This is to hookah what Taco Bueno is to fine Mexican dining. I visited on a Saturday night and we promptly decided to go elsewhere. For starters, the two-people-per-hookah policy is obnoxious. I get the trade-offs here and why the business has to do it, and more and more hookah bars are adopting similar policies. But when you're telling me if I've spent $50 on 2 hookahs for 4 people and one more friend shows up, our tab is now $75, I really don't appreciate that. I get that most customers are younger and would smoke 10 people on 1 hookah if given the chance, but you've got to have a middle ground. 5 people wanting to share 2 hookahs is not taking advantage. Then comes price: I'm from Texas where tobacco taxes are sky-high and businesses have about $20,000 of prep work to do for special tobacco-oriented zoning, and you still don't see prices this high. $25 for a bowl is obscene, especially with the aforementioned policy. Then comes the atmosphere. Loud, cramped, poorly ventilated, dark, and uncomfortable. It may seem novel to novice smokers but is less likely to be enjoyed by a regular hookah bar attendee. I also am not a fan of the pay-when-you-walk-in model. The register is up front and you cash out before you sit down. We made sure to walk into the back and have a look around before doing so, thankfully. Again I do get that their clientele may be a little younger and more stealy than other establishments, but it does not make for a friendly or inviting experience. There are myriad websites that will sell you an entire hookah package including pipe, tobacco and coals for the same price as a single 5-person smoke session here. I know he's got some overhead but a single bowl of this stuff pays for a whole box of the stuff you're actually smoking. Save your money. read more

This place has the total potential to be a 5 star lounge, but here are the pros, cons and suggestions to gain the extra 2 stars. Pros: Hookah: -good flavors (al Fakher and starbuzz) - packed well - small hookah with a lot of smoke - coconara charcoals Seating area: - very spacious - can handle large groups - unique floor seats - custom tables hold hookah and garbage - homey set up with actual couches - very laid back (music tempo maintains atmosphere -smoothie was on point Cons: Hookah: - not maintained regularly (they come every 20-30 mins), so it's not good 5 mins after they fix it Seating area: - the music can be updated - no worker is ever present, making it extremely difficult to order anything (waited 20 mins to order smoothie) - prepaying seems very unwelcoming Suggestions: This place mainly lacks in service. The seating area being unattended is a big disadvantage. Regular maintenance of the hookahs served out would make this place go a long way. read more

1001 Hookah Lounge - Hookah Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Best in CT Owner is very humble and generous Shisha is quality and can't beat the prices They offer food and drinks in the building Friday's and weekend there's a live DJ after 10 which plays some bangers read more

Laid-back. Probably the best way to label "The Lounge" as my friends and I have been recently calling it. 1001 Arabian Nights has been around for a number of years now. It was only up until recently that I started coming here - and I'm glad I have because, I never leave unhappy! George and his staff are always very kind and pleasant. Visitors are welcomed with Middle Eastern music and there are top shisha brands that can be enjoyed separately or mixed. Mint, pomegranate, and lemon are some flavors I go to - but if you're ever unsure what to mix - ask one of the staffmembers. They would be delighted in helping you create a tasty concoction. Cozy and intimate, don't be fooled - the establishment can house over 80 occupants. Relax and get comfortable, this place is great for after a long-day or a low-key night. Although there is no full-bar, it is BYOB. There is no food served in the lounge. However, you are more than welcome to order from Sherazad's Cafe and Grill. The adjoining Lebanese restaurant which prepares tasty kabobs with homemade hummus, falafel platters, fruit smoothies and Turkish coffees all while you smoke. Hookahs typically range from $20-25. The tiny lot next to Plan B is always packed so street parking it is. Open late, a good to place to wind-down; 1001 Arabian Nights Hookah Lounge can be just the nightcap! read more

For me, I think of my visit as more of a nifty novelty rather than an introduction to a new way to spend my leisure time. Like other reviewer's have mentioned, the staff is helpful and attentive. Coals are changed regularly. The hookah's are in good condition and the lounge area itself is comfortable. We tried the white-grape-something-else-I-can't-remember-blend. It was as represented. Though I got a little sick of the Welch's like taste after a while. The crowd was WAY young when I was there, but despite being in a room where no one else appeared to be over 23 years old, it wasn't the least bit rowdy. FYI, they absolutely do card here. Be advised: The exterior of this business does not do it justice. The sign is tiny and easy to miss. Some of the windows are covered up and despite frequently driving down Park Rd and visiting Plan B often (which is next door) I never knew this place existed until I found it on Yelp! (Yeah, way to go Yelp!) read more

