I came her to celebrate my birthday with a few friends. I had a <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> certificate so I figured why not? They have a strict dress code. My brother was wearing a sleeveless shirt and turned away. He luckily had an extra shirt in his car but found it discriminatory since women were wearing sleeveless shirts (he's gay and almost female, I can totally attest to this.) We were seated by a window which was nice. Our waitress was lovely and explained what kind of hookahs they had and drink specials. My sister in law had the drink special. Pineapple something but mostly ice. Not so special. I on the other hand had quite a few orange mojitos. I would recommend. The melon mint hookah was divine. We racked up a $160 tab and when I offered my <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> certificate for $20 off $40 (which may I mention brought me here in the first place) was denied. I mentioned that it did not say anything about excluding hookah, drinks etc (I always read the fine print, I was in finance for 7 years). She talked to the manager and he said this time only. Gee thanks. Overall great atmosphere, good but pricey drinks and hookahs. I'll probably come back to try the food sometime.
Review Source:I've been here twice now and I don't think I'll be back. Â
My first visit was with 2 friends in the middle of the day for a late lunch. Â Since it was mid afternoon on a weekday the place was empty, we all ordered 1-2 drinks and a bunch of appetizers to share. Â While the drinks and food were good I can't even remember everything we ordered (a bad sign). Â I'm sure there was falafel and some kind of olive and cheese plate. Â Again, everything was fine just not very memorable. Â The service was good, but since we were the only people there that's not saying too much.
My second visit was with a larger group on a Saturday night. Â We all ordered drinks, 2 hookahs and small plates to share. Â The waitress took our orders without writing anything down, then promptly returned about 2 minutes later to say that she couldn't remember half the groups drink orders. Â When we finally did get our drinks, 2 of 10 drinks were missing and the majority of the drinks that did show up weren't made correctly (tonic instead of seltzer, wrong alcohol, etc). Â Throughout our time there no one every came by to tend to the hookahs. Â Also we were charged extra for basic things like extra pita (I wouldn't even call it extra when we are only given 3 tiny triangles of pita for a party of 10).
Also, we were there pretty late and I guess they must close at 1, around 12:30/12:45 they turned the music up so loud that everyone in the area where we were seated had to leave. Â It was deafening. Â I'm not sure if this is the tactic they use to get people to leave at the end of the night but that was the end result. Â I definitely got the message and I won't be back.
This is a must go to stop when I visit family in RI.
We stumbled into this place while bar hoping and the vibe seemed so cool from the outside it called us in.
The Lounge has a NY meets middle eastern feel. The music is booming and you cant help but want to dance along for a bit before being seated.
The service has always been great! and a great plus is the kitchen is open ALL NIGHT! DING DING perfect location to wide down with a drink, some food and a nice hookah.
They have tons of flavors so its always really hard to for me to select something new. So i always ask the waitress to help me out.
I have heard they have dancers on certain nights.. but I myself cant confirm that. Its never occurred while i been there. But i have experienced a live band while there and its been very good.
Basic overview: overpriced mediocre drinks and overpriced mediocre food. I was highly unimpressed with my experience at Nara, the tiny chairs were awkward and uncomfortable and the food, drinks and service was just blah. I ordered a cucumber vodka mojito and my husband ordered a Manhattan. My drink was too sweet and his had little bourbon and a ton of vermouth. We ordered an appetizer of Halloumi cheese and the mixed grill for two as an entree and after an excruciatingly long wait, both the app and entree came out together. The meat was semi cold, the lamb skewer tasted like ground beef, the steak was fatty and cooked well done and the chicken was dry...why bother asking how we would like it cooked if you're going to cook it to death anyway?? I have no idea why it was served with french fries. And back to the Halloumi, a cheese that is amazing when grilled just seemed limp, cold and lifeless on the plate. A complete rip off!! I'll stick to cooking Middle Eastern food at home thank you!
Review Source:Double apple hookah, Blood Orange Mojitos, comfortable seating, and good company? All my good times here are quite literally up in smoke!
For price, taste and atmosphere, Nara is one of the greatest places in PVD to bring a group of your friends. Unlimited Hookah, tons of non-meat options for your veggie friends, great drinks, comfortable seating, fun music, and an overall cool ambiance.
