20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

The Hobbit Cafe – Houston, Texas

American fans of The Lord of the Rings don’t need to travel overseas to immerse themselves in their favorite fantasy realm, though it’s totally recommended. For those who’d rather keep their appreciation for Middle-earth in the states, there’s always The Hobbit Cafe in Houston, Texas.

This local hub was created by Tolkien fans who wanted to honor his story and legacy through the food they served. Since 1972, they’ve been doing just that—and other fans have been, quite literally, eating it up. While The Hobbit Cafe doesn’t name its food after characters from The Lord of the Rings, it does offer “hobbit-sized” sandwiches and “hobbit-approved” beers.

It’s yet to be confirmed as to whether or not Merry and Pippin would actually approve of The Hobbit Cafe, though numerous other celebrities have eaten there. Guests that have visited the Tolkien-themed restaurant include Woody Harrelson, Jack Nicholson, Neil Young, Mama Cass, and Depeche Mode. With that in mind, it certainly seems like a decent place for fans to have second breakfast. In fact, they even serve brunch on the weekends—the original second breakfast!

Apart from the “hobbit-approved” food, The Hobbit Cafe boasts an atmosphere that will make The Lord of the Rings fans feel as though they’ve been taken out of Texas and dropped right into The Shire. And given that most of the restaurant’s reviews mention the ambiance, it seems that the decor is doing its job.

Which The Lord of the Rings destination would you want to visit first?