I wouldn't consider myself a hookah expert, but I have been to hookah lounges in 3 different cities, and my husband and I LOVE 1001 Arabian Nights. We are there just about every weekend. The owner, George, is incredibly welcoming, as the other reviewers have said. The staff (some of whom, if not all are family) are pleasant, knowledgeable, and very attentive. They come around about every 15-20 minutes to change the coals and make sure you're comfortable and like your flavor choice. The atmosphere is perfect. The music is upbeat, but not loud. The lighting is just right so that you feel like you can see who you're with, but it's also very relaxing. The lounge itself is always neat and clean and the bathrooms are spotless. They also carry hookahs, tobacco and charcoals to buy and bring home (which we've done). I cannot recommend this hookah lounge highly enough. read more

I went this past Saturday during their "happy hour" (half price from 5 to 8pm). When you walk in, the front reminds you of a classy but small coffee house - it was very clean and the guy behind the counter (owner?) was extremely polite and helpful. He gave us some suggestions and we choose a mixture of orange and mint. He politely asked to find a seat and he would bring the hookah to us. We walked down a small hall and into an extremely large room that was very well designed and a perfect mood setting. Mood lighting, with many comfy leather couches, leather ottomans, "coffee tables", and the corners had pillows on the floor so that you could choose to sit on the floor "authentic-style": as well. The walls had calming colors, and some plants in the room as well. A good sound system provided relaxing music. The guy from the front would come around once in while to replace the coals but was never a bother. We spent about 2 hours there, and then went to meet up with friends for dinner and whom we easily convinced by our wonderful experience to go back with us that same evening. Yes, we went 2 times that same day! P.s. Second time we had a vanilla caramel mix which was very smooth. read more

I heard that George (the owner I previously spoke of), was not working there temporarily and so I decided I'd give this place a second shot and I was impressed. It was a fun little place to relax and have a hookah for a while. The taste blends were great, my girlfriend and I had a great time and it was really enjoyable. I wasn't into the whole Club-type music, however, and I do reaallly wish they at least had some sort of a liquor license or at the very least could serve beer and wine. The age group there seems to be perfect for the club-type music, so I'm probably in the minority, but something along the lines of jazz or whatnot would've been preferable in my book. The younger guy working there was super friendly though and was a pleasure to work with. As long as all of the staff are friendly and stay attentive this can be a really great place, hopefully they keep it up. I'm tempted to move my review up to a four, but I'm sitting at a three now because of my prior bad experience. read more

Always a great place to go when I'm looking to relax or just have fun! The owner is a great person! The hookah is great, they serve starbuzz which is my absolute favorite tobacco!! Occasionally they will be out of my favorite flavors but that's a rarity. Wide selections of tobacco on sale too. They bring out the hookah quickly and are very good at refreshing the coals. Only downfall is no drinks, not even water, do bring your own stuff from the gas station across the street, and bring your own food from next door. But the hookah, definitely gets the 5 stars. Served only with water however. read more

I have been to many Hookah Lounges in Ct and also out of state, and I must say that for CT's standards this place is great. There are 2 shisha brands to choose from Al-fakher which is priced at $22 a bowl and Starbuzz which is priced at $25 a bowl. In my opinion that is a bit pricey since a can of both of those brands is at that price but I'm not complaining because that's the going rate for a bowl in many lounges. One thing I will add though is that to change a bowl out is full price which I don't like because that is expensive. The staff is very friendly, helpful, and comforting. The decor is very nice, the standard dark lounge with Arabia decor. The main smoking room is nice and comfy you can sit on leather sofas, or the cushioned floor which is nice and I have never seen that before. Another thing I did't like though is that in the main smoking room there is no air flow and no ventilation system. So everything your smoking and exhaling is just sitting in a giant cloud in the room. That can give you a head ache after a while. The music Arabic but quite nice not too loud not too obnoxious. Both the male and female bathrooms were very clean. Overall this is a great hookah lounge. I am sure I will be going there more often. read more