Last night, I went to Nara with 4 of my friends for a celebratory occasion. Our waitress was sweet and attentive all night long. My boyfriend and I ordered Blood Orange Mojitos, which we loved... a little too much. (Multiple mojitos and hangover, like whoa.) You could really taste all the fresh ingredients in the drinks! (Don't you hate when mojitos don't have fresh mint?!) Â We also had our picture taken at one point and were given free shots! I felt 22 again.
For the eats and smoke, we shared a Double Apple Hookah (sweet but not too sweet, and smooth) and the Mezza platter (delish!).
Considering the price points of their items (22 for hookah, 23 sampler platter), I say Nara is best for groups ready to partaty!! Couples should avoid, unless they're willing to shell out a few more bucks.
This place sucks. Went here with a few friends for a quiet Sunday night with a hookah and a few drinks. Due to the high volume of already reserved seats we were crammed into a small corner. All seems ok until this band starts testing their equipment at random and extremely loud levels. Staff was asked several times if this could be fixed to no avail.
They knew they had a band coming in. Why would they not test their equipment beforehand? Not to mention I stayed across the street and with all the windows closed in a third floor apartment I could hear the music as if it was being played in my room. It was SUNDAY.
I can promise I will never go back here. Despite the decent drinks the service was far too poor.
Come here for a mix of Lebanese food, middle eastern music and hooka. I don't really order entrees here and instead opt for the "mezze" style, meaning little plates of food. Everything on the sampler platter is amazing (easy choice for first-timers). The meat pies (lahem 'ajoun) are great along with the labne yogurt. There is a mix of Turkish cuisine in here (odd, but it's there! They have Sucuk--soujouk and Kunefe--Knefeh). Knefeh is one of their desserts and it's AMAZING. It's fried cheese. It's SO good. Any Turkish people would be happy with Nara's interpretation of this favorite, I promise. They also have Baklava for dessert and it's worth it. Have it with some tea and you are all set.
Drinks are really great here, I have never been upset. Hooka is easy to order and set up and they have tons of flavors (try blueberry--it's the smoothest). Service is great and food comes fast! I also really enjoy the music. Sometimes they play the gypsy kings =) and at that point it usually becomes a dance party!
Since they have expanded you can sit in the main room with loungy low tables or sit in the dining room. Either place you are allowed to have a hooka. There is one back room for larger groups or more intimate parties. Sitting at the bar can be fun too. If you want less hooka smell, sit in the dining room or bar in the dining room.
My first hookah lounge. Â I was very excited to try this place out because they serve Lebanese cuisine - and you got it - I'm Lebanese!
I've been here twice now, and it always seems to be dead slow when I arrive. Â The waitresses are usually all huddled around the bar chatting with the bartender. Â We are usually seated in the second dining room, with a great view of Atwells avenue. Â They have those windows that basically allow you to feel like you're dining outdoors.
The food is good. Â They have a great selection of Lebanese traditional dishes. Â Nothing too out of the ordinary though, same menu as every other Lebanese restaurant. Â We do eat more than just stuffed grape leaves! Â Cocktails are also good, but a tad overpriced. Â Though one drink - the French Kiss - is NO GOOD! Â Bogus!
The hookah is always a fun experience. Â I enjoy the raspberry flavor, but preferably only do this when I am seated outdoors. Â Great price on the hookah if you are with a party that is all going to participate (each person is provided with their own disposable mouth piece).
Now.. the complaint. Â There is some sort of live entertainment that goes on here at night, maybe its only on Wednesdays. Â If you are enjoying your meal in the second dining room, at about 8:30pm these men come into the room and started setting up a keyboard and other instrumental equipment. Â Around 9pm they start with the music. Â It sounds more like the auto button you press on the keyboard and a few other poorly chosen misplaced keys. Â It is SO loud; its impossible to continue your conversation because you can't hear one another.
Check please. Â Couldn't leave fast enough. Â It's a shame, I would love to enjoy the restaurant and the food without the music rivaling the volume of the downtown night clubs.
I liked the place, the atmosphere is nice... the hookah was great! we got there around 7pm on a Friday night and the place was dead, but by 9 pm it was packed... the service was really good! We enjoyed the food a lot... we had the tabbouleh, falafel, fatuous, mixed grill, hummus.... the only disappointing thing was the grape leaves, they tasted like the stuff you get from the market.... I lived in the middle east so I know what they should taste like! Overall, the experience was great, I would go back again for the hookah and food minus the grape leaves!
