Commentary on hookahs, smoke rings, and The Dream

…smoking hookah in one of the gems in the Middle East.

If you are talking “places to smoke hookah” than you have to talk about Egypt.  This is the place that has truly embraced the hookah culture to a point that it could rival any bar hop or coffee shop following here in the States.

Hookah is everywhere in Egypt, and particularly Cairo.  If you want to live like a Cairene, than you will have to embrace hookah. 

There are what I would call three main groups of hookah bars in Cairo:

• Tourist bars, that serve good hookah with beer.
• Upscale cafe’s that serve excellent hookah with fruit juice and food.
• Local joints, which serve up double apple and zhargoule with little cups of delicious, sugary tea.

Depending on the night, anyone of these locals is an excellent spot to hit.  If you want a good tourist bar (or rather a place to get a beer and a hookah), definitely hit Hotel Odeon, in Tahrir Square.  This place is frequented by expats (more so than tourists) as well as upper class Egyptians.  It sports a great roof deck, central location, and $2 Stellas (the local brew in Egypt).

If you are looking for a place sans beer and plus some great fruit juice and food options, hit Tornado’s, in Midan Aswan.  This place has the best shisha I have ever smoked.  We recommend the Cappuccino “Tornado” hookah, which comes with a coffee filled vase and two heads of cappuccino tobacco.  There is a 20EGP minimum, so be prepared to kick it there for a while.

Finally, if you have been in Cairo for a bit and have built up a solid network of cool Egyptian dudes, ask them about some of the traditional cafes.  They are all over the place, I use to go to one called Almas up in Nasr City.  But be aware: These places are for the real men of Cairo, and only serve Zhargoule (traditional, heavy hitting tobacco) and sometimes Double Apple Nakhla.  If that doesn’t sounds like a good night to you, stick with the places on the main drag.

And, for the extra point: There is only one hookah cafe you must hit if you are in Egypt, and that is the historic and famous Fishawy’s in Khan al-Khalil.  This crowded cafe is older than the mosques across the street and is located in the midst of a famous market.  Its a great place to wonder around and pick out your hookah prize and then kick-it to some Egyptian music, sweet tea and meticulously served hookah.

We have more on hookah in Cairo over at the Hobocan’s Happy Hour.  Shoot us your Cairo tips, if you’ve been.