peterjmag Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 Hey all!I've been lurking on these forums for far too long, so I figured it was about time I register and introduce myself. My name's Peter, and I've been smoking hookah for over a year and a half now. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a hookah snob when it comes to flavors, brands, number of hoses, etc, but I love to teach people that are new to hookah as much as I can when I see that it's something they're truly interested in.I live in Fort Collins, CO, and we have two hookah bars in town (because of a recent controversial ordinance passed by our city council, however, opening any new bars is prohibited in city limits). One of these bars is Narghile Nights, which is pretty big and usually pretty busy. It's a relatively open, slightly club-like atmosphere, and they usually play more mainstream music (some hip hop, "dance" music, radio hits and such). The main smoking area--which is made up by a couple large rooms--is decorated in a typical Middle Eastern style, and both rooms are a bit on the dark side lighting-wise. Smokers can sit either in any of the pillowy areas on the floor or at any of the cafe-style tables. A group of people can get one or two hookahs depending on how many people are smoking, and each hookah can be anywhere from one to four hoses. They have about 30-40 flavors of shisha (I'm honestly not sure what brands they use, because they won't really tell me), and they sell tea and other drinks. A session usually costs about $6 per person, plus another few bucks for multiple bowls and such.Our other hookah bar, literally a 30 second walk from Narghile Nights, is Algiers. It's is a fairly small (seats a little over 20 people at capacity) hookah lounge underneath a 24/7 coffee shop that's owned by the same two guys that own Algiers. Algiers is a much more cozy, "homey" atmosphere--think, "where everybody knows your name." The decorations are similar to Narghile Nights, but the colors are generally a lighter shade of earth tones. The employees bring in their MP3 players and plug them in to the lounge's humble stereo system, and they play a very wide range of slightly more "obscure," usually pretty mellow music. There are six different seating areas, ranging from seats at the bar where the employees prepare hookahs and such, to raised platforms with pillows and a couple normal tables adjacent to the walls. Algiers only serves single-hose hookahs, but any group of a couple people or more can request more than one hookah depending on how busy it is at the time. They have something like 150 flavors, with brands like Al Waha, Al Amir, Nakhla, Havana, Layalina, Al Fakher, and Tangiers. They also have a book with an ongoing list of "house blends," popular shisha mixes created by the customers and/or the employees. Each smoker gets as much "Moroccan mint" tea as they want, no charge... and it's tasty stuff. A session is normally $7 per person ($5 during "happy hour"), plus another $3 for each additional bowl.At the risk of sounding more like an ad than I already am ( ), Algiers is by far my favorite of the two. It was the first hookah bar I went to (and pretty much the first place I actually smoked), and I've become a regular there over the last 18 months or so. The staff is always very helpful and friendly (and I mean sincerely friendly... a lot of the people that go to Algiers have become pretty good friends with most of the employees, including myself). It's usually pretty relaxing, but at certain times of the night and the week, it gets quite a bit busier, and that's always fun. I usually go in with a couple of friends that are regulars as well, but I feel completely comfortable going in by myself when I'm in the mood, because I almost always meet someone interesting and new, and the employees are normally up for conversation too. The hookahs and flavors are consistently enjoyable, and the staff does a good job of keeping you happy, even if that means switching out a bowl that you're not too into. Really, it's just a great place to go wind down after a long day or have a good time laughing and smoking with friends.[/rhapsodizing] So I want to hear all about the hookah bars in your area... What are they like? How large are they? How's the atmosphere? Which ones are your favorites and why? Don't worry about going into as much detail as I did if you don't want to... I realize that not everyone is as bored as I was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allia22 Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 o_O Wow. That was very thorough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldonb1 Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 fairly disappointing... enough said. (Maryland) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*HOT&SMOKING* Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 QUOTE (aldonb1 @ Jul 8 2007, 06:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>fairly disappointing... enough said. (Maryland)Yeah South Africa is pretty disapointing as far as hookah bars go's.......On searching the net i only found 1 Bar in Jo'burg and I have yet to go there......Instead I go to this Hookah bar called.....My friends house and there I get to smoke for free LOL!