Review Source:A few of my good friends from Northern Cali are in town for the holidays so I wanted to take them out for some drinks and catch up so I suggested we go out for some hookah on the hill. I guess I should have done some research because this place was just bad!
   Let me begin with the awful drinks. They legit tasted like water. My friend could see right through his captin and coke, and I have been a Bombay drinker for 5 years and let me tell you my sapphire and soda was bunk! I was insulted, we were all insulted. So while the bartender was preparing our hooka in the back room we all came to the conclusion that we should mention something to her about the gross drinks.
    She came back over about 10 minutes later with our hookah and placed it on the bar. May I add that our server was indeed a professional as far and knowing her product. She was very informative of the different flavors and their strength and origin. So she drops the hookah and I say,"I'm sorry I never do this but we all agree that these drinks are awful." She looked puzzled.
    Keep in mind we were all sober at this point, this was our first drink of the night. She then proceeded to claim that she actually gave us more than she should have poured. That comment made us even more confused. Ive been a bartender for over 7 years.I know my drinks. I told her I wanted a hummus and lamb plate to go.
    She went away again for another 10 minutes. No attempt to communicate or introduce herself. She was always gone. Finally she came over and offered us a shot of the liquor in our drinks to make up for the watery taste. We accepted her offer and took the shots.My Bombay still did not taste right. I was so mad I just wanted to leave. It took over 15 minuted to prepare my hummus app.
    Finally she came over with my food and drops the check. I open the check and being to read the tab. Then I notice on the bottom that she auto-graded my bill and inserted a 18% gratuity. Such a insult. I'm always a good tipper and felt offended. I don't even know if that is legal for a party of 3.
    I handed her my visa and she went over to the POS to run my card. Apparently the POS system freezes up quite often she mentioned and if two people are using terminals it screws up. She attempted to run my card several times but she couldn't get a connection. Finally I told her to come over and I paid in cash.  I felt very uneasy in regards to the credit card system. It didn't seem very secure. She assured me my transaction did not process and I would not be charged electronically.
   I felt like a idiot taking my friends here and I was completely embarrassed. When you have to apologize to your friends for picking a crappy place to go it just stinks.
   When I arrived home I ate some of the hummus and went to crash for the night. I woke up in the morning with the worst stomach ache and sick feeling. I went to the toilet and threw up all the hummus and pita. It makes me wonder if they messed with my food while preparing it because they knew I complained previously.
 All I know is I will never return here. I will make sure to spread the word to my network of friends and co-workers as well.. With all the options available on the hill, Its gotta get better than this.
This was my first time visiting Nara and likely my last. Â We normally go to Opa for the hookah experience and dinner but we decided to try this place out for a change. Â I'll start with the Pro's. Â We didn't have to wait for a table and the food was good. Â The Con's were the tobacco in the hookah wasn't replaced and we had about 5 girls waiting. (It's not cheap and we want the full experience :) When we finally found our server, she replaced it but when she did, pieces from the burning tobacco flew at my black pants and ruined them. Â I tried to use water to just wash it off but it didn't come off. Â I really hate to complain but Eliza noticed what had happened and said she was going to speak to her manager. Â The manager gave us a discount but said Eliza had to pay for it. Â That made me feel even worse and we asked that she not give us the discount. Â We tried to talk to the manager that night and ask her not to make the waitress pay for it but she didn't want to hear it. Â I've worked in the service industry and that turned me off so that is why I reviewed the way I did.
Review Source:Nara is a cool spot. Â If you haven't been to a hookah lounge before I would suggest this one, it's nice inside. Â Opa is a good spot too, but they put their tables so close together you can't really move around, nevermind trying to get out from your chair. So if you're looking for somewhere not as crowded I would suggest here, don't get me wrong, it definitely still has a good amount of people there, but I think I just like the atmosphere better and not being squished.
Review Source:The food here is excellent! Â Really interesting Lebanese dishes that you truly do not see at other restaurants. Â Beautifully made, fresh ingredients. Â My husband's family is Egyptian, and we were really blown away by the wonderful flavors. Â We can't wait to go back and try more dishes!
