The Leaky Cauldron at Universal’s Diagon Alley – insider’s guide

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What is The Leaky Cauldron?

The Leaky Cauldron is the only restaurant inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, located at Universal Studios Florida. It is quick-service; open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and serves traditional British fare. You can find it on the left-hand side of Diagon Alley (the street, not the theme-park land) immediately upon entering the hidden, wizarding area, across the way from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

All of this would make one think that Leaky Cauldron is essentially an extension of its predecessor, The Three Broomsticks, which can be found over in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. And, in one sense, that would be a correct assessment; this new eatery is a beautifully-themed dining hall full of whimsical wizarding decor, nearly as faithful to the Potter source material as is Three Broomsticks. On the other hand, however, Leaky is a noticeable step up, thanks both to its increased gastronomical game (it features hearty, satisfying food that is several notches above typical quick-service staples and offers the largest variety of special beverages ever assembled) and its streamlined ordering system, which makes eating here a complete joy.

But the new restaurant doesn’t receive superior marks across the board, as there is one category in which Broomsticks still comes out ahead – theming. Yes, Leaky Cauldron is beautiful and just as atmospheric as is the rest of the Wizarding World, but it is a bit plainer than its predecessor, saving the details and little touches that are so commonplace throughout Three Broomsticks for just a few specific areas. If you find yourself a bit torn, preferring The Leaky Cauldron’s food but The Three Broomsticks’s immersiveness, we’re right there with you.

Then again, that’s precisely the benefit of having two theme-park lands devoted to the same property, right? The benefit of complementary choices.

What are The Leaky Cauldron’s hours?

The Leaky Cauldron opens and closes with Universal Studios Florida itself. However, there are two caveats to this: firstly, the restaurant may not immediately open its doors when Early Park Admission is at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (for more on EPA, including a full description of what it is and how it works, please see our complete guide). And, secondly, it may stop serving shortly before closing time, just to ensure that all patrons can be cycled out in time for the theme park to shut down.

Note that breakfast is served until 10:30 am.

(You can see Universal Studios Florida’s hours in our FREE 12-month crowd calendar.)

Reservations at The Leaky Cauldron

To answer a very common question up front: no, there are no reservations for lunch and dinner – it’s first come, first serve.

Breakfasts, however, are something of an exception: Universal sells vacation packages, a feature of which is a breakfast at both Diagon Alley’s Leaky Cauldron and Hogsmeade’s Three Broomsticks. While this isn’t a necessity in order to enjoy a morning meal at the venue, it can come in handy during the busier times of the year.

(Need help determining how busy the theme park – and, thus, The Leaky Cauldron – will be during your stay? Please see our FREE 12-month crowd calendar.)

How dining works at The Leaky Cauldron

Upon entering the restaurant, you are guided through two lobbies of queues before being assigned to one of seven registers, where you’ll place your order and receive both your drinks and a numbered candlestick. A team member will then ask for the number of your party and will escort you to an appropriately-sized table, where napkins, condiments, and utensils are already neatly tucked away. Once your food is ready, it will be delivered directly to your table, thanks to the candlestick (which has a bit of real-world magic worked into it in the form of radio-frequency identification).

You should note that, on busy days, when The Leaky Cauldron’s queues are pretty full, you can anticipate waiting 45 to 60 minutes before making it to the register to place your order.

Theming at The Leaky Cauldron

In the fictional world of Harry Potter, The Leaky Cauldron represents a beloved pub and inn that Harry and his friends visited annually. The start of every school year meant a visit to Diagon Alley to gather all the school supplies needed – and, as many of us know, the way to access Diagon Alley is through an enchanted brick wall behind Leaky Cauldron. In order to stay consistent with the design of the London waterfront area, however (and to maximize guest flow in and around the entire theme-park land), Universal’s version of Leaky is tucked away behind that magical brick wall – but that doesn’t mean that the restaurant still isn’t the perfect way to either start or cap off an enthralling visit to Diagon.

(In a nod to the source material, Universal has placed a replica of Leaky’s door from the films in the muggle London section, in between the bookstore and record shop. While you can’t open it, it does make for a nice photo-op.)