I've been to hookah lounges in NY, Boston, RI and CT...this ranks at the top. It's a family run business and they are all very freindly and helpful. The hookahs that they use are the best that you can get and they are kept very clean (unlike some other hookah lounges). They have a wide range of shisha (tobacco) for every taste. If you don't know what to try, just talk with George or one of his daughters, they will steer you in the right direction. They do not have a liquor lic and they don't serve food but you can do that right next door at either Plan B or the Tacqueria and then relax with some nice hookah. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised. read more

George Ayoub knows how to run a business. When you walk into the back of this place you feel like you're not in West Hartford. The carpets, the seats, the decor, it really feels like you're in the middle east. The hookah's are excellent. His daughter does an excellent job with making sure everyone is satisfied with their hookahs. I can't wait until George opens up a restaurant next door. Lets keep our fingers crossed! Also, keep your eyes open for another Arabian Nights opening down in Middletown next to Wesleyan. Should be a big hit with the college students. read more

Love it! Bring all of your friends - this place was and still is the best to live, laugh, and have a great time all night! Definitely the new scene to have a great night read more

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I have traveled the world and spent about 3 years in the Middle East, I have to say I was blown away on how this place has captured the authenticity of how hookah is to be enjoyed! George is very friendly and has a great establishment! read more

I've had my fair share of visits at various Hookah bars in different cities and there was nothing exceptional about this one. The hookah was pretty good and the atmosphere has potential. The lighting was pretty dark and there was only seating on the floor. The table that they had in the seating area was very dirty and just filled with wrappers. We got two hookahs that totaled to about $40. I felt that it was overpriced for the overall experience. read more

By far the worst service we have gotten at a hookah lounge. It's an older gentleman that works there (not the owner). He is so rude and arrogant. Gave us an awful flavor that didn't even taste like the flavor and told us would be $15 to change within 2 minutes of us smoking one of the many hookahs we got. Then wouldn't give us tongs and after 15 minutes of waiting cake back angry to ask us what the problem was and reluctantly did something. It was just very uncomfortable to be there with someone like that serving you. read more

I went here on a Thursday night. I had the peach hookah and it was pretty good! It's a bit sweet, but not overpowering. I walked in when it was slow and everyone was having a chill time. A hour later a huge crowd walked in and it kind of threw the mood off. I liked the music and how everyone was really chill. The cashier/staff member was really nice. He gave me a few tips on what the best selling hookah flavors were. You can bring your own food and drinks here! read more

ZERO STAR ! WARNING: RUDE OWNER !! I wish i can give this place a ZERO STAR! This is the first time i ever give a bad review on Yelp. Tonight i went to 1001 Arabian Nights and it was the most horrible experience i ever had in my whole life. First the music was so loud. Second the hookah was harsh and needed some adjustment so when i asked the bald guy (George who is also the owner) to fix it , he started to argue and said that i probably don't know how to smoke and he is not going to fix it! he was so rude and then he lost his temper and became aggressive and then said some racist remarks. I thought he was joking but he was really crazy and totally out of control !! That's when i decided it's time to go !! i have never seen a crazy guy like this in my whole life ! I totally regret going to this place and now i totally understand what other people were trying to say in earlier yelp reviews when they called the owner a RACIST ! I wish i saw those reviews earlier !!! I was so offended and verbally attacked and when i was going to leave, he said more RACIST remarks ! i was one step away from calling the cops.... to be fair other employee were nice and saw what happened and tried to apologize but it was too late. Suggestion: 1. The owner need to take anger management class. 2. The owner also need to take customer service 101 ! 3. You need to learn how to treat customers with respect read more

Arabian Nights is an amazing place to go to if you want to just relax and hang with friends. The service is amazing, everyone there is friendly and if its your first time they even give you lessons. I've read a few other reviews putting this place down but George, Stacy, and Hassan are the friendliest people you can meet. So if you are looking for a good place to just chill this is the place to be. read more

Love it !! Love it and looooooooooooovveeee iitttt:) best hooka in town, great welcoming service and atmosphere. read more

