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