Shisha, waterpipes, hookah, narghile, or hubble-bubble pipes, there are almost more words that refer to shishas in English than in Arabic. Since the British smoking ban was enforced exactly nine years ago, most (but not all) underground and enclosed shisha areas were closed down. Open air shisha spots, however, are in every corner of London and have been growing ever since the first shisha places sparkled on Edgware Road in the 70s.
Another rising trend is the electronic shishas that you can even order in some clubs and smoke inside as you wish. There is no mystery as to why such places are constantly on the rise: people like to chill in social spaces everywhere in the world, and in London, you can charge about 15 times what you would charge in Egypt for each shisha and still be in the normal price range. There are so many waterpipe places in London that you could list them endlessly, but we carefully selected a few for you in case you are lost in the sea of pipes…
Going to shishas spots regularly can be quite fun if you’re willing to pay the price. As the shisha trend is growing, there and more and more chances to get great shisha kits at a great cost. This means you can have your own shisha party whenever you like, and you can avoid paying some of the inflated London prices. Carry on reading if you’re looking for some of the greatest shisha spots in London.
Mo Café
“Going to Momo” in London language is sort of like saying you’re “going to Marrakech” for a couple of hours – unless you are referring to the downstairs restaurant/bar/club, but if this is the case you were meant to say “going to Black Dice” anyway, so you better get your vocabulary straight. It’s upstairs in front of the restaurant called Momo that you will be able to enjoy your shisha in a cosy and heated terrace that could make you forget about central London, transporting you to a little garden for some Moroccan type of chilling.
Momo wasn’t opened by a Mohammed, as you could have imagined, but by the one and only Mourad Mazouz, who is also guilty for opening Sketch in London, Derrière in Paris, Almaz in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Drunch
Drunch is one of my favourite places to have shishas in London, and I’m not saying that because it’s run by a bunch of the kawlest dudes in town…nor am I saying that because they have all-glitter shishas…but because Drunch is at the corner of Blenheim and Woodstock streets, two of the cutest little streets in London, offering a piece of quietness in the form of a sexy lounge. Exactly what you need just a few steps away from crowded shopping hub, Oxford Street. Their fresh juices are vital and you can enjoy their food in a “Private Living Room” if you feel like it. Also, isn’t it so swag to be like: “hey babe, let’s go for drunch tomorrow?” cause brunches are so two thousand and late…
And we hear they’re opening new locations soon! Woopwoop!
Mamounia Lounge
You can enjoy the Mamounia Lounge at two locations: Knightsbridge and Mayfair. They both offer amazing Arabic food with a Western twist including mezze, main dishes, and pastries. If you were going to go for just one thing, I’d recommend the truffle hummus. You can enjoy a wide range of flavors of charcoal shishas in the floor heated outside space, but also e-shishas inside. Both locations also have a bar and you can enjoy belly dancing and other flamboyant shows most of the evenings (when it’s not Ramadan).
Elysée Roof Garden
If you wouldn’t think of going to the notorious Greek place of London for a shisha, you’ve got it all wrong. Elysée’s Roof Garden is actually highly populated by Middle Easterners who know their shishas, and most of the shisha staff is certainly Egyptian. The enchanted atmosphere of the roof garden is equipped for you to enjoy under any weather condition. No other place in London will give you such a Mediterranean vibe; from the delicious Greek signature dishes, to the warm ambiance, the music, or just the thought that while you’re sipping your shisha upstairs, people are breaking plates downstairs on live music!
Baku Bistro
Baku Bistro is another go-to for shisha lovers in London. They have a very enjoyable outside space on a pedestrian row of Mayfair where you can chill and enjoy really good shishas.
Sidi Maarouf
If you’re an Arab that has ever stepped foot in London, there is no way you do not know Maarouf. Most people see it as the best Lebanese chain of restaurants in London. The Edgware Road branch couldn’t get away without offering shishas outside. The chilling area is extremely pleasant and the shishas’ quality is as sharp as the food’s.
Dar Marrakesh
Just because you can’t talk about shishas and London without mentioning Edgware Road. This is a nice one with a shisha lounge in the back garden and always quite international crowds. Prices for shishas on Edgware Road also tend to be less expensive than in Knightsbridge and Mayfair, and you get to have a whole Middle Eastern experience as you walk to and out of the place. And of course if you speak a bit of Arabic you’ll be received as home.
Café Cairo
For an alternative experience, pick Café Cairo. Whilst in the hype neighbourhood of Brixton, Café Cairo will remind you all what you love about Khan El Khalili’s mess and downtown Cairo’s design and architecture with some London extravaganza on top. The shisha area is just another one of these unexpected rooms that you end up into if you wonder around a little bit. The atmosphere is as easygoing as in Cairo’s popular places: you can bring your own food if you feel like it. They will encourage you to join in your pjs for the free screening nights and they have the most random themed nights such as last week’s “The Cairo Freak Show.”
WE SAID THIS: You should also check out Is Toronto’s Proposed Ban on Shisha Racist?