Review Source:I got a living social deal to try this place out  with a friend so we drove all the way from Boston to shop at the giant providence mall (which their garage system made me want to kill someone) and to smoke some of the hookah goodness (guava was my poison of choice), walk around town and just chill out...
I will say that the hookah is a bit on the pricey side but it lasted for a long time since they kept adding coals so it's well worth the $22 ...it was only me and my friend but I'm pretty sure it would be enough for 4 people to smoke....I also smoked most of it since my friend got a bit sick from inhaling all the smoke in the room so I was left smelling like a big giant guava all night which I have no problem with! I also didn't realize there were so many other places in the immediate area that also offered hookah at all different price points but I will say that Nara had the nicest ambiance and decor...and the set up was really cute....more of a loungy vibe then the typical restaurant.
Our host/waitress Christie was really nice and was very friendly and nice and always came back to check on us every couple of minutes....She was cool.
The food , however was a bit on the overpriced side, and nothing really mind blowing. We decided to get the "mixed grill for 2" which was basically like 3 skewers of meat,  some shrimp, hummus and pita bread , vinegar soaked pickled veggies and UM...  FRENCH FRIES...random much?...for almost $30 it was just a weird mix and it wasn't a lot of food.... ALSO I don't really think of french fries when I go out for middle eastern/turkish food....I would imagine tabbouleh  would have been a better choice....
On top of that I was a bit put off since we asked Christine about recommending some apps and she mentioned a bunch of things but said the hummus was one of the more popular items, so not realizing the grill platter already came with hummus, we ordered it....she didn't mention anything and I didn't really read all the details...but  that was another  $9 for a few pieces of bread and a slightly bigger plate of hummus....I would have rather spent it on another app or to try a different dish had I known.  Between all the hummus we ate and the annoying couple sitting next to us who felt a need to have a full on make out session every 5 minutes in front of us, I didn't know which gave me more heartburn! UGH. Come on people, get a room! I'm trying to eat!
Anyhow, when both hummus platters finally came I did mention the double hummus to the waitress and oddly  she didn't suggest to switch it out - she just apologized  and mentioned I could wrap it up for later which was fine but a bit strange. The only other thing we ordered was a chicken roll up dish which again was more pita bread just wrapped up with chicken - they were really good but super heavy with the garlic ...and again, it looked like just a regular wrap i could get at the pizza place.
I probably wouldn't come back for the food, but definitely  for the hookah, the nice ambiance and friendly staff...It def. is a chill spot and a nice place to mingle with friends since there are two bars and the seating is very cozy.....
The one thing that DID blow me away is that they played a mix of  good music and one of the groups they played was AIM which is one of my favorites and I've never heard it play in a restaurant so that was nice! Props on that!
Also, FYI, they add automatically add gratuity into your bill so make sure you take a double look at it and then take another puff of that flavored goodness!
Also it's nice that they open til 1am on sundays while pretty much everything else closes around 10pm around the area!
Something cool and new to experience! Smoking from the Huka! Went here with a friend and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and the sweet smell in the air. Food is great, bartenders provide good service and its just a fun thing to experience.
I went on a not so busy night Tuesday night. I could see how it might be a bit overwhelming there on a night where it's packed though (which I think is common).
My review is strictly based on the hookah experience only, oh and drinks. Â The very expensive drinks. Â Actually, come to think of it, the hookah wasn't all to cheap either. Â (I've been elsewhere and paid much less.)
That being said, this IS Federal Hill we're talking about. Â It's all about location, location, location. Â
Nara is a cute little spot nestled amongst the many restaurants and bars on Atwells. You could probably walk by the place and not even notice it.
Our waitress was prompt and courteous. Â Very friendly and patient with our tipsy group.
One complaint: Â the music was WAY too loud.
For the most part, I enjoyed Nara Lounge...they offered free valet the Friday night we were there, the lighting and decor set the mood nicely and so didn't the music until about 9pm or so; they crank it up and Nara looses a bit of its chillax Lebanese-authenticness. Â The hookah flavors are very tastey, even though one of our 2 bongs had something wrong with it the entire time we were there. Â The food was deeelicious! Â We shared a few different apps (the Shankleesh & Batata Harra were my faves) and I got the Fattoush Salad, no complaints. Â Our waitress was a doll, however, after we put in a drink order, it took at the very least, a half hour to get the actual drink. Â Flagging her down amongst the bustling crowd with all the loud house music served to be a challenge as well. Â Hopefully, we'll check out Nara Lounge again on a different night and see if the experience is any different.
