Exotic exhalations: Try these shisha bars in Calgary

Hookah or shisha bars allow patrons to enjoy non-tobacco, fruit-flavoured smoke (from mint to mango) with the aid of tabletop water pipes that feature multiple inhaling hoses. A Middle Eastern social and cultural phenomenon, these spots allow patrons to light up the charcoal-fired pipes while enjoying Mediterranean snacks.

By Ian Doig

Medina Cafe & Grill

1

1004 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1M2

• Phone Number
  • 403-237-9002Primary
• Directions
• Menu

This First Street Southwest shish spot features various seating options including plush banquet-style booths and fireside tables. The handsome hookah room features a full Mediterranean-influenced menu of sandwiches, burgers, wraps and hot entrees.

Cloud 9 Sheesha Bar & Lounge

• Phone Number
  • 403-454-4017Primary
• Menu

A elegantly contemporary lounge with Latin accents, Cloud 9 features black-and-red banquet seating. Shisha is served with snacks such as samosas, satay skewers, butter chicken and juicy burgers. Full alcohol menu.

Cafe Mediterranean

2

1009 1 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0T8

• Phone Number
  • 403-286-8452Primary
• Directions
• Menu

A long-time fixture on the revitalized First Street Southwest strip, Cafe Med serves a compact menu of Mediterranean dishes including shawarma and falafel sandwiches as well as Arabic coffee. The café was the city’s first shisha establishment and it’s a cozy spot, featuring appropriately oasis-themed decor.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Dig into the Mediterranean diet right here in Calgary

Riot on VIII

3

112B 8 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B3

• Phone Number
  • 587-296-2950Primary
• Directions
• Menu

A busy Syrian lunch spot on Stephen Avenue Walk by day, A La Saj brings out the shisha pipes by night and dials up the cultural accompaniment. Evenings feature live performances by traditional Syrian folk musicians as well as contemporary Western DJs and karaoke.

Empire Cafe

4

1801 1 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2J8

• Phone Number
  • 403-263-6900Primary
• Directions

Plush and clubby, Empire Lounge and Shisha Bar serves a full Mediterranean menu with its rotating list of 15 imported shisha tobacco flavours. Relax and socialize in ornate style on overstuffed couches.

Mazaya

5

2139 33 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2T 1Z7

• Phone Number
  • 403-805-2345Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Lovely and loungy, this Marda Loop spot features an outdoor patio for fair-weather shisha enjoyment. Serving a full menu of fresh Lebanese cuisine, it’s also one of the city’s few shisha establishments to carry a liquor licence.

More from Ian Doig

Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.

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