Category: Hookah Bars

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple of months, you're well aware Illinois is now a smoke-free state. However, there are still plenty of places you can go where you are more than welcome to light up. Just keep in mind, they probably won't be selling food or alcohol, as 80% of their business needs to be coming from tobacco. Even so, here's a quick list of places to check out:

House of Hookah: Right on the corner of Belmont and Broadway, this hookah lounge offers 80 flavors of tobacco, along with specialty cigarettes for the world traveler in you. Oh and yes, while hanging out and chillin' with your friends, be sure to order up an espresso or tea! Or, go ahead and bring something in with you, because they're also BYOB!

Guess Hookah: Another place to hook up with a hookah and BYOB, this time in the Wicker Park area! This place is also a full scale retail shop in all that is sweet tobacco, just in case you want to revel in the ambiance in the comfort of your own home. The lounge also offers free Wi-Fi as well as plenty of games to while away the hours.

Sigara Lounge: This place is also in the Wicker Park neighborhood, but the difference here is, besides the tobacco, the coffee and tea, this place has beautiful belly dancers on Thursday through Saturday nights after 10:30! Not only is this place is the first of its kind here, but it's also the best: you can reserve a private booth, or lay back on the big throw pillows scattered in classic Persian ambiance!

Iwan Ries: Unless it's Cuban, you can get it at this downtown location, because these guys really do have everything! They're the oldest tobacconists in the entire country in fact! Their website really doesn't do this shop justice; you really need to see it for yourself! If you want a lunchtime break from the ordinary, come on in, do a little splurging and feel free to light it up right there and then... whatever "it" may be!

Capitol Cigar Store: Located on the corner of 63rd and Pulaski, this place is really hard to miss. The shop itself is nothing special, but trust me - you might want to bring the camera, because old White Owl will be sure to greet you! And ladies, that giant Indian (errr.. Native American!) likes it when you scope out what's under his loin cloth! (Your best viewing angle is from looking northeast from the front of the flower shop across 63rd!).

Find additional Hookah Bars & Lounges

Sphinx Cafe is by far one of the most original and delightful establishments around Chicago! Delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, charming staff and oh yes - belly dancing! Customers get to watch the sexy Haflas after a sumptuous meal while they sip robust Turkish coffee and hook up with a hookah while gearing up for the big dance party afterwards. Where else but in the land of the Pharaohs can this be appreciated? In Niles, of course, just outside of Chicago's northwest side.

The best time to take in all of what the Sphinx has to offer is on a Saturday night after seven, and plan on making a full evening out of the deal. Be prepared to take a virtual journey to the Middle East and enjoy the richness of the culture, dressing for a casual, exciting night out.

The service is somewhat laid back, so take advantage of it! Order up the Veggie Combo as an appetizer, as well as a plate of those tasty Stuffed Grape Leaves! A great compliment is their fresh Mint Tea, so be sure to try that out as well. Dinner suggestions include their tender Lamb Chops, the Kefta Kabobs as well as the Couscous Plate. Of course, polish it off with their wonderful Turkish coffee and some sweet Baklava.

After eating and just as you feel you can stand no more, have your staff bring a Hookah to your table while your food digests - be sure to ask for the apple flavoring, which is the patrons' favorite! Its sweet smoke is invigorating and not at all like cigarettes. It is at this is where the fun begins, as the belly dancers take to the floor! If anything can stir up those wild and crazy suppressions, this is it! But hey - don't be in a hurry to leave, because at ten, the Sphinx transforms into a night club, complete with popular disc jockeys of the area. Work off those lingering calories and dance the night away! Their full bar hosted by very talented staff can mix up a mean martini and also have a decent spread of brews and top shelf selections.

The Sphinx closes at four, so you and your date will have just enough time to hit a pancake house on the way back home before the sun rises and the Sunday paper hits the curb. It might be hard to snap back into reality after a night like that, but it will definitely be worth it!