Review Source:I liked this place a lot, only complaints I have is that the music is really loud so you have to yell to speak to people and that they need better service. The waitress we had was really nice and quick, but it seemed like we had to wait forever to get drinks. Not a cheap place either, but if you know Federal Hill than you know that no place around this area is cheap. 3.5 stars!
Review Source:Smoking hookah is an old age tradition and it has been handed down from generation to generation. With a hookah, instead of burning the tobacco directly; the smoke was passed through water in order to avoid burning of tobacco and comparatively cool the temperature of the smoke. This process helps in the filtration of tar and other harmful products that is produced while smoking tobacco. With the help of molasses, burning of tobacco is totally avoided and the production of nicotine is also reduced. This device gained a huge popularity among the noble men and subsequently amongst the masses as well.
With old age tradition there are always certain etiquettes:
-When you are done smoking the hookah do not pass the hose of the hookah directly to the next person but keep it down on the table for the other person to pick up.
-When you are smoking a hookah with multiple hose, remember that when you are done smoking plug your mouthpiece with your finger so that extra air does not get inside when another person sucks the hookah from another hose.
-Never hold the hookah hose with your left hand as it is considered unclean in some countries.
-Do not make any unnecessary commotion in hookah lounges. It is a quiet place and people come there to relax and enjoy so try to maintain the quiet ambiance
And with that background I stumbled across Nara Hookah Lounge in Federal Hill. In fact there are at least three hookah lounges within  mile of each other which seemed absurd to me but they were all packed on the hot summer Saturday night. So hats different about todays's trendy hookah bar?
-First, these are not traditional hookahs, they are herbal hookahs because they don't contain tobacco or nicotine and instead are mixed with various fruit flavours.
-Traditional quiet ambiance is replaced with loud pounding music, a mix of trip-hop and trance music.
-comfortable lounge like accommodations are replaced with trendy, stylistic furniture, certainly chic over comfort.
-The overly chirpy scantily clad server will ensure you don't confuse Providence with Damascus.
So my lovely bride and I went, we inhaled $20 of fruit smoke, drank our overpriced drinks, and got a headache from the music. It's a shame; the culture of hookah is very beautiful, replaced here by a loud crowded hipster fad. I want the old Federal Hill back.
I came here last night for drinks outside. Â Great spot, quick service and good drinks. Â My disclaimer - I was with friends who are bartenders and knew the staff so maybe we got extra special treatment. Â I didn't eat so I can't comment on the food. Â I personally find the whole hookah fad silly and annoying but I would come back here.
Review Source:This is one of the coolest-looking restaurants I have ever been to. It is impossible to be bored here, even when it's 6 p.m. on a Tuesday -- just look around at the gorgeous, funky stained glass work, the bohemian carved bar stools, the "candle"-lit back wall that is practically an art installation.
This place is also really trendy. By that I mean, come here on a Friday night and the place will be slammed with spray tans, squealing and giggling, trying to dance in 2 feet of space. I have little patience for that, but maybe I'm just a stick in the mud. Â
In my experience, the music has always been an interesting, fun world-electronica mix. However, it can get REALLY LOUD. Like, rib-vibrating loud. Â
Stick to the traditional Middle Eastern offerings on the menu. The attempts at fusion aren't that great.
The waitstaff are always sweethearts, although service can be slow on the busier nights.
So come earlier, snag a spot al fresco, order up a Sweet Melon hookah, and people-watch from a safe distance.
Edit: Forgot to mention the grape leaves, which are some of the best I have ever eaten. Served warm with a tangy yogurt sauce.
Great Ambience. Very satisfied with the Hummus dip. Chef Mario makes special blends of Hookah tobacco everyday. Be sure to try them. The refills are a little expensive, same charge ($20) as the first one. No huge wine collection or appetizers. Could do a better with the music selection. Overall very satisfying experience. The charcoal is special coconut made and burns very lightly.
