At 3 pm, in stark contrast to the bustling streets outside, stepping through the wooden door of a café on Hang Tre Street in Hanoi feels like entering a magical realm. Brick walls, Hogwarts house banners and carefully curated props recreate the atmosphere of the fictional wizarding world.
Inside the cosy space, Kirti, 27, and Vinod, 29, visitors from India, excitedly donned black robes and held wands as they posed for photos.
International guests experience being a wizard and exploring unique souvenirs at the 'wizard' cafe (Photo: Le Na).
Kirti said she discovered the café on social media while searching for Harry Potter-themed locations in Hanoi. She described the setting as both familiar and enchanting, reminiscent of the Great Hall, a central location in the series.
“As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was at Hogwarts,” she said. “I’ve visited a similar café in Ho Chi Minh City, but this one suits my taste more.”
The space is arranged to create a mysterious feeling (Photo: Nhat Ha).
Opened in 2016, Always’ Cafe takes its name from a famous line by Severus Snape, expressing enduring love for Lily Potter. Its meticulous recreation of details from the books by J.K. Rowling has helped sustain its appeal for nearly a decade.
The café attracts not only dedicated fans but also curious passersby. Laurens, 27, a tourist from Germany, said he stumbled upon the venue while looking for a place to relax before heading to the airport after visiting Ha Long.
Though not a devoted fan of the series, he said he was impressed by how authentically the space captured the spirit of the story.
One of the most popular drinks is “butterbeer”, inspired by the Harry Potter series but adapted to suit real-world tastes.
Butterbeer is an iconic drink in the wizarding world, recreated with a rich cream foam (Photo: Nhat Ha).
The menu also features creatively named items that enhance the experience for first-time visitors, with prices ranging from VND 80,000 to VND 250,000 (approximately USD 3 to USD 10).
The bookshelf displays a series of limited edition Harry Potter themed board games (Photo: Le Na).
A staff member said guests are free to use props such as robes, hats and wands for photos.
Photo: Nhat Ha.
The café also hosts activities including drink-making workshops, themed board games and other forms of entertainment, encouraging visitors to linger longer.