Review: Harry Potter New York

If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you live in, or are planning to visit, the New York area a trip to the Harry Potter New York store is a must! It’s much more than store – it’s an immersive experience complete with authentic movie props, photo ops, virtual reality and one of the only places to get authentic butterbeer outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Harry Potter New York Store

When you enter the Harry Potter New York store you are greeted by a supersized Fawkes the Phoenix flying over a table of merchandise exclusive to the New York store that rotates seasonally. The Fawkes model weighs over 220 pounds and was handcrafted by propmakers in the UK.

When I (Ashley) visited at Christmas-time this room displayed Christmas sweaters, ornaments and seasonal butterbeer bottles.

The store is two levels and each room has a certain theme which makes for a fun shopping experience. It can be overwhelming but make sure check out all the fun details in every room!

On the main level is a large room where you can find all your house specific merchandise such as spirit jerseys, sweaters, backpacks, scarves, mugs etc. If you’e looking for personalized house robes, however, those can be found in the basement.

One of the highlights of the room of house merchandise is the ceiling depicting a quidditch games being played over the New York skyline. Such a neat touch!

Don’t forget to be on the lookout for authentic movie props scattered throughout the store such as Death Eater Masks, Tom Riddle’s diary, a Basilisk fang, a Golden Snitch, the Firebolt, the Elder Wand, and the Ravenclaw Diadem.

One of the highlights for Potter fans young and old is picking out a wand from the dozens of options, each modeled after a certain character’s wand from the films.

As a huge Disney and Harry Potter purse collector I was excited to see that the store carries a good selection and Harry Potter Loungefly, Danielle Nicole, and Vera Bradley bags. This Vera Bradley Forbidden Forest print is one of my favorites!

The toy section includes broomsticks, plushies, LEGOs, games and magical creatures on display such as mandrakes and acromantuals. Don’t forget to take a peek in this Dirigible Plum tree. You may spot a bowtruckle hiding inside!

For the littlest witches and wizard there are adorable baby outfits for sale including precious little quidditch jersey bodysuits, dresses, and sweaters.

The Confectionary, modeled after Honeydukes, is where you can buy Chocolate Frogs (complete with cards of famous witches and wizards) Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and bottled butterbeer. Keep an eye on the giant chocolate frog for a chance to see him move and ribbit!

The main level has lots of fun photo ops including stepping into Hagrid’s boots and this London phone box. The wanted posters are a neat touch!

There are two ways to get down in the basement – one is by the grand spiral staircase located in the center of the store (aka the “Atrium of Awe”) A majestic griffin, like the one seen guarding Dumbledore’s office, rotates above the staircase.

This impressive statue was made by propmakers in the UK and cast from the original prop seen on-screen.

However every visitor to the store should also take a ride on the elevator. Because in this magical store, even the elevator has a fun theme!

The elevator looks like a fireplace complete with a mantle and when the doors open guests can feel like they are traveling by floo powder. I think the elevator was one of the highlights for my son!

All of your dark arts merchandise can be found in the basement inspired by the Ministry of Magic complete with green subway tile and an oversized Nagini on the ceiling whispering parseltongue.

This is also where you can view authentic movie prop death eater masks such as this one from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. If you download the Harry Potter Fan Club app and scan codes for all props you’ll obtain secret keys that unlock videos, behind the scenes details and clues to a secret word you can use to get a prize if you collect them all.

Under a magical broken brick archway that seems to be lined with giant floating books you will find all the printed works in the Harry Potter collection. You will also find Tom Riddle’s diary movie prop in here and if you look up you will see book illustrations printed on the bricks and books that appear to be flying above you.

The House of MinaLima is mini art gallery and store within a store modeled after the gallery in London and showcasing the graphic art of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This beautiful little shop is decorated with the Black family tapestry wallpaper, while the floors are covered with a Marauder’s Map.

There is also a replica of Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letters flying out of the Dursley’s fireplace.

The shop sells beautiful prints, stationary and journals that look like books from the magical world such as The Tales of Beetle and Bard, Hogwarts a History, Dark Art Defense Basics for Beginners, a History of Magic, Advanced Potion Making and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Butterbeer Bar

Inside the store you will also find a Butterbeer bar that would be worth a visit on its own. You can get bottles with labels designed by MinaLima, draft butterbeer in souvenir tankards, and even butterbeer ice-cream!

I hope they will eventually add hot butterbeer to the menu, too. I love all the creative touches in the bar area and seeing hundreds of bottles rise from the floor and float over the bar as butterbeer moves across the ceiling through copper pipes makes the experience even more magical!

The draft butterbeer is butterscotchy and refreshing with a nice foam head. They have wash stations to wash out your mug afterwards if you want to throw it in your bag to take home which is a nice touch.

The butterbeer tasted very similar to the version found at the Wizarding World, and some even think this one is better. You’ll have to try it yourself to see what you think!

In addition to butterbeer there are several Harry Potter themed treats available including cookies shaped like the Golden Snitch, Weasley Christmas jumpers, the Hogwarts Express and, my favorite, the Sorting Hat covered in rich gooey fudge.

There are also some fun cupcakes such as this adorable treat depicting Hedwig and a Hogwarts acceptance letter on sugary “snow” icing. Besides the amazing decorations, I found this one a little plain tasting and I’m not sure I would get it again.

On my must-eat list for next time is this Happee Birthdae Harry Cake. I’m hopeful that this one is as delicious as it looks!

How to Visit

The store is located at 935 Broadway in the Flatiron District of Manhattan near Madison Square Park. You can get to it by taking the 6 train or the NRW train to 23rd street. When the store first opened in June 2021 it was extremely popular and there was a long virtual queue to enter.

Guests could scan a QR code to enter the virtual queue outside the store in the morning and given a 15 minute window to return to the store. Some guests reported waiting EIGHT HOURS on opening day to enter the store.

Luckily the hype has died down and when we visited in summer 2022 and the week before Christmas in 2022 we were able to just walk into the store. If they ever have to go to a virtual queue they update their website and social media with this information.