Harry Potter Afternoon Tea (NYC)
I have previously done a review on Lillie’s Victorian afternoon tea in Times Square. This post will focus on Lillie’s Victorian Union Square as at the time of this post they are doing a MAGIC IN MANHATTAN themed afternoon tea, decorated to celebrate Harry Potter. Now I’m not going to lie. When I first heard of this tea, I was thinking it was going to be knock off Harry Potter decorations. Nope!
The restaurant was decorated with authentic Harry Potter decor! Now I should note that you don’t need to do the tea to enjoy the decorations. Lillie’s offers brunch, lunch, and dinner and the entire venue is decorated. The tea itself is ACTUALLY NOT THEMED. The tea is very similar to what was offered at Lillie’s Time Square. It looks like the restaurants seasonally change theme, but offer a standard afternoon tea all year, no matter what the theme is they are showcasing.
A Little Bit of History: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Union Square, similar to the Time Square location is a charming homage to the life and legend of Lillie Langtry, the celebrated late‑19th‑century actress and socialite known as the “Jersey Lillie.” The Union Square location, at 13 East 17th Street, was designed to resemble a Victorian gin palace, with ornate wooden furnishings and a marble-topped bar imported from a Victorian mansion in Belfast. It honors Langtry’s remarkable journey, from her American stage debut in 1882, when the Park Theatre famously burned down, leaving only her name ablaze on the marquee, to her rise as a boundary‑breaking icon who defied societal norms.
The Experience: But let’s talk about the Harry Potter theme! Both Lillie’s locations change themes seasonally, but I’ve never seen them do something this immersive outside the holidays (Halloween and Christmas).
The overall experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The restaurant absolutely nailed the décor, bringing the magic of the Wizarding World to life as soon as we walked in. A life-sized Hogwarts Express bursts from the wall at the entrance, setting the tone immediately. The ceilings featured "floating" candles like the Great Hall, and Nagini even slithered out from above. The bar was made to look like it belonged in Gringotts, complete with faux stone bricks, Griphook perched above, and they included multiple Dobby statues. There was a giant Hagrid in the back which my friend and I were in the perfect spot for pics of him in the background. The menu came as a QR code on a mini Hedwig which was a cute touch. Visually, it was spot-on, immersive, and fun, perfect for photo ops and Harry Potter fans.
That said, the actual tea experience left a bit to be desired, especially at $50 per person. While the pink tea set reminded me of Umbridge (intentionally or not), the Harry Potter theme ended there. The afternoon tea experience didn’t match the decor.
The tea itself was just hot water and a tea bag, and you can ask for milk separately. The food came on the traditional three-tier tray with a little bit of a twist. The scone tier included a small scone, a rich, chocolaty croissant, and muffins. There were also mini crème brûlées (a Lillie’s specialty for afternoon tea—also served at the Times Square location—which was a nice touch and absolutely delicious, though they weren’t warm and clearly came straight from the fridge). Additional sweets included macarons, a fruit tart, and some mini pastries about the size of a quarter.
The savory tier only had four tiny sandwiches: prosciutto and fig, salmon and cream cheese, egg salad, and cucumber with honey mustard. The ratio of sweet to savory was way off. We ended up ordering fries just to balance things out (and the fries were very good!) The food presentation was nearly identical to their Times Square location, though this one featured a chocolate croissant instead of plain. Overall, while the ambiance was magical and worth seeing, the tea itself didn’t carry on with the theme which was kind of disappointing. You can definitely enjoy the vibe without splurging on the full tea service.
As of Today: Magic in Manhattan is going on now! It is offered Friday through Sunday from opening to 3.30pm. Make sure you choose the right Lillie’s location because the Time Square location is doing a different theme. The afternoon tea is $50pp. You can check out the full menu here (under Brunch).
My Rating: 4/5. I did enjoy the experience and would go back, though I wish the Harry Potter theme carried through to the tea. The Cauldron’s “off brand” Harry Potter tea feels a lot more magical with its wands and potions, even though it’s technically not Harry Potter. I do love Lillie’s overall vibe and their regular food is good. Go for brunch!
