Though shisha smoking has been popular for centuries, the focal point of many an animated discussion and burgeoning romance gathered around the pipe, its prevalence in the UK has taken a little longer to ignite.
But in recent years, shisha bars have entered the mainstream, and you’ll now find one in most cities in the UK. Made more popular still by celebrity fans enjoying on Instagram and famous faces frequenting them regularly, we just love this chilled out past time.
People tend to smoke shisha for relaxation and similarly use fruity flavours to enhance the experience. However, smoking shisha or Hookah is done in social settings with conversation and merry making the focus. Today we’re in the capital having a puff, at these 4 places to enjoy shisha in London.
CAFE CAIRO, CLAPHAM
Bringing the vibes of the famous Cairo bazaar Khan el-Khalili to this Clapham hotspot, Cafe Cairo is a cafe, bar and club all rolled into one, with excellent shisha defining the experience along with a cocktail and wine list, Turkish coffee and Morrocan tea. This alternative venue with eccentric interiors will put you at ease and on an imaginary plane to North Africa.
To finish, bring your sweet tooth and order some baklava, Turkish delight and some chocolates.
Address: 88 Landor Road, SW9 9PE London
*Sadly, as of September 2022, Cafe Cairo is now closed*
DAR MARRAKESH
There’s a wonderfully multicultural stretch along Edgeware road, known to many Londoners variously as Little Cairo, Little Beirut and Little Arabia because of the large number of Middle Eastern eateries here. That’s where you’ll find Dar Marrakesh, a brilliant place to smoke shisha and soak up some excellent vibes.
‘’Come for the food and stay for experience’’ – what it says on the menu here and that’s certainly true. The kitchen here cooks up traditional Moroccan dishes with a modern twist. Book for dinner, followed by shisha in the lounge – close your eyes and you could be in Marrakech. Here, our tipple of choice is Casablanca beer which works so well within the setting, but the tea is also reliably excellent.
Address: 422 Edgware Rd, Marylebone, London W2 1EG
Website: dar-marrakesh.co.uk
LE COMPTOIR, KENSAL RISE
Another one straight from the souks of Marrakesh, with great snacks, tea and shisha setting the scene so perfectly. Indeed, the decor is inspired by the souks of Morroco, with decorative tagines and the aroma of dried spice filling the air, and a vibrant colour scheme of opulent golds and royal blues really setting a scene. Enjoy shisha in Le Comptoir’s secret garden, which boasts a retractable roof and outdoor heating, complete with furniture sourced directly from Marrakesh’s souks. Finish with a gloriously refreshing mint tea.
Address 20 Station Terrace, Kensal Green, London NW10 5RX
Website: www.le-comptoir.uk
DRUNCH, MAYFAIR
Yep, we’re thinking this would be a good name for a bottomless brunch spot too, but nope, Drunch is a shisha joint in Mayfair which caters to a fashionable, diverse clientele. Expect to see supercars out front, and the cloud of sweet shisha within.
There’s an eclectic, world-travelling menu to enjoy, with the sweets, including excellent doughnuts and pancakes, particularly good. But we’re here for a different flavour, and Drunch offers a wide selection of shisha to suit all tastes. We particularly enjoyed the Al Fakher, comprising gum cinnamon, on our last visit.
Address: 1 Woodstock St, Mayfair, London W1C 2AA
Website: drunch.co.uk