Huff and Puff Your Way to These 10 Shisha Lounges in Houston
Stylish, Middle-Eastern, and relaxing, shishas (otherwise known as Hookahs) are exactly like vapes, but a lot stronger – like, a lot. This makes them perfect for those looking to quit smoking and just want a little something to help them get rid of the jitters.
Houston, being the bumbling metropolitan that it is today, has plenty of shisha lounges for you to chill out and have a little puff yourself. Some offer unique flavors for you to try out, whereas some give a more authentic experience.
It’s not an easy task, but we did it. We’ve scoured the entirety of Houston and we’ve come to decide on the definitive list of the best shisha lounges that you can visit in the 713 today!
1. La Pasha Lounge & Grill
Address: 2475 S Kirkwood Rd, Houston, TX 77077
Phone Number: 832-979-4961
Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
A shisha lounge that masquerades itself as a restaurant (or the other way around), La Pasha Lounge & Grill offers a chic dining environment that lets you and your friends have a puff in peace.
Yes, La Pasha Lounge & Grill’s shisha flavors are on the more cliche side. They offer flavors like Regular Clay, Orange, and Pineapple – but they offer a Prestige option that lets you feel like royalty while puffing away. They also have a Cupid’s Arrow one, too!
The La Pasha Sampler, which has two samosas, kibbehs, and grape leaves, goes well with any of the aforementioned shisha flavors. But if you’re looking for a staple with a little bit of a kick, then the Spicy Fries is a good option.
Pro Tips:
- Unlike other shisha lounges in Houston, La Pasha Lounge & Grill doesn’t separate their smoking and non-smoking sections. We fully warn those with little kids either not to bring them with them if you’re planning a trip there.
2. Xhale Cafe & Grill
Credit: @__yile_russitta__
Address: 13711 Westheimer Rd z, Houston, TX 77077
Phone Number: 832-867-3737
Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday, Sunday: 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM
- Friday – Saturday: 9:00 PM – 4:00 AM
The power pair of a nice shisha and cold drinks is the recipe for a great, relaxing evening – and Xhale Cafe & Grill does just that! The electric atmosphere can help you get in the mood, and combining that with the shisha and drinks makes it that much better.
With Xhale Cafe & Grill, you’ll get all the usual shisha flavors like apple and mint, plus flavors like Mighty Freez and their signature Xhale Special thrown in there. The Xhale Special is a special case since it tastes menthol-like with some fruits thrown in there.
You can even have a different vibe every single day with Xhale Cafe & Grill since they frequently run events every single day. From Taco Tuesdays to Souldout Saturdays with plenty of DJs performing, every visit is sure to offer a different experience with them!
Pro Tips:
- Though Xhale Cafe & Grill’s shishas are minty fresh, their air conditioning isn’t the same. We strongly recommend wearing thin clothing, or if you want to wear your OOTD, bring a compact fan with you.
3. Cafe Layal
Address: 207 Gray St a, Houston, TX 77002
Phone Number: 713-651-0939
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
- Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Although Cafe Layal specializes in Mediterranean food like Lentil Soup and Chicken Shawarmas, they also have stellar shisha flavors for you to choose from! Why, they have rare flavors like Gummy Bear and Pan Raas and exotic flavors to go with it, too!
By “exotic”, we meant shisha flavors like Double Apple, White Grape, Citrus Mist, and Code 69 to name some! We recommend trying out the Citrus Mist for a more refreshing flavor, but the Double Apple offers a fruitier flavor that’s not half bad.
Cafe Layal’s authentic Mediterranean food pairs nicely with the aforementioned shisha flavors as well. We suggest going with the Salmon Kabob and the Layal Special Pizza if you want a fusion-esque dish that offers a unique flavor profile.
Pro Tips:
- We suggest puffing a bit more lightly with Cafe Layal’s shishas. The flavor can run out in as little as 5 minutes if you’re a bit too generous with it, and if you don’t want to spend more money then be a bit more gentle with them.
4. Azuza
Address: 4115 Washington Ave Suite A, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 832-443-5781
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
- Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM
A shisha lounge that doubles as a bar, Azusa offers an electric atmosphere and an overall more casual vibe than other shisha lounges. As you’ll see on Instagram, they’re an adults-only establishment too, which gives you more time to savor your shisha.
Azusa doesn’t have cover fees every day, which is good since they have plenty of high-quality drinks for you to choose from on tap. Both the Monet Rose and the Buchannan pair nicely with any of their shishas.
Speaking of their shisha, they both have Al Fakher and Starbuzz brands of shisha available on tap. Both are good, with the Al Fakher offering fruitier flavors while Starbuzz has a stronger, mintier kick to them.
Pro Tips.
- We recommend paying at Azuza by cash rather than by card. They can charge extra if you pay by card, and you will have to call your bank if you want to correct it.
5. Red Sky Hookah Lounge & Grill
Address: 13308 Westheimer Rd # 400, Houston, TX 77077
Phone Number: 281-619-5511
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Friday – Saturday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Some say that dim lighting is the perfect setting for a shisha night – and Red Sky Hookah Lounge & Grill provides just that, along with some fun events and excellent food options to boot!
Red Sky Hookah Lounge & Grill’s main selling point is their premium tobacco shishas – they even claim to have the only US-made ones out there! We recommend trying out the Blue Mist and the Pirate’s Cave for a unique mix of mint and tobacco.
Most of the crowd at Red Sky Hookah Lounge & Grill are on the younger side, usually somewhere between 19 to 24 years old. This is understandable since they don’t serve any alcohol – plus, they serve a killer gelato as well!