-H&S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purp0se Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 In San Diego there are many lounges, although I've only been to one: the Zodiak hookah lounge. I went on my 18th birthday with a group of my friends. We got two hookahs at about 22 dollars, which was the premium one (they described it as the mother of all hookahs) It had fruit, ice, and a flavor shot in the base. They use Starbuzz, Layalina and Fusion shisha, but we only have SB Watermelon and Marlette. It was pretty good, but couldn't get any good clouds going because the AC, I dunno maybe it was just us. Nice atmosphere with some cultural music and theme. Very comfy couches. One thing I didnt like was the coals they used. It was the finger coals that everyone raves about. They were a hassle to mess with and actually made a mess. It was my first time with those coals so maybe I just have to get used to them. Also, refills were kinda pricy: 9 bucks for a new bowl. I plan to go to a couple more lounges, maybe Sinbads. I hear it's good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbpredator Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 How about i just give you a run down of my time tonight at Meridian, a hookah lounge in tampa, florida.I know they use Layalina and Mya Vortex's, however this was how our night turned out...we get there pay our covers for the night... first two bowls (Mixed flavor bowls... one called Candy the other called Blueballs a mix between blueberry and black berry)... hardly any smoke very hard to pull, when you do the taste isnt its fullest.2nd two bowls, we got peach and lime. same story so i complained3rd two bowls, we got orange and something else... the flavor and smoke were there for about 4 or 5 hits... then dissapeared...4th two bowls, Raspberry and Watermelon... were amazing for some reason... i have no clue why... over all 2/8 bowls were good... and the atmosphere was kinda lame as well ahaha... will not be going back any time soon, atleast on saturdays...oh and to top it off as we were leaving the place... i packed my 9" Widow... and fogged the place out with some Pineapple mint it was quite amusing watching the suprise on peoples faces when they saw how much smoke and the thickness coming from such a small guy ahaha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*HOT&SMOKING* Posted July 8, 2007 Share Posted July 8, 2007 QUOTE (pbpredator @ Jul 8 2007, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>How about i just give you a run down of my time tonight at Meridian, a hookah lounge in tampa, florida.I know they use Layalina and Mya Vortex's, however this was how our night turned out...we get there pay our covers for the night... first two bowls (Mixed flavor bowls... one called Candy the other called Blueballs a mix between blueberry and black berry)... hardly any smoke very hard to pull, when you do the taste isnt its fullest.2nd two bowls, we got peach and lime. same story so i complained3rd two bowls, we got orange and something else... the flavor and smoke were there for about 4 or 5 hits... then dissapeared...4th two bowls, Raspberry and Watermelon... were amazing for some reason... i have no clue why... over all 2/8 bowls were good... and the atmosphere was kinda lame as well ahaha... will not be going back any time soon, atleast on saturdays...oh and to top it off as we were leaving the place... i packed my 9" Widow... and fogged the place out with some Pineapple mint it was quite amusing watching the suprise on peoples faces when they saw how much smoke and the thickness coming from such a small guy ahaha...Nice I have heard good things about the widow!!!!!!Smoked them out!!! -H&S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportsfan6216 Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 QUOTE (Purp0se @ Jul 8 2007, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>In San Diego there are many lounges, although I've only been to one: the Zodiak hookah lounge. I went on my 18th birthday with a group of my friends. We got two hookahs at about 22 dollars, which was the premium one (they described it as the mother of all hookahs) It had fruit, ice, and a flavor shot in the base. They use Starbuzz, Layalina and Fusion shisha, but we only have SB Watermelon and Marlette. It was pretty good, but couldn't get any good clouds going because the AC, I dunno maybe it was just us. Nice atmosphere with some cultural music and theme. Very comfy couches. One thing I didnt like was the coals they used. It was the finger coals that everyone raves about. They were a hassle to mess with and actually made a mess. It was my first time with those coals so maybe I just have to get used to them. Also, refills were kinda pricy: 9 bucks for a new bowl. I plan to go to a couple more lounges, maybe Sinbads. I hear it's goodSan Diego = Odyssey Lounge...... the be all and end all of hookah lounges owned by our favorite merchant of death.... never been there but I'm planning a trip either spring break or summer to get my hookah loving self down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxik916 Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Yay bumping a two year old thread lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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