Stepping into the Witch’s Cottage, North Hollywood’s newest mystical hangout, feels a bit like following a trail of breadcrumbs in a fairy tale. Inside, lamps shaped like pointy black hats hang above a counter serving bubbling witch’s brew coffee. In one corner of the café, there’s a parking spot just for broomsticks; upstairs in the games room, a smoke-breathing dragon sits above a medieval-style fireplace. It’s as if a friend has invited you to join her incredibly cool coven, which just happens to be meeting on the stage set of Wicked.

That’s all part of the magical plan, says co-owner and self-proclaimed witch Celina Lee Surniak. “The idea was: if you found a witch’s cottage in a forest, went inside, and had tea and scones, how would it feel?” she says, dressed in a floor-length gothic gown, a witch’s hat pulled over a tumble of dark curls. “It’s about finding that wise woman in the woods. People really come here to discover something about themselves,” she adds, referring to the two-floor café, restaurant, bar, and event space that opened in February 2026 inside a former bank.

I’ve come to Los Angeles in search of my own wise woman in the woods, in a city that has become something of a hotspot for modern magic. Witches have long been part of Tinseltown lore, though more often as green-skinned caricatures cackling over cauldrons on the big screen.

Step beyond the backlots, however, and this open-minded Californian city is home to a thriving occult scene. Shops like The Crooked Path and The Green Man are packed with spell kits and crystals, while also offering workshops and tarot readings. The city also hosts a range of cosmic pop-ups, including Witchy Ways Market and Magic Market, where attendees often wear their finest witchy looks—billowing midnight capes and lots of black eyeliner.

It’s not just in Los Angeles that witchcraft is having a moment. A quick scroll through social media shows the hashtag #witchcore, an aesthetic inspired by the mystical and macabre, has generated more than 166 million views. Fashion has embraced the idea too, with Rodarte creating ethereal dresses with spiderweb detailing, and Ann Demeulemeester offering high-priestess silhouettes in inky black chiffon, both for fall 2026. Cinema is also getting in on the act with the release of Practical Magic 2, due in September 2026, once again starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock.

While calling yourself a witch might once have risked a trip to the gallows, today manifestation journals, intention-setting rituals, and witchcore aesthetics are as mainstream as yoga studios and daily horoscopes.

As a challenge to patriarchal norms, witchcraft feels especially relevant right now, says Lee Surniak, who works as a stuntwoman and intimacy coordinator by day. “There’s an attack on feminine energy at the moment, with laws being overturned regarding our bodies and our right to choose,” she says, above the sound of cheerful medieval flute music playing through the speakers. She leads me through the wonderful Dungeons & Dragons-style bar upstairs, complete with a clanking suit of armor and a secret doorway hidden as a bookcase.

“People are tired of oppression. There’s a feeling that if those in power won’t help us, we’ll help ourselves. It’s about rising up and lifting each other up,” she says. And for those who don’t identify as witches, the space is open to everyone. This woman- and queer-owned business positions itself as an inclusive gathering place, whether you’re actively looking for a coven or just here for a delicious slice of chocolate cake.

Or pull up a chair at the bar for a moonlit elixir, inspired by lunar rituals and served with a dash of lavender honey and a pinch of glitter. The restaurant, set beneath crooked carved trees and cascading flowers, serves wickedly good deviled dragon’s eggs and steaming bowls of Bayou witch stew.Live performances and group classes in tea blending, sword dancing, and candle and broom making are also being planned. Dressing up is optional, of course, but people love to do it. “We’ve had people come to dinner in full Lord of the Rings costumes. There was a group of friends dressed as fairies with big wings, leaving glitter everywhere. It was amazing!” laughs Lee Surniak, who consults tarot cards for business decisions.

Her business partner, Danielle Ozymandias, says the response has been incredible. “In other cities, people still whisper about being a witch. But here, we’re out in the open,” she says. “This is a city where people dream big, so it feels like you can do anything.”

Ana Lovelis, an investor and partner in the Witch’s Cottage, reads oracle and tarot decks.
Photo: Maggie Shannon

That open-minded spirit goes beyond the supernatural. Los Angeles has long been known for its wellness culture, from green juice bars to alternative health approaches. So it feels natural that this magical world would blend with fitness and self-care.

