Personal smoke vs. cafe smoke

[MrGuy]

Hi,
Thought i'd start this thread after reading one by by D15. What smoke do you prefer? im not talking about experience or atmosphere, im talking smoke, flavour thikness etc. do you prefer your own? your mates? or you local bar/cafe?
 

[Buford]

I prefer using my own at home over a cafe or a friend's. With my own, I can control everything from packing method, to coal choice, to water temperature (I always use warm water in the base). The cafes around here use 3 Kings but I much prefer Nours, and when I smoke over at a friend's place he also uses 3 Kings.Also, all the cafes around here only use Nakhla. While some Nakhla flavors are good, I like variety in my brands..

[gunsboy]

All of cafes that I visited in Canada use 3 King coal with Nakhla Shisha that sometimes is old and never put enough in the bowl with very small bowls.  I went to a couple of places in Dubai and Damascus that had great service and great hookah and shisha. I would rather go to those places than preparing my own hookah and working on the coals and heat management.  Also, I could order cocktail drinks or mint tea with the shisha.  But sadly no place like this exist in Canada especially with the stupid smoke laws it is even harder to acquire smoking license to open a good one myself.   

[SanguineSolitude]

i can control my smoke session better at home than any cafe ive been to
has been able to. for that reason at home. but i love going to
bars/cafes.

[The Dude Abides]

I've found that many cafes are lackluster and it doesn't matter what flavor you order, it all tastes like dapple because the hookahs are coated inside and out with anise residue.  Obviously a poor experience.
If you find a really good cafe, however, with say... high quality ma'assel, good service, good coals, good everything, it can be a wonderful experience and much preferable to sitting at home.

[yashman19]

Voted my own.

Like most everyone else has mentioned, with your own you control all of
the important factors.. All of the lounges I've been to don't
automaticcaly leave tongs on the hookah for you to use. They expect you
to sit there and wait for them to ash the coals for you, which often
times can take forever. And I can't stand smoking hookah when the coals
are getting weak. I like to smoke from a hookah thats on the brink of
burning, but not burning yet. To me it means that I'm getting the most
heat/smoke possible without burning it.

[Scalliwag]

I have only been to one hookah bar and that was in Virginia and I live in Texas. That bar was excellent and they left tongs and had very good service. I have only had my hookah since last Friday but thanks to the tips here in the forum I had great luck. There is NO way I would have had success otherwise. Hell I had no clue how much shisha or how close the foil should be from the shisha, etc.
The smoke quality and taste was as good as the bar I went to. A lot of luck that the place I got my hookah and supplies from had coals that worked well and sisha that tasted good "to me". Since I have only smoked three bowls and got a little better at it each time I am thinking that I vote towards myself.
I know the environment is not included in the poll but I have not got to try the hookah in my hot tub yet since I was out of town since I bought it. But I am guessing that with a cold beer in one hand, a hookah hose in the other and admiring my gal-pal that it will be much better than I could ever expect a hookah bar to be. But the belly dancer at the hookah bar was damn hot. If I could only get her in my hot tub now!!!

[Catalyst Paintball]

I can remember a thread where someone was smoking in their hottub, and got really sick.I forgot who it was...

[Scalliwag]

hmmmmm, I have not done it yet so I would like to know why. I use bromine instead of chlorine and since Texas is already too hot I keep mine fairly cold for a "hot tub". But to make sure I want to research that. Thanks

[Sonthert]

The thing is, the hookah lounge occupies the same general place as the porno shop. Its a place to go and do what you want to without the wife and/or kids knowing about. Its better to smoke at home, but if the little woman objects, gots to go  to the lounge.

[Scalliwag]

[quote name='Tangiers']The thing is, the hookah lounge occupies the same general place as the porno shop. Its a place to go and do what you want to without the wife and/or kids knowing about. Its better to smoke at home, but if the little woman objects, gots to go  to the lounge.[/quote]
 
HAHA!!! That is very true! When I go back to Va you can bet I will be back at that hookah bar for that very reason  I guess at different times one is more suited than the other depending on the situation at hand. I can only get away with so much fun at the house.  When I get out I usually let my hair down really good and take in the moment ya know?