Updated 1/13/2023
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
When I learned a Harry Potter-themed cafe had opened on the Oregon coast, it was almost like receiving my Hogwarts acceptance letter at last. The nearest Harry Potter-themed travel destination I’d visited was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Los Angeles. Now there was a taste of Harry Potter magic here in Oregon!
In today’s post, I’ll share everything you need to know to visit this magical Harry Potter-themed cafe yourself.
The delightfully named Cheeky Cauldron is in the coastal town of Lincoln City, which is about two hours southwest of Portland by car. Lincoln City is also a top destination for tide pooling, hiking, and glass float-hunting. I’ll share more about these other awesome things to do in Lincoln City later in this post. That way you’ll know what to do once you’ve warmed up with a hot butterbeer at the Cheeky Cauldron.
Highlights of the Harry Potter-Themed Cafe
Like the Leaky Cauldron in the Harry Potter series, the Cheeky Cauldron looks ordinary enough from the outside, but inside it’s decked out with wizardly decor. When we stepped inside, I felt at once cozy and inspired, just like re-reading Harry Potter.
Inside the Cheeky Cauldron, floating candles hover over a scene of cafe-goers in mixed muggle and wizarding attire. Plush owls peer out from cages hanging from the ceiling. Look out for nifflers, mandrakes, and many other magical delights. Many wizarding items are for sale, and others are part of the cafe’s ambience.
If you’d prefer to sip your butterbeer or pumpkin juice outside, there’s ample outdoor seating in the courtyard outside the cafe. As is necessary for a courtyard at a Harry Potter-themed cafe, it’s also on theme. A dementor guards the entrance gate. A tree in the corner sports Mr. Weasley’s flying car. And the back wall of the courtyard shows a painted Quidditch pitch.
If anyone in your group hasn’t finished reading the Harry Potter series, be cautious in the courtyard, because there are spoilers. The courtyard includes a graveyard with headstones for the characters that died in the series.
For a virtual tour of the Cheeky Cauldron, check out our video below.
Our video of the Harry Potter-themed cafe highlights
Tips for Visiting the Harry Potter-Themed Cafe
Wizarding Attire
Many people visit the Cheeky Cauldron in muggle clothes, but I’d of course recommend putting on your wizard robes for the occasion! As a proud Hufflepuff, I donned my yellow-and-black robes, and Bryan put on his Ravenclaw blue. Although it’s no Madam Malkin’s, you can find Hogwarts robes online if you need to be fitted for your very own Hogwarts uniform.
Getting to the Harry Potter-Themed Cafe
Since we unfortunately can’t apparate, we took our muggle car out to the coast. The Cheeky Cauldron is right on Highway 101, the Oregon coast highway that goes through the center of Lincoln City. There’s free public parking one block south, at 15th St & Highway 101 (right next to the Mini Pet Mart).
Opening Hours
Check the Cheeky Cauldron website to confirm the latest information on the opening hours, but as of this update (January 2023), they are the following:
-
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
-
Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
-
Monday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Make sure not to plan your trip for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, because the cafe is closed all day on those days!
Special Events at the Harry Potter-Themed Cafe
The Cheeky Cauldron hosts a monthly themed High Tea and ad hoc potions classes (including for birthday parties). Check the links for details on costs and availability.
Food & Drink
The Cheeky Cauldron menu offers lots of British staples that appear in our favorite series, from pumpkin pasties to crumpets to shepherd’s pie. We’ve always stopped in for drinks after hiking or wandering the beaches in Lincoln City. You’ll find fan favorites like pumpkin juice and butterbeer, as well as a variety of muggle selections.
I think butterbeer is listed on the menu as the Soda That Must Not Be Named or the Latte That Must Not Be Named, but check with the Cheeky Cauldron team to make sure. It has a delightfully creamy butterscotch taste. It’s non-alcoholic, so the whole family can enjoy it.
The pumpkin juice can be served hot or cold. The weather is usually on the chilly side in Lincoln City, so hot pumpkin juice is a delicious treat that warms you up from the inside.
Can’t wait to get to the Cheeky Cauldron to break into the butterbeer? Luckily we muggles can order our Harry Potter treats online in a pinch, from butterbeer to Honeydukes delights like chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. If you’re particularly ambitious, you can even make your own chocolate frogs with cool silicone chocolate frog molds.
A Brief History of Magic at the Cheeky Cauldron
This fabulous Harry Potter-themed cafe was founded by two sisters, and it opened on Harry Potter’s birthday in 2021!
Another Nearby Harry Potter-Themed Travel Destination
While you’re on the Oregon coast, you might consider staying in the JK Rowling-themed room in the Sylvia Beach Hotel. After butterbeer and pumpkin pasties in Lincoln City, you can stay in a castle-like room with a four-poster bed and red curtains.
The Sylvia Beach Hotel is about 40 minutes’ drive south from the Cheeky Cauldron, in the town of Newport. Other fun author-themed rooms range from JRR Tolkien to Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare!
More Magic in Lincoln City
While you’re in Lincoln City, I’d recommend these other awesome things to do in the area:
The city commissions glass artists to make blown-glass floats, which are hidden along the beach every day. We found one after a 3-day search! In the blog post above, I explain our top tips for finding one.
I tried to summon a glass float with “Accio” and a driftwood wand, but it didn’t seem to work. I should have known…After all, Harry and team are never able to use Accio when they’re actually looking for something. Those floats must be protected by a special spell.
Lincoln City is a great place for tide pooling. In this post, I share the top spots for tidepooling and how to find the tide chart to know when to go. One of the best tide pooling spots in Lincoln City is walkable from the Cheeky Cauldron.
God’s Thumb is an epic hiking destination. The windswept headland juts out into the ocean, providing spectacular views of the coast.
Drift Creek Falls is outside of town, but close to the Lincoln City area. This unique waterfall hike travels to a suspension footbridge that allows you to get up close to the waterfall.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks for joining us at the Harry Potter-themed cafe in Lincoln City! For more adventure ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!