| As prevalent in parts of the Middle East and | | | | and Moroccan spiced lamb, while hookah bars |
| India as delis or Starbucks are in the United | | | | offer everything from wine and cocktails to |
| States, with one on every corner, hookah | | | | package deals--including private booth or |
| lounges and hookah bars, once quite rare in | | | | lounge, hookah, drinks, and appetizers--which |
| the West, have lately been seeing a rise in | | | | run about $125 for four. Rental prices for |
| popularity here. From the friendly ambience | | | | hookahs in lounges generally run from $5 to |
| of many of these establishments to the | | | | $20 an hour, with tobacco prices from $4 to |
| uniquely relaxed mood of hookah smoking and | | | | $9 per bowl. Whatever's on offer, people feel |
| the kid-in-a-candy store variety of flavorful | | | | comfortable enough to linger, gathered round |
| tobaccos available, hookah lounges and bars | | | | the hookah pipe. You can find directories of |
| have a lot on offer. | | | | hookah lounges in the U.S., Canada, and |
| | | | Europe at or and other sites online. |
| Much of this upsurge in popularity is due to | | | | |
| college and university populations, who find | | | | Someone on staff--often the proprietor--is |
| hookah lounges an attractive way to spend | | | | always happy to help those new to the |
| quality time with friends in a sober, but | | | | experience of hookah smoking and guide them |
| socially easy, environment. Hookah lounges | | | | through it. Pipes are generally prepared for |
| are big with sororities and fraternities, but | | | | the patrons with whatever exotic flavor of |
| there are older sets of patrons on the scene | | | | tobacco they choose. There's usually a hookah |
| as well, and a multiplicity of ethnicities | | | | coal carrier, circulating through the lounge |
| and people from all walks of life can be | | | | with coals and tongs to replenish any waning |
| found in various hookah lounges. | | | | hookah coals. |
| | | | |
| Different hookah bars and lounges offer | | | | Music ranges from jazz to hip hop to |
| different things to go with the smoking | | | | tablah-backed Middle Eastern pop music, |
| experience. At some lounges, an older | | | | décor from re-interpretations of a Cairo |
| clientele comes to play cards, backgammon, or | | | | café to tiki hut to sophisticated bar. |
| chess, while pool tables, video games, and | | | | Whether the people come to play games, drink |
| big screen TVs are on offer for the younger | | | | cardamom-infused coffee, sip cocktails, or |
| crowd. Many lounges serve food and drink, | | | | just kick back and relax, hookah lounges and |
| from Turkish coffee, spicy chai, and | | | | bars offer a unique multicultural take on an |
| honey-drenched bamieh fritters to foie gras | | | | age-old tradition. |