Review Source:This is my favorite hookah lounge in the area to date. The atmosphere is just lovely. Â The place is a bit small, but rather than feeling cramped it just makes you feel cozy. Â Located near Federal Hill, this is a great place to stop by for a couple drinks and hookah after eating a nice meal.
The place is really clean with ambient lighting. Â They also have some instruments lying around if you feel so inclined to play. Â In addition the instruments they have there, the place always plays great music that is not overbearingly loud which is refreshing compared to a lot of other lounges in the area.
Hugs and kisses abound at this hookah lounge and I can't tell if it's the less then comfortable (but lovely) seating or that we're painfully new to town.
Good beats, pumping on a Monday night. Â
$9-$10 drinks served by an adorable Jersey coed. Â
We didn't try the food but will do next time.
Nara Lounge was a major positive point in my Providence weekend. Â On a freezing cold Saturday afternoon, my fiance and I were ready to head up to Federal Hill and have dinner. Â
I hailed us a cab to Federal Hill and the cabbie wanted to pick up another guy who was coincidentally heading to Federal Hill, too. Â That guy sat in the front seat and we sat in the back. Â Cool! Â A cheaper cab fare I thought.
Well, we got to chatting and the guy that the cabbie picked up is named Mario and he told us he is the chef at a place called Nara Lounge. Â Ok, we both thought..that's nice. Â And then he said for us to come and visit and you know what? Â We did! Â We had nothing else really going on and went to Nara.
I've been to hookah bars before -- well, I've been to one a bunch of times in Boston and always enjoyed myself.
We entered the very sexy, dark, cool, fun place that is Nara Lounge. Â The bartender, Summer, was pleasant and came over. Â I told summer that "Mario told us to come see him."...and wouldn't you know she said, "He said you might come by." Â HOW COOL!
Mario then came out and sat down with us and chatted for a few minutes. Â I think there were maybe two other couples at Nara. Â It was early (maybe 6pm) and we had just come from Providence Oyster Bar where we had a great feeding frenzy of shellfish and I had a few glasses of wine.
I decided I would like a cocktail and got a sidecar (it was great, very boozy and very delicious).
My fiance got a Heineken. Â Mario brought us out some hummus. Â It was the BEST hummus we have ever had and we looove hummus. Â They also had a huge glass jar of grapefruits that were being soaked in gin. Â I LOVE GIN.
So, I had to have that!
By the end of the night, I was pretty tipsy, ok, I was drunk but it was a fun night and I will return and you should too. Â
I definitely plan to come back soon!
Nara is a great spot to either start a night or end a night. Â I recently went here on a busy Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised. Â Music was great, friendly service, and well made drinks. Â We had a chocolate mint flavored hookah and a great addition to our evening. Â We were in Nara for approximately 2 hours and the hookah kept on going for us. Â
No comment on the food as we did not try any. Â Will return.
5 Stars, 'cause this place is always poppin' on any given night... yeah... that's right... even tuesday nights--what I'm just say......
This little Lebanese rustic style lounge has an awesome array of appetizers, drinks and flavored Hookahs. Nara is a prime, bougy and upscale lounge on federal hill and it is always packed with beautiful people.
I really can't speak much on their food, since Middle Eastern style dishes wouldn't be my forte. But I'll say this much, I am trying to explore their tiny menu and trying something new every time i stop by... I can't stop raving how awesome their food is. Wowerz! They have a full bar with a few specialties drinks... priced very reasonably. I like to play it save and stick to my gray goose on the rocks or jack and coke; just depends on the night. so if you're ballin' on a budget... you still get crunk with style at Nara!
Favored hookahs - yum, yum and yum! I think I've tried everything already and I must say, guava would be my fav! Have an open mind and check it out! Hit: don't hold in the smoke, just blow it out slowly...
Service is always prompt, friend, interpersonal and awesome. As a new guy in town, they quickly welcome me in, knowing me by first name basis. FREE VALET! Just make sure you tip them... :)
I recommend this spot to anyone looking for a nice lounge for your first date. Ideal to have a conversation over a few drinks.
I really liked this place. I've been twice, the first time I went was for a bachelorette party, the drinks are delicious and pretty stiff, which is a good thing as far as I''m concerned. The decor is amazing, it's really beautiful, and I have to say I really enjoyed the music. This is the best hookah bar around providence, and it is reasonably priced too. You should definitely check it out if you are looking for something different.
Review Source:I have to say, I was always reluctant to check out this assumedly smokey, pretentious hookah den - & am so glad my friend Briana got me there last night.
I love Nara! Â This place is such a nice combination of cozy, polished, friendly, & hip but not too trendy. Â Great mix of people, great mix of music, great food, great drinks, & hookahs actually rock!
Don't need to be a smoker to enjoy this fun, hygienic (sterile, personal smoking tips provided), tasty, social activity.
Love that there are 2 rooms, the bar, & areas to sit or stand = ample room while still creating feeling of an intimate environment.
I was so impressed w/ the service et all! Â Will def be going back soon, & so should you!
Every time I go into Nara, I feel like I have just entered the womb. It's less squishy, has better music, and I am old enough to get a drink....but alas, it is incredibly comfortable. Its atmosphere is a bit more sophisticated than its sister restaurant, Byblos, as it is not located right near a college campus. I think that the patrons of Nara benefit from that fact greatly.
Designed by Kyla Coburn of the Avery, Lois Fuller, and Ama's, the décor is stunning. The thing that I like best about her work is that it is innovative without feeling inaccessible, beautiful without being bourgie. Nara's color palate is monochromatically brown and uses typical Arabic/Islamic shapes and organic materials to achieve a totally chill and relaxed environment. My favorite element are the bar stools that appear to be hand-carved tree trunks: I feel like I am in Willow when I sit on them. In addition to the beautiful environment, Nara's air ventilation system is awesome - although there may be five or six arghilas being smoked at once, the air is clear and I never feel as though what I am wearing reeks of smoke.
Admittedly, I get a little sensitive about Arabic food, music, and culture, as I am Syrian and have been raised on this stuff. I feel proud to declare that all of my sensitivities are quelled at Nara. Every time I am in there, I order some of the traditional food (kibbeh, grape leaves, hummus) and am always nostalgically pleased by their authentic flavors. They have live Arabic music every Wednesday with Mitchell K, a truly spectacular local oud musician and singer. Their selection flavors to be smoked in the arghilas is wide and their drink menu is creative. Finally, Jeanne, the bartender and manager, is extremely knowledgeable about mixology and restaurant management, so she always makes me feel comfortable and well cared for while I am happily perched on a wooden bar stool, shimmying along to the sounds of the oud.
I only went to the bar/lounge area so i cant comment on the food or dining area. At first glance it looks big and spacious and it was cool to see people sitting outside with hookahs puffing away.. but once you get in this place is small AND if you dont have a reservation on a busy night...you are restricted to the bar area and their UNCOMFORTABLE stools ugh! its like they gave up comfort for style with those things..my a$$ was definitely sore by nights end. But once the hookah starts flowing it gets more pleasant :) I have to say i loved some of the quirky music and the bartenders were nice, kept the coals fresh and made some kicka$$ sangrias lol.
** Side note** What is up with the ONE bathroom in the whole place esp when women are in your establishment..do they not know we women 1st travel in groups and 2nd take an average 5-10 mins longer than men.. soooo is it really wise to have just one bathroom? and you wonder why there's a line! Â
Overall with a group of 3-5 with reservations on a saturday would be a good time...but i have yet to experience that lol still check it out
One fantastic wall
Great spot before or after
Check your drink orders
When I think of hookah lounges, I tend to think of dark, scarcely windowed places tucked away on side streets. Nara is  the opposite, with large windows and a lot of frontage right in the middle of Federal Hill.
Like many hookah bars, it's littered with low interior tables and couches for lounging, lit at night by electric candles perched along the crags of a wood mosaic wall. They lend a great atmosphere to the darker colored furniture and decor.
The large central room is great for mingling in large groups, or the table next door, and there's music most nights of the week. People occasionally bring their own drums and play/sing along. It's a nice quasi-communal atmosphere, but you can still keep separation with your group if you want. There is also a small side room if you can snag it for an out-of-the-way sit down.
In warmer weather, there are wicker chairs and low tables all along the sidewalk, and it's a perfect place to grab a drink and hookah for an hour or so.
