A hookah is a water pipe with roots in South Asia and the Middle East. Moist, sweetened tobacco called shisha, in flavors like mint, apple or grape, sits in a bowl under hot coals. When you draw on the hose, the smoke bubbles through water in the base and up to the mouthpiece. One hookah is usually shared around the table, and a single bowl lasts long enough for a slow conversation. Lounges usually charge by the hookah, so sharing keeps the cost down.

Know what you're inhaling before you go. The water cools the smoke but doesn't filter out the harm: hookah smoke carries nicotine, tar and heavy metals from the tobacco, plus carbon monoxide from the burning coals, and a long session can mean far more smoke than a single cigarette. Hookah lounges are for adults only, 21 and up in most of the US. Many offer tobacco-free herbal mixes, which skip the nicotine, though the coals still produce smoke and carbon monoxide.

The Date Activity

For two adults who already enjoy it, a hookah lounge can be a relaxed, unhurried setting for a date. Low couches, dim lighting and music make it easy to linger, and nobody rushes you out. Choosing a flavor together is part of the fun, and the staff are happy to recommend one. Most lounges also serve tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks, and some have a full kitchen.

Never pressure a date who doesn't smoke. Ask first, and look for a place with good ventilation or an outdoor patio. To make a night of it, start with an early show at a comedy club or a few games of billiards, then wind down at the lounge.

On Your Own / With Friends

Hookah is a group activity at heart: one pipe, a few friends and a long evening of conversation, often later than a coffee shop stays open. Larger groups usually order more than one hookah for the table. Ask for disposable mouth tips so everyone has their own, since sharing a mouthpiece can spread colds and other infections. When you pass the hose, hand it over with the mouthpiece turned away from the next person.

Good to Know

Bring ID, since lounges check ages, and expect rules to differ from place to place, because local smoking laws vary. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded or sick to your stomach, step outside for fresh air, and don't drive until it passes. Anyone who is pregnant or has heart or lung problems should skip it, and it's no place for kids. The smell clings to clothes and hair, so don't wear anything you need to keep fresh for later in the evening.