1001 Hookah Lounge - Chilling at the best lounge in CT - Hookah Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Me and my girlfriend were walking in to plan b (next door) and saw the hookah bar and got excited. The person working there checked out my girlfriend, creepily, like stared hard. She felt very uncomfortable. We didn't even go in but read some reviews that said much the same... just wanted to leave this here to save someone from a potentially creepy or bad night! read more

The guy there was so rude!! He told us to shut up.. because we couldn't taste the hookah so we asked him to change it and he went off and kick us out for no reason ...he was being racist to the people sitting next to us. not a good experience .. plz don't waste your money .. he told us he was the owner and he was the only one working 8/4/17 that night for us to find out if he was telling truth but the other group of people decided to leave and he told them that he wasn't the owner ..I honestly think it something wrong with him ..he was just going on a rampage with everyone ... read more

1001 Hookah Lounge - Really bad experience ..owner was rude and racist... - Hookah Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

Can I give ZERO stars? Terrible and will never go back because of how rude and disrespectful the owner was to our whole party. Not only would he not allow us to only purchase one single hookah, when one of our friends came to meet us he said she had to leave unless we bought a 3rd hookah. He kept coming over and insisting that she leave, even though she wasn't even smoking the hookah with us, so we all ended up leaving. On our way out he insulted us by calling us "stupid Americans" and cursing at us. He also was derogatory to the women. I refuse to ever give him any business again. read more

This bald employee who worked there was a complete asshole. So rude and so arrogant. I asked him nicely to shake off the ash on my coals but he just said no. And then I asked him if he could give me some tongs so I could do his fucking job for him, but he said no. He said he'd come around and do it for everybody. And guess what, he did it for everybody else except for me. My brother told me the other guys who work there are great, but this bald guy really sucked so much. He doesn't deserve to work there anymore. read more

Literally writing a review on every social media site I can think of because that's how disgusted I was by my interaction with the owner there. Extremely rude ownership...Does not treat their costumers with respect and gives the impression that they can do without your business. The owner told me he can speak to me any way he wants. I would not spend my money at this establishment. I'll also add that in all my years going to different bars/restaurants/establishments, I have never written a review or have felt compelled to write one up until now, much less a negative one. I plan to make it my business to discourage any of my friends and associates from supporting this establishment. This place and Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan are the only two hookah places I know of in the Hartford/West Hartford area and Shish Kebab house is by far the better establishment, from the layout to the staff to the availability of good food and drinks. read more

I've only been to a handful of Hookah Lounges but I definitely find this one to be the most relaxing. The seating is comfortable, the decor and music create a great ambience, and they are super on top of changing out your coals. I also love the granite tabletops they put in, with the lights that give your hookah a cool glow. Maybe most importantly is that the room is well-ventilated... having been to some poorly ventilated hookah bars I can't even begin to tell all of you how much I appreciate that. This is my personal favorite for CT hookah bars. read more

They have some pretty strict rules about the number of people that can share a hookah. I think it was no more than 3 people can share a hookah. It gets to be expensive if you have a few people in your group, or if there are some people that don't want to smoke but just hang out. I had two friends who met us with us there, and they weren't sure they were going to stay long, just stopping in for a few minutes to say hi. The owner and the employee both kept coming over to our space and demanding that they buy a hookah or they had to leave. For an activity that is supposed to promote relaxation, it was a stressful experience that we left feeling like we'd prefer to visit other hookah lounges instead. They played good house music. That's about it. read more

Decent hookah lounge, friendly service, open late. Could have a larger and better flavor selection.

