There’s a whole host of great spots in our beloved London Town to puff the night away on a shisha. From expansive, warmly-lit shisha gardens to magical, Moroccan-themed dens, there’s plenty of scope here to find whatever vibe you’re looking for. Here’s our rundown of ten of the best shisha bars in London:
1. Coco Grill & Lounge
Kicking off this list of the best shisha bars in London is a real winner. Situated right next to the River Thames overlooking the iconic Tower Bridge, the chic Coco Grill & Lounge certainly isn’t shy when it comes to location. But it also ticks all the boxes when it comes to its shisha. It’s not exactly cheap – a shisha here is 50 quid – but you’ll see why when it comes to the flavours.
They do everything here from the ‘Magna Carta’ – a delicious concoction of Cuban mojito, crushed lime and ice – and ‘BLK Mamba’ – which consists of blackberry, succulent peach and cool mint. Heck, they even do an Irn Bru flavour here! They also do some great Turkish grub too.
📍You’ll find Coco Grill & Lounge at 34A Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YG.
🚇 Nearest station is London Bridge.
2. The Banc
Set right in the middle of Seven Sisters and Turnpike Lane, The Banc is a great restaurant which whips up some pretty mouth-watering burgers, steaks and Mediterranean fare – all halal-certified. But it’s also one of London’s best spots in which to smoke shisha.
There’s an airy, two-storey lounge here with a retractable roof and heating, meaning that you can puff away to your heart’s content whatever the weather. Flavours here are wide-ranging and encompass everything from ‘Red Lace’ to ‘Pink Powerpuff’ – an effervescent pink bubblegum sensation. It should be noted that this place is for over 21s only, and you’ll need to dress smart casual in order to get in – so no reeboks, trackies or flat-caps here please!
📍You’ll find The Banc at 261-263 West Green Road, London, N15 3BH.
🚇 Nearest stations are Turnpike Lane and Seven Sisters.
3. Maya Lounge
This Lebanese spot in Totteridge and Whetstone is a firm favourite among those that love to smoke shisha. But first, let’s start with the food – it’s pretty damn special at Maya Lounge. From shawarmas and falafel to their signature ‘Farrouj Musahab’ (grilled baby chicken), there’s plenty to satiate your appetite here, and they do a wide variety of finely-crafted cocktails, wines and soft drinks here too.
Now onto the shisha. They’ve got their own lounge decked out in Middle Eastern-decor, specifically designed for smoking some tasty hookah, and flavours range from fruity classics to unique in-house blends. There are also belly dancing shows on here from Thursdays through to Sundays, so you can really get the party started if you want!
📍You’ll find Maya Lounge at 1277 High Road, London, N20 9HS.
🚇 Nearest station is Totteridge and Whetstone.
4. The Shisha Garden
Another worthy addition to this list of shisha lounges in London, The Shisha Garden is a pretty enchanting spot right at the end of the Northern Line in Edgware. Opened in 1989 by Greek-Cypriot owner Toullis, it’s a pretty unique project that originally began its life as a house, before it was converted into a hotel.
Decked out in exquisite pieces of art and handmade ceramics, it’s a pretty magical place, and that’s before you’ve even got out into the garden. Shrouded in plants, ambient heaters and multi-coloured lights, it’s easy to while away the hours here puffing on shishas of all flavours. It should be noted that you’ll need to be a member here to enter, and you’ll need to dress relatively smart. You can find out more here.
📍You’ll find The Shisha Garden at 88 Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, HA8 6QN.
🚇 Nearest station is Edgware.
5. Cafe Cairo
This eclectic spot will transport you all the way to Cairo – well, actually Clapham – but you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise at this cafe-come-bar-come-restaurant-come-shisha garden. Phew! As soon as you enter this Aladdin’s cave of treasure troves, you’ll find it hard not to be impressed by the ambience.
There’s a ‘Magic Tent’ here, specifically made in the bazaars of Cairo, and this is where all the shisha action takes place. Framed by foliage, colourful lights and intricate cushions, it’s a great little nook – perfect for a first date even – and there’s also a basement bar with a piano, a stage and a little pop-up bar whipping up excellent cocktails. It’s open until 2am on the weekends, so you’re sure to fill your time at Café Cairo.
📍You’ll find Café Cairo at 88 Landor Road, London, SW9 9PE.
🚇 Nearest station is Clapham North.
6. Mamounia Lounge
A strong contender for offering the best shisha in London is Mamounia Lounge, an upmarket spot in glitzy Mayfair which offers one of the most ‘authentic Arabian experiences right in the heart of London’. While the food, cocktails and wines here are all bloomin’ excellent, it’s the hookah menu that really steals the crown – it’s one of the most decadent anywhere in town.
They’ve got electric shishas here, with everything from ‘Black Mint’ to ‘Grape Freeze’ flavours, as well as your more standard tobacco shishas. You can also opt to have them blended with your favourite juices, spirits, wine and even Belvedere vodka and champagne for those really looking to impress.
📍You’ll find Mamounia Lounge at 37A Curzon Street, London, W1J 7TX.
🚇 Nearest station is Green Park.
7. Drunch
Established back in 2013, Drunch is a family-run joint which was founded by Syrian relatives Hom and Aboudi. Designed as a social club which offers a ‘good times only’ vibe, this elegant spot is a great place to come for brunch and home baked desserts – many of which have a special ‘Drunch’ twist – you’ll have to find out for yourself exactly what that is.
There’s also a sister restaurant in St. John’s Wood, which also has some pretty bloody fine cocktails and a la carte dinner dishes. Both offer you the chance to indulge in some shisha: you can puff away in a heated outdoor terrace in the Mayfair branch or in a private, wisteria-draped garden in the St John’s Wood branch.
📍You’ll find Drunch at 1 Woodstock Street, London, W1C 2AA and 38 St John’s Wood Terrace, London, NW8 6LS.
🚇 Nearest stations are Bond Street and St. John’s Wood.
8. Tigerbay Shisha Lounge
This trendy London shisha lounge is all about the uber-luxe decor, fantastic back beer garden and premium range of shisha. It’s a bit far from central – the nearest station is Kingsbury in Zone 4 – but trust us when we say it’s well worth the trek out here.
They whip up some delicious Indian fare at Tigerbay Shisha Lounge, with the Goan fish curry and vegetarian paneer butter masala being real standouts, as well as some banging cocktails. If that wasn’t enough for you, they also serve over twenty delectable desserts and countless flavours of shisha, including exclusively prepared ‘Mocktail’ shishas and various ranges of tobacco from all corners of the globe.
📍You’ll find Tigerbay Shisha Lounge at 234 Kingsbury Road, London, NW9 0BH.
🚇 Nearest station is Kingsbury.
9. Hookah Lounge
The penultimate entry on our roundup of the best shisha bars in London is set right in the heart of East London, just off Brick Lane. This hookah bar is famous for its extensive tea list, which includes over 30 different varieties, including Turkish apple tea, Himalayan fire tea and the namesake ‘Hookah’s Tea’ – of which the secret ingredient is kept secret. Naturally.
They also whip up some mean cocktails, mocktails and mezze platters – the stuffed vine leaves, veggie moussaka and ‘Sultan’s Mezze’ are all worth a try. Post-meal, make sure you try their shisha – it’s all ‘e-shisha’ at Hookah Lounge, so contains no tar and zero nicotine which means it’s far better for your health.
📍You’ll find Hookah Lounge at 133 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SB.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
10. Tagine
Rounding off this list of the best shisha bars in London is Tagine, an atmospheric spot which whips up some of the best Moroccan fare in town. Situated in Balham – just down the road from Tooting Bec Common – this lively place is all about great food, authentic Northern African interiors and lovely staff, who have been serving the local community since they first opened their doors in 2004.
As well as great food, they also offer you the chance to smoke some delicious hookah for just 15 quid. There are a wide variety of different flavours available, and you can accompany your smoking sesh with a piping hot pot of Moroccan mint tea. Sounds pretty good to us.
📍You’ll find Tagine at 3 Fernlea Road, London, SW12 9RT.
🚇 Nearest station is Balham.
11. Smoke Lab
Is there anything greater combination than a great bar and a riverside view? Add an extensive list of shisha flavours alongside a fab cocktail menu and you have [trackLink link_url="https://secretldn.com/things-to-do-in-vauxhall/"]Vauxhall’s Smoke Lab.[/trackLink] A great Shisha bar known for its hookah, it’s versatile food options and drinks!
All of that and a view over the River Thames? Sounds perfect.
📍You’ll find Smoke Lab at 3 Saint George Wharf, SW8 2LE.
🚇 Nearest station is Vauxhall.
So there you have it – our rundown of some of the best shisha bars in London. Time to get your smoke on in the big smoke we say.