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The Arabian past time that has come under a lot of fire recently in Maharashtra, is still popular amongst city revelers. Numerous restaurants and lounges across the city serve the hookah with people preferring to smoke the pipe after their meals and over relaxed conversations. The popularity of these places stems from the fact that the apparatus is often expensive and cumbersome to assemble at home.
The flavoured tobacco smoke pipe has a long and rich history behind it. Conflicting theories trace the origins of the hookah in India or Persia. The one that says that the hookah was invented in India, credit 15th century Mughal physician Irfan Shaikh for it. It is believed that Shaikh invented the water pipe for smoking at the court of Mughal ruler Akbar the Great. So I guess we have the Mughal Dynasty of old to thank for this. ALSO READ: Attention Mumbaikars! You can drink 30 cocktails in the price of 1 using this amazing app
For Mumaikars who like to smoke in style, these 15 places are the absolute best choices:
Credits: Zomato
If you have never smoked a sheesha before, then Baraesti is the perfect place to initiate you into it. The rooftop restaurant and lounge has a chilled and laid back ambiance, eons away from the shady parlours of your worst nightmares. The place is done up in vibrant colours and has low sofas and comfy chairs, with great music to get you into the mood. They also have a pool table and a good variety of cocktails and mocktails. The food is okay, but the sheesha experience will not disappoint.
Cuisines: Italian, Continental, North Indian
Where: 505, 5th Floor, Konark Shram, Behind Everest Building, Tardeo, Mumbai
Timings: 5:30 PM to 12:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 2,500
Credits: Zomato
The decor of this place has a very rustic feel to it, to match with its name. As soon as you enter the alluring blue door, you find yourself inside a warm and chic place, with brick walls adorned by white bicycles. They also have private dining rooms and quirky food options. They also a good choice of mock tails and alcoholic drinks. Don’t bank too much on the food though, as we have been told that it rarely ever meets expectations.
Cuisines: North Indian, Chinese, Continental
Where: Ground Floor, 1 Khatau building, 48 Bank Street, Opposite Old Custom House, Fort
Timings: 9 AM to 1:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1,500
Credits: Zomato
Located at a location which can only be considered a prized one, the Lantern Bar is an old and trusty place for hookah lovers. The ground floor serves as a family restaurant, while the first floor is the indoor hookah parlour and bar area. The ambiance is plain but the service and the food more than makes up for it. The staff is alert and ever-ready to tend to your needs. The hookahs all have great flavours and if you are not in the mood for a regular water based one, you can request a different base.
Cuisines: North Indian, Chinese
Where: 95, Opposite Standard Chartered Bank, MG Road, Fort
Timings: 11 AM to 1 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1,000
Credits: Zomato
Located inside the four star hotel Sofitel in Bandra Kurla, Jyran is an overall great place for both casual and formal hangout. The decor is fancy, bordering on opulent with a Persian touch, which gives you the feel of smoking in the style of the emperors themselves. The food is generally described as great in taste and quality and quantity. However, many people have expressed their disappointment with the restaurant’s service.
Cuisines: North Indian, Mughlai
Where: Sofitel Hotel, C 57, Bandra Kurla Complex
Timings: 12 Noon to 3 PM, 7 PM to 11:45 PM
Cost for 2: Rs 3300
Credits: Instagram
With everything from the food to the decor being Arabian themed, Faham Restaurant at Mohammad Ali Road has been winning hearts with its small prices and generous food portions and great taste. The management is very friendly and couteous and the food is finger licking good. Hookahs also have great flavours and the ambiance is homely and comforting.
Cuisines: Chinese, North Indian, Mughlai
Where: Building No. 23, Satkar Hotel Lane, Near Zakaria Masjid, Masjid Station Road, Mohammad Ali Road
Timings: 8:30 AM to 1:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1100
Credits: Instagram
A regular haunt for TV celebrities and upcoming actors, Opa has been getting a lot of love from visitors. On weekends, the place is very crowded, so its better to book a table beforehand. The rooftop restaurant is hot property in the suburbs of Mumbai. So if you feel like ditching the clubbing scene and want a more chilled scene with friends, head to this restaurant and sample their great food and hookahs.
Cuisines: Lebanese. Mediterranean, European, Arabian
Where: Hotel Peninsula Grand, Rooftop, Opposite Sakinaka Metro Station, Andheri Airport Road, Sakinaka
Timings: 4.30 pm to 1.30 am
Cost for 2: Rs 1,700
Credits: Zomato
Sheesha Sky Lounge has many branches across the city in bandra, Andheri west, Kandivali east, Juhu and a few other places. The reason why it’s so popular is the rooftop location and their comfort Indian cuisine food. This is the place you hit after an especially tiring day at the office, for chilling with your work buddies, with filling meals, cozy and relaxing ambiance and great options for sheesha flavours. ALSO READ: This newly launched retro theme Bandra bar is also a funky work station, a library and a gaming hub!
Cuisines: North India, Mughlai
Where: Roof Top, 7th Floor, Above Shoppers Stop, Suburbia Mall, Linking Road, Bandra West
Timings: 11 am to 12.30 am
Cost for 2: Rs 1500
Credits: Zomato
Located in four places across Mumbai, 24 Sheesha Lounge is a blink and miss it rooftop restaurant, but its a must visit for all hookah lovers in the city. The place is quite chic with blue and white mosaic table tops, elegant lamps and a fountain in one corner. It also gives you a beautiful panorimic view of the buildings surrounding one of the most prime locations in Mumbai’s suburbs. A great bonus is that this place won’t burn a huge hole in your pocket.
Cuisines: North India, Chinese, Continental
Where: Near Trade Center, Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex
Timings: 12 Noon to 1:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 950
Credits: Instagram
Located in Colaba and Versova, Koyla is one of the foremost sheesha places in Mumbai. However, if you prefer the beachy vibe instead of a more formal indoors setting, we suggest you go to the restaurant at the former location. With typical shamiana type setting, wooden chairs and low hung colourful lanterns, this place is the best for a relaxing late lunch at the weekend.
Cuisines: North Indian, Mughlai
Where: Gulf Hotel, HNA Azmi Marg, Colaba
Timings: 7 PM to 1:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1500
Credits: Zomato
U Turn Sheesha has two locations in Khar and Kandivali East and both the joints are quite popular for hookahs. The Khar joint is the most favorite haunt of hookah lovers in the area, leaving all others behind. The rooftop seating area also has a TV screen for watching matches in the evening. The music is peppy and they even play choice Bollywood numbers. The sheesha flavours are good and the overall experience has been described as above average on most days. They also give a complimentary sheesha on a F&B bill of Rs 2500 from Monday through Thursday.
Cuisines: North Indian, Italian, Chinese, Continental
Where: Hotel Evergreen, Guru Gobind Singh Marg, Near Railway Station, Khar West, Khar
Timings: 12 Noon to 3:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1200
Credits: Instagram
This dimly-lit restaurant with plush interiors is one of the most popular hookah joints in South Mumbai. Their food is mouth-watering and service is good. This is probably the reason that this place sees visitors come and go, almost round the clock. If you go there late in the night, you are bound to see a healthy stream of late party goers of club hoppers make a food stop here, before going to their next party.
Cuisines: North India, Seas Food, Mughlai, Biryani
Where: B, Sitaram Building, DN Road, Crawford Market, Mumbai CST Area
Timings: 12 Noon to 3:40 PM, 7 PM to 3:40 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1300
Located in Bandra West, Sigdi has been giving tough competition to the numerous restaurants in the area, when it comes to food quality. Their food is quite delicious, and Sigdi’s patrons swear by their Chinese and rolls and Mughlai food. The service is quick and the staff is friendly and it’s a great place for spending a chill evening with friends, if you don’t feel like sweating it out at a club. What’s more? It’s incredibly pocket friendly.
Cuisines: Mughlai, Chinese, Fast Food
Where: Abbas Compound, 29th Road, Off Waterfield Road, Bandra Talao, Bandra West
Timings: 11 AM to 1 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 650
Credits: Zomato
This place near Chowpatty has both the indoors and the outdoor seating section. Location wise the place cannot be called ideal, as it’s located so close to the sea, and yet not quite. Many people prefer going there for the delicious North Indian fare, but the restaurant is also quite well known for their hookahs.
Cuisines: North Indian, Italian, Chinese
Where: Girgaum Bandstand, Loyalka Marg, Dadi Seth Lane 1, Next to Babulnath Petrol Pump, Chowpatty
Timings: 11 AM to 12 Midnight
Cost for 2: Rs 1500
Credits: Zomato
This is one place which has recently become a hot favourite amongst late night revelers in Andheri. Their sea food is border orgasmic for sea food lovers. They have a wide range of fruity and refreshing hookah flavours, which are sure to delight you to no end. The place is especially happening during the weekends and it’s recommended to pre-book a table here before going.
Cuisines: North Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, Thai, Italian
Where: Next to Barbeque Nation, Near Fun Republic, Off New Andheri Link Road, Veera Desai Area
Timings: 12 Noon to 1 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 1100
Credits: Zomato
Fumes is high on comfort, with the comfy sofas, low lighting, understates decor and a huge LED screen TV with football and cricket matches, giving the place a home-like yet luxurious feel. An absolute must try for hookah lovers, this place also serves some above average food, with their Italian dishes being the most popular.
Cuisines: Chinese, Italian, North Indian
Where: Block 25, Raghuvanshi Mills Compound, SB Road, Lower Parel
Timings: 1 PM to 1:30 AM
Cost for 2: Rs 900
Have any place you would like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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