Hooked on Hookah: Where to Toke in Beijing
The concept of smoking tobacco filtered through water originated in India, became hugely popular in the Middle East, and eventually diffused all over the world. Try one of these venues below for a chill night floating in the fragrant aromas of hookah.
1001 Nights
With its outdoor seating and belly dancing performances, this venerable favorite for Middle Eastern fare is ideal turf for water pipe puffing (RMB 68, in cherry, mint, mixed fruit and strawberry).
1) Daily 11am-2am. Gongti Beilu (opposite Zhaolong Hotel), Chaoyang District. (6532 4050) www.1001nights.cn 朝阳区工体北路兆龙饭店对面, 2) Daily 11am-midnight. North side of Solana Mall, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District. (5905 6316/7/8) 朝阳区朝阳区朝阳公园路6号SOLANA内
Alameen
A haven for fans of hookah and Middle Eastern food alike. The customers here tend to stick around long after the meals are over, sipping on coffee in between smoking their water pipes (RMB 40, in apple, grape, mango and mint).
Daily 9am-midnight. 2 Sanlitun Xiwu Lu, Chaoyang District. (8451 7489) 朝阳区三里屯西五街西2号
Biteapitta
For a break from the Sanlitun bar scene mayhem, what better way to unwind than with fresh pita and apple-flavored hookah (RMB 40)?
Daily 11am-11pm. 2/F, Tongli Studio (same block as Le Petit Gourmand), Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District. (6467 2961) 朝阳区三里屯后街同里2层
Hai Bar
This Houhai terrace bar offers dazzling views of Houhai on one side and of the Drum and Bell towers on the other. The standard shisha with water (RMB 50) comes in apple, banana, lemon and strawberry; but they also mix milk (RMB 80) or red wine (RMB 120) in the base for a stronger flavor and buzz.
Daily 11am-2am. 36 Yandai Xiejie, Xicheng District. (6403 4913)西城区烟袋斜街36号
Lantung
This three-floor bar, lounge and restaurant in Solana specializes in lakeside lounging and spicy Thai tapas – the perfect complement for a laidback night of hookah (RMB 100, in apple, strawberry and lemon).
Daily 10.30am-2am. Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District. (5905 6213) 朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区
Lush
Open 24 hours a day, Lush is your bet for hookah (RMB 45) whenever the fancy strikes in the wee hours of the morning. Its neighboring sister bar Pyro Pizza offers the same deal in a saucier environment.
1) Lush. Daily 24hrs. 2/F, Bldg 1, Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu (across from the Wudaokou light-rail station), Haidian District. (8286 3566) 海淀区成府路华清嘉园1号楼2层（五道口城铁站对面）; 2) Pyro Pizza. Daily 11am-3am. B1/F, Bldg 12, Huaqing Jiayuan, Wudaokou (5 min from Wudaokou subway station), Haidian District. (8286 6240) 海淀区五道口华清嘉园12号楼地下1层
Ottoman Turkish Cuisine
The understated decor focuses one’s attention on what really matters: authentic family-sized Turkish dishes and hookah (RMB 40, in apple, cappuccino, lemon and orange).
Daily 11am-10pm. 32 Lucky Street, Chaoyang District. (5867 0210) 欧斯曼土耳其餐吧, 朝阳区亮马桥好运街32号
Rumi
This classy Persian restaurant offers one of the widest selections of shisha in town, with flavors ranging from orange, peach and plum to cappuccino and saffron (RMB 58). Don’t forget to BYOB if you like liquor alongside your hookah.
Daily 11.30am-midnight. 1A Gongti Beilu (opposite Zhaolong Hotel), Chaoyang District. (8454 3838) 朝阳区工体北路甲1号兆龙饭店对面
Souk Lounge
Many hail Souk as the first bar to introduce hookah to Beijing. It remains one of the best places to relax with a water pipe, with its outdoor patio, private booths and opium den feel. If all that isn’t enough to entice you, there are also Mediterranean-inspired tapas, a large selection of international beers, darts and multiple TVs to watch the game.
Daily 4pm-late. Chaoyang Park West Gate (in the alley behind Annie’s), Chaoyang District. (6506 7309) www.soukbeijing.com 朝阳区朝阳公园西门（安妮后面）
Turkish Mum
No need to feel naughty about smoking here – Turkish Mum offers tantalizing flavors like apple, strawberry, cherry and peppermint (RMB 45), along with great Turkish food.
Daily 11am-midnight. 3 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8532 3979) 土耳其妈妈, 朝阳区工体北路3号
Xinjiang Red Rose
Aside from some of the best lamb skewers around town, this Sanlitun favorite features nightly performances (starting at 7.40pm) of live music and belly dancers with snakes – perfect for an intoxicating hookah toke (RMB 50).
Daily 10.30am-11pm. Inside 7 Xingfu Yicun alley, opposite Workers’ Stadium North Gate, Chaoyang District. (6415 5741) 朝阳区工人体育场北门对面幸福一村7巷内
Xiu
This swanky nightclub in the Park Hyatt has a live band to keep the dance floor bumpin’; plus a scenic patio with one of the best rooftop views in town that's just right for that puff of hookah (RMB 100) when you need to rest your feet.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-late, Sat-Sun 6pm-late. Park Hyatt (entrance across from the hotel lobby), 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (8567 1838) 朝阳区朝阳区建国门外大街2号
