7 Things To Know Before You Go to the Lockhart, the Harry Potter Theme Bar Everyone's Talking About

I recently took a trip to Toronto, Canada and was blown away by everything there is to see (Graffiti Alley, Kensington Market), to do (the annual Toronto International Film Festival, for example), and to eat (must-try spots: Lee and Nota Bene)—but one thing high on my travel bucket list? The newly-opened Harry Potter-influenced bar that's been getting a lot of buzz, the Lockhart. For my fellow wizard and witch enthusiasts thinking of making the trip to Ontario, here are some things you need to know before you go.

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Expect a wait. All that good press has been great for the Lockhart—but it also means you'll probably have to wait to get in. (And no, you can't make a reservation.) When my friend and I arrived, we were given a two-hour wait time. But don't worry about having to wait outside the whole time: The door guy can put your name in an app that texts when your table is ready. And luckily, the Lockhart is in a bustling neighborhood full of bars, so the time goes by quickly—we went down the street and had a delish cocktail at the Federal while we waited.

Once you are inside, the Harry Potter theme might not feel obvious at first. At first glance, I certainly didn't feel like I was in the Three Broomsticks. Not every drink or menu item is a HP reference, the decor is subtle, and Butterbeer isn't on the menu (at least not yet). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter this is not.

But there are definitely HP references there. The more time I spent in the bar, the more I noticed subtle nods to the series—some are just more hidden than others. For example: There are a lot of stags used in the decor (a.k.a. Harry's Patronus), a neon sign on the wall reads "all was well" (the last sentence of the final book), and "potions and elixirs" is painted above the bar: