She-Sha

This is my favorite place in Blacksburg to hang out and relax.  I have been a regular customer since the shop opened.  Hookah selection is great and there are some newer alternatives to traditional shisha tobacco.  My favorites from the menu are the grilled cheese and piri piri nachos.  For a cold drink, try the chai chiller with soy milk and vanilla.

The only drawback is seating during peak hours.  It is first come first serve.

This place has been here since I was in undergrad. I loved it when I was a VT student. It was a great place to pass the time and study. It was also a great place to bring out of town friends to hang out before going out.

Aside from the hookah, the food is also really good. I always get the same thing when I go - I am sure the other items on the menu are really good too. I am OBSESSED with their Special dip with pita wedges on the side. Their Piri Piri chicken panini sandwich is amazing.

The service is typically consistent and the people who work there are very nice. Give this place a try if you're looking for something a little different to do in Blacksburg!

Another place I'm torn between a 2-3, but I'm keeping this hookah bar on an even slate with New York City and the Middle East itself, so I'm setting the bar high.

This place is very good for a college town like Blacksburg, what better way to pass the time and study than give yourself some potent carcinogens.

The shisha itself is subpar because they only offer the three kings quicklighting variety of coals. Coals in this class are very harsh on the lungs in flavor, and probably in chemicals to match. The best coals would be lemonwood charcoals or even the Coconara (coconut husk) coals I have are also high quality and provide better and less irritating smoke. Multiple smaller coals also have to advantage of better regulating heat to the bowl to provide a longer smoke and avoid burning the tobacco.

Al-Fakher is good tobacco, there's a lot of options now on this very robust and popular market these days, but no complaints about the tobacco.

A minor criticism is the lack of good lounging space, there's a lot of seats here but there are more regular seats than couches. It doesn't make or break the deal.

As I said, this place is good for Blacksburg. It's almost on-par with the city standards, it's not quite at my level though.