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Hookah Lounge (Hookah on table or floor)? Help a brother out


Should the Hookah be on the floor or table?  

22 members have voted

  1. 1.

    • Floor
      17
    • Table
      5


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In a lounge with a lot of hookahs being smoked, they are going to inevitably get knocked over, whether they are on a table or on the ground. If they fall from a table, they will probably break. On the other hand, I've seen many hookahs knocked over that were on the floor at lounges and I don't think I've seen more than a broken bowl.
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i think it is customary in the middle east for them to be on the ground. Atleast that is what the people at fumari told me when i was there (they put their hookahs on the ground). Personally, I dont think it is that big of an issue and wouldnt mind for it to be on the table.
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I too have heard its tradition to keep the hookahs off the table, but seeing as how tradition doesn't matter a lick to most people, and that people break all rules that fall under middle eastern tradition all the time, I'd say go with whatever method you prefer. But some things to keep in mind.

Like said above, a hookah falling from a table will most likely shatter, while a hookah tipping over from the ground will only result in a broken bowl (most likely). Thats one reason to keep them on the floor. What about those ocasions when someone yanks the hose, the hookah doesn't fall over but due to the jolt from being pulled causes a rogue coal to go flying in someones lap... That can't be good. And do you plan on serving food? Depending on your table setup, having a hookah on the table will make serving food quite a hassle, and I'm sure when the time comes to ash your coals and blow the excess off the bowl, no one wants a table covered on ash. Also I know that by putting a hookah on a table, you have to stand up each time you want to change the coals, which can get annoying. With a hookah on the ground, the person sitting closest to it can be in charge of maintaining the hookah during the session, and can do so easily because of the hookahs close proximity.

So how about a compromise? If you do decide to go with Mya, maybe you could also work out a deal where you get a bunch of QTs as well. Then you can give people the choice as to which they would like to smoke out of. If they want something small that they can keep on the table, a QT would be perfect. But if the guest plans on ordering a bunch of drinks/food, they can request to have a big boy that sits on the ground.

Also, think about what type of flooring your lounge will have. Obviously carpet is a bad idea, but if you have a textured tile, you will have to make sure your tables are sturdy, and won't wobble due to the imperfections of the floor. I've been to a lounge where they kept the hookahs on the tables, that also wobbled, and the slightest bump on the table caused coals to roll off the bowl and shatter everywhere...

So yeah, there are an endless number of factors that you really need to consider if you want your lounge to be great/safe. These are only a few that I could think of off the top of my head, but I'm positive that other people will bring more factors to your attention.

Good luck with the lounge, you gotta keep us updated as Mushrat is doing with his business venture. Always exciting to see someones dream come true happy.gif
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imo, get lots of low wooden tables (extremely simple ones) and cut a big hole in the center of each one, just big enough to fit the pipe through.... that way its pretty impossible to knock the hookahs over, and it looks cool smile.gif

for example: http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/serv...Number=90104324
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I would go with keeping them on the floor myself. I have only been to two different hookah lounges before, both in Tempee Arizona... King Tuts and Oasis. King Tuts was more of a chill quiet place but still lively enough, they had their hookah all on the floor only... none on the tables what so ever even though they did have a section with tables but was used for dinning only. I loved that place! Then Oasis was almost exactly like a night club at nightfall. Loud music, belly dancers which were very cool to see and a tone of people. They had tables to smoke shisha from and mabie some floor space too but I honestly don't remember completely if they did have floor space for smoking there since the time I went there we smoked hookah from a table. That same time I ate there too and had no problems with the two both being ont the table. Both are cool and alright but I think that they are much better on the floor without a doubt if I were you I would go with that.
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personally i may be better to give the customer the choice and allow them to choose, whether the hookah is on the table or ground, some may like it better if the table is used cuse they can see the hookah and process of smoking will be more interactive, and i f they drop the hookah just make them pay for it, although ive known of a hookah bar that uses the table set-up and so far for like a year they have not had any accidents.
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thanks for the input guys. Yash I will definitly keep you guys up to date. smile.gif

as far as cutting the table and dropping them in the middle. I have thought of doing this myself. I was leaning towards having a center post table instead of having 4 legs so it was not really going to work out to well. But I have not set in stone the tables I want to use, so I have still kept that option open. I think the only issue would be if a table ordered 2 hookahs. Because if only 1 hole is cut I have an issue, but if there are 2 holes and they get 1 hookah I now have a hole in the middle which could become a spilled drink if someone drops it in there not paying attention.

