Cleopatra Cafe

This is the thing: if they could decide on the demographic they're trying to target, or prepare their hookahs consistently well every time, this could be a promising hookah lounge catering to the University District. Alas. By the way, they've also changed the name to "M.I.A. Hookah Cafe".

I'd never heard of this place, but wandering around south campus one night it seemed to emerge out of the night, making me think: yes, hookah! A way to end the evening in a relaxing way.

But although the evening was relaxing, this is a pretty awful hookah joint. There were some very young people on the tables outside, smoking with all the glee that comes from vague rebellion. Inside, we wandered past a downstairs room full of older dudes playing some serious card game, before going upstairs into an enormous, and empty, main room. It was a Tuesday, so I'm not expecting packed, but we're talking no one in a room larger than a basketball court.

The tables and booths were strange and restaurant-like, not the loungey feel I'm used to from hookah places, and in general the ambiance was very strange. Like a bingo hall after the seniors have left, with smoke and very loud music lingering. Techno music, and the guy at the counter was quietly smoking as he read a book. He was very friendly and gave some interesting flavor combination ideas (price was standard-ish for the area at around $10); he also changed the music at my request without any trouble-- it was kind of intense for that time of night/atmosphere.

Sum-up: nice service, decent hookah, but the bad ambiance and lack of patronage kills it. Not likely to go back.

First hooka experience. The couches were comfy. There was a fountain in the lounge? The cashier guy was nice and helpful, whilst taking his own puffs.

The place was empty on a Tuesday night for my first and only hooka experience and since I didn't really know what to expect, nor do I have anything to compare it to, we're going with A-OK here.

Techno music was blaring, and of course we had to sit next to the giant flat screen TV.

Really all this reminded me of was my friend's basement filled with smoke... except this place had a fountain.