The pub is one massive dinning hall with a high ceiling, flanked by two darker alcoves. This maximizes space and patron occupancy, but it prevents the little themed nooks and crannies that one can seemingly get lost in in The Three Broomsticks. There are still some pretty gorgeous details, however (such as the stunning wooden beams, each of which is capped off with the bust of a magical creature), and some pretty nifty Easter eggs (the massive, iconic, cracked, titular cauldron at the head of the dining room, for instance, or the infamous wanted poster for Sirius Black that comes straight from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). And just as with The Three Broomsticks, there is a faux second floor, where the various wayfaring wizards and witches stay for the night; your best bet at spotting this bit of theming gold is while waiting for your turn at the cash registers in the lobby, where you feel like you can almost see around that tantalizing corner upstairs.

OI fun fact:
As you make your way for the exit, don’t miss the silly sign that indicates the proper way to leave The Leaky Cauldron!

The menus of The Leaky Cauldron

Entrees at The Leaky Cauldron run from $10 to $17 per person. The Ploughman’s Platter serves two at $19.99.

Breakfast menu

Traditional English Breakfast (farm-fresh eggs, sausage links, black pudding, English bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms, and breakfast potatoes)
Pancake Breakfast (three fluffy buttermilk pancakes, crisp bacon, link sausage, and butter croissant)
American Breakfast (fresh scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, crisp bacon, link sausage, and butter croissant)
Apple Oatmeal Flan with Yogurt and Fruit (freshly-baked flan of apples and oatmeal served with yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit)
Egg, Leek, and Mushroom Pastry (pastry-wrapped scrambled eggs, mushrooms, and leeks served with breakfast potatoes and fresh fruit)
All breakfast entrees are $16.99 for adults and $12.39 for kids

Lunch/dinner menu

Fish and Chips (fresh North Atlantic cod battered and fried with chips and tartar sauce) – $13.99
Ploughman’s Platter (a feast of English cheeses, crusty bread, field green salad, oven-roasted tomatoes, cornichon pickles, apple and beet salad, Branston pickle, and scotch eggs) – $19.99
Bangers and Mash (roasted English sausage, creamy mashed potatoes, oven-roasted tomatoes, sauteed onions and cabbage, minted peas, and onion gravy) – $12.49
Beef, Lamb, and Guinness Stew (a combination of beef and lamb with chunky root vegetables served in a warm crusty bread bowl) – $13.49
Toad in the Hole (a popular dish of English sausage baked into a Yorkshire pudding and served with onion gravy, minted peas, and roasted tomato) – $9.49
Cottage Pie (a savory combination of beef and vegetables in a potato crust, served with a garden salad) – $12.49
Fisherman’s Pie (salmon, shrimp, and cod baked together under a potato crust, served with a garden salad) – $14.99
Mini Pie Combination (mini-Cottage Pie and mini-Fisherman’s Pie, served with a salad) – $13.49
Soup and Salad (split pea soup served with a side salad and choice of dressing) – $9.49
Banger Pub-Style Sandwich (roasted English sausage, mustard aioli, roasted tomatoes, sauteed cabbage and onions on a crusty baguette, served with wedge fries) – $12.49
Specialty Chicken Sandwich (grilled chicken breast, apple butter mayo, Colby cheese, smoky apple bacon, roasted tomatoes on a house-made specialty bun, served with wedge fries) – $11.99

Drink menu

Butterbeer – $6.99
Frozen Butterbeer – $6.99
Hot Butterbeer (seasonal) – $6.99
Pumpkin Juice – $4.49
Tongue-Tying Lemon Squash – $4.99
Otter’s Fizzy Orange Juice – $4.99
Fishy Green Ale (bubble tea) – $4.99
Peachtree Fizzing Tea – $4.99
Gillywater – $4.50
Wizard’s Brew (alcoholic) – $8.99
Dragon Scale (alcoholic) – $8.99
Draught Beer (alcoholic) – $8.99
Fire Whisky (alcoholic) – $8.99
Wine by the Glass (alcoholic) – $7.00

Dessert menu

Sticky toffee Pudding – $6.99
Cranachan – $5.99
Butterbeer Potted Cream – $5.29
Chocolate Potted Cream – $4.49

Real guest reviews of The Leaky Cauldron

The Leaky Cauldron – photo gallery

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The Leaky Cauldron – map

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