The Lockhart Bar

An evocative guest blog post from a colleague. If I ever visit Toronto or Montreal, I’m definitely going to the Lockhart bar. Enjoy!

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I have been a Harry Potter fan since age 11, when I was given a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as a gift. Being the same age as Harry, I connected with the character, and quickly and happily fell down the rabbit hole of the wizarding world. This past December my husband and I took a trip to Montreal, Canada, (why we decided to take a trip to the frigid northeast in December is a topic for another blog!) and while researching the city, I was excited to discover it was home to a Harry Potter inspired resto-bar called the Lockhart. As a life-long Harry Potter fan, a visit to the Lockhart shot to the top of our vacation itinerary to-do list.

Opened in March 2017 by the owners of the Instagram-famous Lockhart bar in Toronto, the Lockhart is located in the trendy Plateau neighborhood of Mont Royal. On a -6˚ F night my husband and I crunched through the snow looking for the Lockhart. Nestled nondescriptly among charming brick buildings, the bar could be easily overlooked. But those in the know will be alerted to its location upon spotting the simple wooden sign bearing the head of a stag hanging at the edge of the sidewalk.  This, as many of you will know, is the form that Harry’s patronus takes, as well as the Animagus form that Harry’s father took. Walking up to the door, you see the second clue that you have found your destination. You are met with a sign stating “Rechereché pour crimes frauduleux et méfaits publics. Si vous l’apercevez, veuillez contacter Le Lockhart immédiament.” (“Wanted for fraudulent crimes and public mischief. If you see him, please contact the Lockhart immediately.” Forgive my rough translation!), reminiscent of Azkaban prison wanted posters from the Harry Potter films. The portrait of the wanted individual is missing from the frame. Perhaps he was bored and wandered off, as wizarding portraits are wont to do. Whatever the case, it provides the perfect photo opp to begin your visit to the Lockhart.

As you enter, you encounter a shelf full of bottles and vials with familiar labels such as Bezoar, Wolfsbane, and Essence of Dittany. Turn the corner and you are greeted by a mural of a castle silhouetted against a full moon that could easily be the view first years see as they glide along the Great Lake toward Hogwarts for the first time. Move into the main bar area and you see brooms, wands, and Harry Potter Funko Pop! figures sprinkled around the room, along with stag horns, snakes, and ravens. One wall is papered with what appear to be pages from an ancient Herbology textbook. Another is filled with posters of Yule Balls and Quidditch World Cups. An illuminated sign above the bar reads “Potions and Elixirs;” equally likely to describe the alcoholic beverages being served or the products coming out of Snape’s potions class. Another sign painted on a brick wall reading “Tout était bien” (All was well), will be immediately recognizable by fans of the Harry Potter books as the final line of the epilogue. The ceiling and a few walls are painted black, giving the Lockhart a dark atmosphere. Every once in a while the typical bar music stops playing and a mixed version of a Harry Potter film score comes over the speakers as the few lights that are on are replaced by black lights, revealing Azkaban prison numbers painted on the wall and the enormous claw of some magical beast painted in neon colors covering the entire ceiling.

After excitedly gazing around, my husband and I grabbed stools at the bar for a front row seat of the mixology magic. This is where the Lockhart shines. They offer a menu of creative and clever drinks with names that slyly reference the Harry Potter series. There is the Flying Ford Anglia, a hot pink drink with a cotton candy cloud precariously balanced above the liquid and a little blue car peeking out, and the Dementor’s Kiss, ominously served in a glass skull and made using ghost pepper-soaked tequila. Imbibe at your own risk! Sitting at the bar we had the perfect view to experience the flames, color changes, and creativity that went into every drink. Of course, there is also a take on Butterbeer, called Better Beer to avoid copyright issues. This version tastes nothing like the Butterbeer you will find at the Wizarding World theme parks. There is no cream soda or butterscotch here. Instead, the flavor of the Better Beer is a combination of ginger and cinnamon, making for a delightfully sharp, spicy, and sweet drink. I enjoy the Wizarding World theme park Butterbeer as much as the next super fan, but I found it refreshing that the Lockhart would take their version in a completely different direction.

The Lockhart’s liquor license requires a purchase of food in order to consume alcohol, but this doesn’t mean you are stuck with plain or boring bar food. The Lockhart offers a tapas menu full of creativity and flavor. Here you will find fewer thematic references to the Harry Potter series (though there are some- Forbidden Pizza or Fantastic Beets Salad anyone?). Rather, the chef set out to create dishes using ingredients that have historically been used in rituals and remedies around the world. From the menu of delectable sounding options, I ordered the roasted sweet potato and chickpea falafel with lemon, garlic sauce, and butternut risotto. It was an absolutely delicious mix of flavors. My husband and I couldn’t resist the dessert menu either. We were tempted by the house made Chocolate Frogs, but opted for the Fried Bread Pudding with harry “porter” caramel sauce, Nutella, and whipped mascarpone. It was scrumptious!

We had an incredibly enjoyable evening at the Lockhart. The creative cocktail menu, delicious food menu, and friendly atmosphere would make it a welcoming place for anyone. At first glance, some fans may be disappointed with the Lockhart. The Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron this is not. The decor, drinks, and ambiance all nod toward the Harry Potter books and films, but are not overt. The owners have not tried to recreate the film sets or theme parks. Instead, the Lockhart is inspired by the series. This is, in part, to avoid copyright infringement. (The name itself is sufficiently removed from the main characters of the series, referencing the vain author and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we all love to hate, Gilderoy Lockhart, so as to be plausibly unrelated.) But it is mostly because recreation is not the point. The Lockhart is not trying to be a themed attraction. Instead, it creates an atmosphere in which you can imagine a world where magic wands, potions, flying brooms, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry truly exist. A world that is not wholly separate from our own, and, for a short time at least, you are part of it.