathroom doors indicate if they’re for men or women, although really they’re just one stall and so could be unisex. One of my favorite things, besides the badger painted on the wall, was the door leading up to Divination.
3. Themed Cocktails
I tried the Sherbert Lemon as my cocktail, Sherbert Lemon being one of Dumbledore’s favorite sweets. This cocktail was fun and included a meringue. Being the Hufflepuff that I am, I scarfed it down upon arrival… in retrospect I think I was supposed to put it in my drink to make it sweeter. Stef enjoyed the Botanist.
2. Magical Food Options
I wanted the Horntail and Waffles, but couldn’t pass up the idea of brie and pear grilled cheese complete with caramelized onions, along with tomato soup, so I got a side of waffles. Stef had a vegetarian breakfast and was also really impressed with her offering. Menus are also available in French.
And The Number 1 Reason To Go?
There aren’t a lot of places outside of Universal Studios, Warner Brother Studios or Comicons to let your Harry Potter freak-flag fly. Lockhart is a great place for this, but is also chill enough that Muggles and NoMajs alike can also enjoy themselves.
I highly recommend a visit to the Lockhart Bar in Montreal, Canada. I can’t wait to go back one day for dinner and the evening vibe!
Leave a Reply