And for the QT idea, I have even thought about that before. Just using QTs and putting them on the table. I was just afraid someone would try and jack one because they are so small. But I also thought people would not like it because it would not give the full affair of a hookah lounge.

Well, this has been a dream for about 2 years now, so hopefully I can pull this off.
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I'm going with the idea of people doing which they choose. It's a very calming thing to be doing, and if its not in a postion that they like, then the experiance might be jaded a little bit...

And I was going to say the same thing about the hole idea, because out of the two bars I've ever been two, me and my friends ordered two hookahs.
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QUOTE (yashman19)
Like said above, a hookah falling from a table will most likely shatter, while a hookah tipping over from the ground will only result in a broken bowl (most likely). Thats one reason to keep them on the floor. What about those occasions when someone yanks the hose, the hookah doesn't fall over but due to the jolt from being pulled causes a rogue coal to go flying in someones lap... That can't be good. And do you plan on serving food?  


Food, is a yes. I will have some finger food and desserts. This is really the only hang up, because the hookah on the table and food can get in the way.

As far as having an issue changing the coal, yes I see that problem. Even I don't want to stand to do it. I do plan on leaving an extra coal in each hookah tray for the customer to swap out when theirs is dying. Because of the area, I would like to keep an eye on the bowls, to make sure nobody slips anything in that shouldn't be there. I know I can smell it the second they start smoking, but being able to see who is pulling a bowl off and messing with it is alot easier that way.

As far as yanking a hose out. The myas I want to use, have a very wide base. And being only 23" I think they are next to impossible to tip over, unless you really yank the hell out of it. But I think the mya 72" hoses are long enough to keep that from happening.

This is the base I plan on using.


I am curious if Lazy Dayz will pop in here. They put all their hookahs on the table, so I wonder if any have been knocked over.
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QUOTE (Scheetz)
thanks for the input guys. Yash I will definitly keep you guys up to date. smile.gif

as far as cutting the table and dropping them in the middle. I have thought of doing this myself.  I was leaning towards having a center post table instead of having 4 legs so it was not really going to work out to well.  But I have not set in stone the tables I want to use, so I have still kept that option open.  I think the only issue would be if a table ordered 2 hookahs. Because if only 1 hole is cut I have an issue, but if there are 2 holes and they get 1 hookah I now have a hole in the middle which could become a spilled drink if someone drops it in there not paying attention.  

And for the QT idea, I have even thought about that before. Just using QTs and putting them on the table. I was just afraid someone would try and jack one because they are so small.  But I also thought people would not like it because it would not give the full affair of a hookah lounge.

Well, this has been a dream for about 2 years now, so hopefully I can pull this off.


if someone orders 2 hookahs just pull another table over to their area...

the tables are small and lightweight, a hookah bar has to be flexible, different sized parties/different people = different needs.

i suggest getting bean bag chairs/sofas too, because of the flexibilty/comfort factor, but thats just me...
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lazy dayz does put them on the table but they also dont serve any food.

my suggestion for avoiding people messing with the hookah is to wrap a piece of tape around the foil on the head. it would make it take longer to get the foil off and would probably be hard to fix without making it look suspicious.
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Wooden tables are normally a no no - condensation (iced hookahs) etc makes them warp and dropped coals scar. I would look at some stone tile tables - we have wodem tables but only 4 and I'm a freak about cleaning therefore the staff is.

Serving on the floor is great - broken hookahs are going to be a given - cost of doing business... wait till you're buying hoses ever 2 weeks.

The wholes in the tables are a good idea but a lot of parties will order 4 and 5 hookahs... then what? Low stone tile tables and ground serving is best. To tell you the truth the location will dictate your interior and flavor - our place had carpet that took 3 weeks to strip to concrete and stain fyi.

ps - as for people messing with the hookah we have the bowls with windcovers that latch - if you do get an edgy customer that asks if you can add the wacky tobaccee then we normally just latch it...
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If you really want to serve food you can do so without even having tables as well... It goes over just fine serving food at a hookah lounge and just eating it next to the hookah as you and your friends are resting upon the floor around it... just have plenty of cushions to rest upon and to be able to relax with and mabie have a small section of tables for thoes who are only coming in for the food and have it to where no one can smoke hookah in the section of your resteraunt.
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what is the cause to buy hoses constantly?? just people breaking them? I cant imagine that, the lounge I am at has had the same hoses for quite some time now. They have some burn marks on them but I have not seen a new hose come through in quite some time.
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