Harry Potter Store New York City: Where Muggles Go to Shop

Ever find yourself craving a Butterbeer? Or perhaps you fancy a chocolate frog? Whatever your wizard-leaning indulgences, you’ll find them at Harry Potter New York. Located on Broadway and 22nd Street in New York City’s Flatiron District, this fantastical magical store offers much more than shopping. Step into the wonderful world of wizardry and you’ll likely never be the same after visiting the Harry Potter Store New York.

Harry Potter Comes to Broadway

Setting a new standard for themed retail experiences, the Harry Potter Store NYC invites muggles, witches and wizards to experience the Wizarding World like never before.

With 21,000 square feet of space spanning three floors, the retail experience boasts the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products under one roof—anywhere. Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite.

Related: 21 Great NYC Hotels for Families

Entering the Wizarding World of the Harry Potter Store New York City

The moment you open the door to this flagship store, you’re swept away into the wizarding world. Perched overhead, a 220-pound model of Fawkes the Phoenix watches as you enter.

Before setting off to explore the Harry Potter Store’s 15 different themed areas, make sure you download the Harry Potter Fan Club app. As you wander through the store, look for authentic props from Warner Bros like the still-broken Ron Weasley’s wand and the Golden Snitch from Harry’s first game of quidditch.

Scan the code nearby to access enchanted keys unlocking exclusive behind-the-scenes facts, figures and videos. Admittedly, my grandkids were much better at unlocking these keys than I!

First Stop: The Wand Table

After finding a few enchanted keys, I ventured straight to the Character Wand Table. Because, after all, every aspiring witch or wizard needs the right wand. An interactive wand experience brings your favorite Harry Potter character to life when you pick up their wand.

If you’re looking for a wand to add to your Harry Potter collection, you could spend an entire day in this wand shop. The shop showcases more than 50 wands inspired by the characters, locations and props originally brought to us by J.K. Rowling’s imagination. Marshall assumed he could grab wands from all his favorite characters. He was mistaken!

Quidditch fans will be delighted to discover the Golden Snitch wand, exclusive to Harry Potter New York.

Harry Potter Store New York City Photo Opportunities Abound

Rotating in the main atrium near the wand stop, the massive Griffin typically guarding Dumbledore’s office keeps a watchful eye over the store. This is an ideal spot for a selfie.

Be sure to check out the iconic red London phone box. Hop in. It might transport you to the Ministry of Magic. Nearby, Hagrid’s boots beckon you to try them on for size. Katherine gave it a try and quickly discovered she’s better suited for Cinderella’s slipper!

America’s Only House of MinaLima

MinaLima, the graphic design duo for all Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies, created a gallery and store showcasing the graphic art of the Wizarding World.

Hand-designed and modeled after the iconic London shop, America’s only House of MinaLima is a highlight of Harry Potter New York.

Discoveries include Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter, covers from the Daily Prophet wizarding newspaper and Xenophilius Lovegood’s newspaper, the Quibbler.

Chocolate Frogs, Butterbeer and Bertie Bott’s

Inspired by Honeydukes–the High Street wizarding sweet shop in the all-wizarding village of Hogsmeade, Harry Potter NYC’s confection shop satisfies the sweetest of sweet tooths!

It’s hard to resist every fan’s favorite Chocolate Frogs. For the brave, there are Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Here’s hoping that no ear wax or vomit flavors have been tucked into your box. Butterbear by the bottle graces the shelves–there’s even a Gluten-free variety.

Just around the corner from the sweetshop, the Butterbeer Bar serves small pints of the frosty creamy beverage along with decorated cookies and cupcakes inspired by sorting hats, owls and more.

SheBuysTravel Tip: You make butterbear at home with this butterbear recipe!

More for Your Wizarding Collection

Stuffed animal fans should venture into the forest under the Dirigible Plum tree to find favorite magical creatures.

For books, journals or to brush up on your potion skills, head to the Books from the Wizarding World section. As you walk through the big book archway, take a minute to check out the titles. You may discover literature choices from some of the Harry Potter movies.

House robes, Hogwarts’ trunks filled with first-year necessities, quidditch jerseys and magic brooms keep the shopping interesting. Use caution when venturing into Slytherin House territory–you’ll likely spot a slithering creature overhead.

To personalize your purchases or gifts, visit the store’s personalization area. Engrave a wand, embroider a robe or emboss a journal.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Etsy has some of our favorite Harry Potter themed items.

More Immersive Experiences 

Book ahead for the virtual reality experiences, “Chaos at Hogwarts” and “Wizards Take Flight” to add immersive experiences to your time in Harry’s Wizarding World.

“Chaos at Hogwarts” leads wannabe witches and wizards into a magical journey to Hogwarts Castle filled with fascinating creatures and, of course, secrets.

The “Wizards Take Flight” experience prepares you to fly on your broom while engaging in a magic wand battle against Death Eaters over the skies of London and above the grounds of Hogwarts Castle.

Harry Potter Store New York City: More Things to Know

No need to walk through bricks at Platform 9 3/4. The NYC subway will deliver you to Harry Potter New York just fine. Although the Hogwarts Express would be more interesting.

To comply with lingering pandemic issues and manage the crowds, this flagship store utilizes a virtual queuing system. Arriving at the store, you’ll scan a QR code to join the virtual queue. You’ll be notified when it’s your turn to experience the magic. Go early because once the queue numbers are full, no additional guests will be allowed in.

Additionally, the store currently operates at reduced capacity to ensure physical distancing. Masks are required for entry regardless of vaccination status.

Tips For Setting a Grandkid Budget

I know how hard it is to say no to a grandkid, especially when they’ve found the PERFECT Harry Potter keepsake. To navigate this tricky experience, I typically give the grandkids a budget before entering the store. My standard line is “you have this much money to spend either today or another day, but this is the limit.” Of course, amounts vary according to your budget.

New Release on the Way

Just in time for the holidays, the design studio behind the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, MinaLima, will be releasing their new beautifully illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets. Following the success of their first book in the series, the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this new book features full-color illustrations as well as eight interactive paper-engineered elements including the Whomping Willow, the Weasley’s Burrow and more. The release is scheduled for October 26th, so get ready!

Impressions of a Mere Muggle

I must confess. I never read the Harry Potter books and only saw a couple of the movies.

My kids and grandkids, however, have read and seen All Things Harry Potter. After catching up on some of the characters and visiting this store, I have to admit, I’m a fan.

So if you’re looking for me in the next few months, I’ll be busy reading all the novels. Then, I’ll no doubt return to the Harry Potter shop to start my own collection.

Now, where’s my Butterbeer?