Pro Tips:
- If you’re at Red Sky Hookah Lounge& Grill to eat, then you should order $10 worth of food if you’re not using their shisha as per their policy. We recommend bringing at least $50 cash with you on your visit.
6. Pharaohs Hookah Lounge
Credit: @bopcortez on Instagram
Address: 14434 Hempstead Rd, Houston, TX 77040
Phone Number: 832-649-5624
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 3:00 PM – 6:00 AM
- Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 PM – 6:00 AM
If you want to feel like royalty while puffing a hookah, then we suggest Pharaoh’s Hookah Lounge. Yes, it’s a hole-in-the-wall spot (that’s conveniently located next to a strip club), but they can still provide a nice service that’s greatly appreciated.
Pharaoh’s Hookah Lounge is a club. That means that the atmosphere is always electric – plus the quality shisha flavors that they have available give them a strong, undiluted charm. They have plenty of flavors, but we recommend the mint-based ones the most.
Although they’re predominantly an adults-only shisha lounge, Pharaoh’s Hookah Lounge also has a pool table if you want to add some twist while puffing! It can be a bit crowded at the pool table on the weekends, so we recommend reserving it ahead of time.
Pro Tips:
- The parking situation at Pharaoh’s Hookah Lounge can be difficult at most. We strongly suggest using Uber or ridesharing if you plan to visit, especially since the strip club next door will tow your car if you’re not planning to visit.
7. Mary’z Lebanese Cuisine
Address: 4500 Washington Ave #200, Houston, TX 77007
Phone Number: 832-786-5555
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Mary’z (yes, that’s with a “z”) Lebanese Cuisine on Washington Avenue provides a beautiful, relaxing ambiance on top of their top-tier shisha! Though they share similar flavors to other shisha lounges in Houston, they make it feel more special, in their way.
One of the flavors that stood out to us the most is the Strawberry since it’s both minty and sweet at the same time. If you’re looking for something stronger though, they also have the traditional tobacco flavor for you to try out.
Mary’z Lebanese Cuisine also has food to match their shishas as well, The Mixed Beef and Chicken Shawarma with a side of Hummus and Large Potatoes is a decent meal, and add the shisha to the equation and you’ll be sure to have a relaxing evening.
Pro Tips:
- Mary’z Lebanese Cuisine has a mandatory valet parking which will cost you $7 if you want to park your car yourself, or $10 if you want to park it for you. If you want to save money, then we suggest using a rideshare app to get there!
8. Cafe Mawal
Address: 6006 Fairdale Ln, Houston, TX 77057
Phone Number: 281-461-1212
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Authenticity is the name of the game when it comes to Cafe Mawal – from the authentic, Mediterranean food options straight to the delicious shisha options! Whatever they do, they do well, to the point where weekend visits are bound to be a lot more exciting!
The exciting factor from Cafe Mawal comes from the belly dancers and DJs that come out on weekends! It’s not a one-time thing too – they have one pretty much every weekend, which makes for a unique shisha experience.
About their shishas, they have all the typical shisha flavors that you’d expect like apple, mint, orange, and all that jazz. However, their Mawal Mixes provide a unique twist to the stereotypical flavors, with the Mawal Blend being the best pick.
Pro Tips:
- If you want, you can sit outside and puff your shisha in a tent that Cafe Mawal has set up on their property. It’s fine for a regular, sunny day, but we can’t recommend sitting there during the Spring when rain becomes more frequent.
9. Ranosh Cafe
Address: 3402 Fondren Rd, Houston, TX 77063
Phone Number: 832-242-5200
Hours:
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM
If you’re in the mood to puff your shishas outside, then we recommend visiting Ranosh Cafe on Fondren Rd. for their outdoor patio! Yes, you can either smoke outdoors on their patio – or inside with all the colorful decor that gives it a more refreshing atmosphere!
The best combo you can get at Ramosh Cafe by far would be the Chicken Tawook and the Grape Mint Shisha. That being said though, they have plenty of delicious and authentic menu options for you to choose from like the meat platter and Pitas.
Ranosh Cafe is also kid-friendly since they have a playground for your kids to play in as well! It’s nautical-themed too, so kids can feel like they’re sailing through the Mediterranean Sea – even if they’re in the heart of Houston.
Pro Tips:
- Ranosh Cafe has a decent serving size if you dine-in, but it will severely be downsized if you order them to-go. We strongly recommend dining in for a more filling experience!
10. Wasfi’s
Credit: @tangohai_eats on Instagram
Address: 6110 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77057
Phone Number: 713-782-1789
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Everything’s authentic when it comes to Wasfi’s, but that’s just how they do things. They offer an authentic shisha vibe that looks like it’s straight from India, along with some deliciously authentic food options to boot!
Wasfi’s shisha lounge is as authentic as can be – from the crowded floors to the intense, electric atmosphere, it’s very reminiscent of the shisha lounges that you find in India. Their flavors are good, with the Wasfi’s Mix of Lime Strawberry being the best one yet.
Regarding their food, Wasfi’s provides authentic flavors with every one of their food items. The ones that we recommend the most are the Cheese Flatbread and the Zataar Flatbread if you’re going with the sweet-sour Lime Strawberry shisha.
Pro Tips:
- Wasfi’s has a reputation for double charging their clientele sometimes. We strongly recommend double-checking your bill before paying and settling with the managers accordingly to prevent wasting your money!