It's a good thing I don't own one of these things or I'd never leave the house. The lounge is relaxing and instantly makes me think of an opium den from the movies. The hookah is a little expensive, but when you realize you can lose two hours here puffing away, 30 bucks becomes easier to swallow. The owner has a very nice, very clean station where he prepares the pipes, which are all uniform and in very good condition. There's a nice menu of flavors, and they will help you choose a good combo if you're new to it. read more

I came here with friend Joe B. This place has been here for a couple years now I believe, tell me why I haven't been here before!? Clean, open place. Cool selection of flavors and they now incorporated a bar. Good times! Such a great place to unwind and chill. read more

My girlfriend took me there first time and she picked us out a sheesha blend of Lemon Mint and Watermelon that was delicious. The staff was very helpful and friendly, eager to give us recommendations of their own if we needed. The ambiance of the place lived up to the name 'Arabian Nights', the lighting, distinctive furniture and decorations set the tone. We found ourselves corner spot, sitting down on some cushions laid out as seats on the ground. We enjoyed our hookah and the rich environment, the burning coals remained red hot as the staff readily replaced our embers. We ordered a chicken kebob plate, a plate crafted by the owner himself. The owner was a great guy, he greeted us at the end of the night and talked about his vision in wanting to share the rich Lebanese culture of the middle east with everyone! I would highly recommend! read more

It is a very very nice and cozy place. The owner and the staff are very friendly at times extremely friendly. You BOYB if you are over 21, thus you are having a blast for a very reasonable price. At times it is a bit crowded, but that only shows that the place is very popular. :-) Keep up the excellent job. read more

This is my favorite hookah bar in the Hartford area. The hookah they use is one of the bests I've ever smoked from and the brands of shisha they use are great as well. I recommend the Starbuzz. They do not serve food nor do they have a liquor permit however there are places near by that have such. The owner, George, and staff are very nice and helpful. 5/5 every time I've been there which has been many times. read more

1001 Hookah Lounge - One of the best hookahs I've ever smoked out of! - Hookah Bars Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

This place has the best hookah of the places I've been in Hartford. The hookah used are great and coal burns well. It so smooth you don't have to force the smoke in. I will surely go back there. read more

Not a HUGE fan of the pricing but the atmosphere is unbelievably relaxing, though it can easily feel cramped on a busy night. Always bring ID. Being a group of friends, minimum of 4 in a squad or a date. Not a place to visit alone. There will be plenty of conversations going on that will make your lone ass feel lonely. Moreover, seating is scarce and it's not a good look to have an entire couch or wing to yourself. read more

The place is very crowded and loud there isn't any concept of a conversational tone here. The prices are something to make your head spin around. The small consolation to this place is the variety and the service is nice. They need to be re trained on bowl packing 101 though it's hard to get going and it can get harsh fast I swear I almost threw up because of the harshness once. If you do go bring a drink because you can't buy one there or else suffer the consequences of your dry mouth. read more

I've been to a fair amount of hookah bars, and this one just does not compare. Unfortunately, it's one of only a few options in the West Hartford area. For starters, the space itself feels uninviting. There is little decoration on the walls, and the color scheme is comprised of ugly hues of color blended with even uglier grays. The furniture is comfortable and there are rugs and fake plants, but the walls are eerily unadorned. Also, the space is one huge square, with several subsections created by arrangement of the couches. Unless you and your group are large enough to fill an entire subsection, expect to be sharing the space with many others when the place is busy. The environment does not lend well to intimate outings with smaller groups of friends. The pricing is not awful (but still not great). A single bowl will cost you around $25 bucks, unless you go during happy hour, when all bowls are $15. I've definitely had cheaper, but this is unfortunately about the cheapest hookah that you'll find in the Hartford area. The service is mediocre. I've had experiences ranging from God-awful to alright. The first time I went the man who was working the front desk was rude and inhospitable, but the lady who was working the most recent time that I went was rather friendly, but she was not all that attentive. They don't give you any tongs so you need to wait for the staff to come help you out if your hookah is getting harsh. All in all, this place is worthwhile if you don't want to spend a little extra cash, but definitely do not expect to be wowed in any way. You'll definitely have an alright time. read more

From the outside it looks small but they have a huge space in the back. You can choose to sit by the table or on the floor or on couches. You do have to pay for your hookah in the beginning. Happy Hour special from 5 to 7.l even in weekends. Quick service. Relaxing atmosphere. They changed our coal from a small one to one that lasts longer. read more

No ventilation, poison quicklite coals, weak packed bowls, way overpriced

If I could give zero stars I would. The staff in this establishment are absolutely rude. I've never had anyone be so nasty to me as I'm giving their establishment business. I would definitely go somewhere else if possible. Maybe the other hookah spot in west Hartford center. This just is not the ideal spot if you want good service. read more