My next stop is Lake Hollywood Park, where I’m meeting Tristyn Rhoades, also known as Tristyn the Good Witch. With the Hollywood Sign glowing in the background, the medium and yoga instructor arrives looking like a modern-day goddess, wearing a shimmering gold celestial halo. As the founder of Good Witch L.A., Rhoades has combined the occult with her yoga practice, leading a devoted community interested in movement and magic.

Tristyn Rhoades in Lake Hollywood Park.
Photo: Maggie Shannon

“My ancestors were witches and healers, but you don’t have to be born into witchcraft to sense energy. Everyone has intuition; it’s just about learning to trust your gut,” Rhoades tells me as we settle under a jacaranda tree full of purple blossoms. She unrolls a yoga mat and asks me to lie down. “I started adding witchcraft to my yoga practice, like cleansing my mat and setting intentions to let go of fear.”

She says the changes she experienced were big enough to change her career. Now, she hosts new moon yoga circles, cannabis-friendly yoga retreats, and a clothing-optional getaway in the California desert, all based on the idea that spiritual and physical health are connected.

“L.A. is really fertile ground for witchcraft,” she says, waving a bundle of hand-rolled sage over my body to clear negative energy. “There are so many witchy wellness, mystical, and haunted events happening here, especially in Hollywood, Long Beach, and Venice Beach. There was recently a market in Long Beach with about 150 witch vendors. It was packed and shows that this is a growing trend.”

Witchcraft has even made its way into the city’s nightlife. “I’ve set up rooms at DJ events where I bring my smudge sticks and candles and do tarot readings,” she says. In La La Land, even a night out can turn into a spiritual session.

In a scene that feels very Los Angeles, Rhoades balances my chakras with a swinging pendulum while tourists nearby take photos under the Hollywood Sign. As we finish, Rhoades reflects on how views of witches have changed. “When I started, witchcraft was seen as something dark,” she says, with thick electric blue mascara on her lashes. “But it’s a beautiful thing that brings women together. When we come together to sing and dance, we’re so powerful.”

Photo: Maggie Shannon

A few moments later, the spell is broken by a couple trying to get the perfect photo. But that mix of the mystical and the mainstream feels just right. In a city built on reinvention, Los Angeles’s witches are no longer hiding in the shadows. These days, they’re gathering in magical cafés, reading tarot at DJ sets, and practicing rituals under the Hollywood Sign.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Hex and the City Inside Los Angeless Growing Witchcraft Scene written in a natural tone with clear answers

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What exactly is the witchcraft scene in Los Angeles
Its a modern diverse community of people who practice various forms of magic spellwork and pagan spirituality Think of it less like broomsticks and green skin and more like a mix of selfcare activism astrology herbalism and ritualall happening in places like bookstores living rooms and even bars

2 Is this like Harry Potter or Sabrina
Not really Realworld witchcraft is a spiritual or religious practice not fantasy fiction Its about intention connecting with nature and personal empowerment No flying or magical creatures involvedjust candles crystals herbs and a lot of journaling

3 Do you have to be a witch to join the scene
No Many people are curious spiritualbutnotreligious or just love the aesthetic You can attend a public ritual take a tarot class or visit a metaphysical shop without calling yourself a witch The scene is very welcoming to seekers

4 Where do witches actually hang out in LA
Popular spots include The Mystic Journey bookstore in Venice House of Intuition in Silver Lake or Eagle Rock and events at The Witching Hour in Hollywood Youll also find popup markets full moon circles in parks and workshops at yoga studios

5 Whats the difference between a witch and a Wiccan
All Wiccans are witches but not all witches are Wiccan Wicca is a specific religion with gods holidays and ethics LAs scene is much broaderit includes secular witches folk magicians brujas and people who mix different traditions

Intermediate Questions

6 How has LAs history or vibe shaped this scene
LA has always been a place for reinvention mysticism and Hollywood glamour The witchcraft scene here is heavily influenced by celebrity culture selfhelp trends and a mix of Latin American and New Age traditions Its less secretive than in some other citiesmore Instagramfriendly and commercial