As far as service goes, it's definitely hit or miss. I've had my drink messed up here two times (ordered a bourbon, neat; received a vodka and tonic) and charged for both drinks both times. I Â had to argue to get the bill changed, adding to my annoyance.
It's a great place to go in the late evening for a nightcap or after dinner cocktails, or to spend a lazy afternoon.
The decor in this little joint is absolutely gorgeous. Some friends and I stumbled into this place after a Saturday night out of drinking and were instantly attracted to the music and crowd. The staff was SUPER friendly and accommodating and the whole vibe of this place was relaxed yet lively. Some people were just taking it easy at the bar, some people were dancing to the music in their booths, and some people were just lounging with their hookahs. It was really quite a diverse sight.
We got a mango hookah which was absolutely delicious! Our waitress kept our coals burning and made sure we were taken care of the entire night.
I haven't tried the food here, but considering the vibe and staff, I would definitely stop by again.
I stumbled upon this place on a random adventure to Providence. Â I like it, but I feel like I am more apt to like it because it's a hookah lounge with a full bar. Â I have never ever come across this in my hookah adventures. It's pretty hard for hookah lounges to get a liquor license.
The atmosphere is chill, well decorated and enjoyable, just a bit cramped feeling.
Stopped here for a drink on a Saturday afternoon while exploring Federal Hill. It's doing the Middle East-vibe quite nicely with low seating, small tables, cushions, and dim lighting. Though the sun was shining brightly, I could see how this place probably fills up and gets crowded on a typical weekend night. It has a loungey atmosphere and a sidewalk patio area where you can enjoy your drinks, hookah, and/or food as you people-watch Atwells Ave.
We only got drinks because we planned dinner elsewhere. The beer is all bottled, reasonably-priced. I ordered a white sangria which came with fresh citrus fruit slices and a cherry. Very refreshing! I probably should have gotten some food to absorb the alcohol because I'm a lightweight.
Cool place to hang out. They have $19 hookah specials Mon-Tues-Wed. I'd love to come back and try to the Lebanese food.
As far as RI nightlife is concerned, it appears to be happening on Atwells Ave. Â The lounge has a upbeat and live energy, the hookah was a little pricey, but had the best mango that I ever had! Â The people were friendly and I enjoyed the music and ambience. Â
I didn't eat there, but would be willing to check it out. Â I will definitely be visiting again the next time I'm up this way.
Federal Hill is home to this little Lebanese lounge and hookah bar. Â The clientele is diverse and wide-ranging: young hipsters, middle aged professionals, jock coeds, broke artists, and thirty-thousand-millionaires. Â It's a great location to grab a drink, a bite, or a hookah.
The venue isn't terribly spacious but it's well designed and appropriately decorated. Â There's low slung tables, cushions and chairs. Low lighting adds to the exotic air and also allows you to pretend fellow patrons are better looking than they actually are. Â
The food is a little cumbersome to consume on the small, short tables but most of it is designed to be eaten with your hands. There's no actual entrees; just appetizers, salads, and rolls. Â The labneh btoom was very, very good. Â The shrimp skewer was a little dry but otherwise edible. We tried several rolls and found them flavorful. Â The food is fine and won't hurt your feelings, but Nara's purpose and positioning is mostly the hookah angle.
I found Nara's hookah rental/use expensive. Typically, places charge $13-$20 for the rental of the hookah itself and then $5 for each person smoking. Â At the very high end, a group of four can expect to pay $40. Â At Nara, they charge a flat fee of $15 per person. Â They carry the known flavors but they haven't the 40 varieties you've come to expect. Â We tried the special for the evening, blueberry. It was among the best I've had.
The service was not spectacular, but it wasn't the worst, either. You have to have a group of four or more in order to secure the nice, spacious seating. Otherwise, you're relegated to the crowded bar or small stools along the wall. We requested additional pita when our labneh btoom arrived and we didn't receive it for another 20, 30 minutes. Not cool.
As the night wears on, it definitely becomes Lebanese territory. Â Groups of heavily perfumed and cologned people wearing only black show up and expect to be quickly seated. Â Everyone seems to know one another and the drinks flow freely.
Despite it being slightly overpriced, it's a welcome addition to the Providence scene. It should be interesting to see if and how they iron out their kinks and evolve into a neighborhood destination.
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