A chill spot to smoke hookah and BYOB. A friendly crowd and chill people to discuss anread more

So I've been here 3 times now. The first two times they were in party mode, but last night, it was…read morechill and quiet with light music and some sports on the TV. Just the kind of atmosphere I was looking for. The south-side is a really neat area of Pittsburgh to visit and this place just adds to its charm. Their hookah tasted authentic, and they kept the coals coming. You can also smoke cigars, vape, cigs, whatever you're into. It seems like people come mostly for the hookah, though. Great night!

A lounge to hang out, drink, and have great conversation…read more Make sure to take a round fruit in so that the worker there can make a fruit bowl for your hookah. The draw is tastier and a lot smoother. In case you're afraid of germs or are sick, they give you disposable mouth pieces for the hookah. The occasional person will be in there with a laptop and a hookah for one. Sometimes a group will be there with some drinks. It's a very casual, laid back vibe. The owner will play all sorts of tunes/ music videos on the flat screen tv up on the screen. It ranges from Bollywood type tunes, to 80s, to recent rock and top 40 pop charts. It's a bop. :) The place is mildly expensive. Around $20 for one round of hookah? There is also a fee of a few dollars if you bring your own beer/ alcohol.

This place happened to be walking distance from our Airbnb, which was exciting considering we were…read moreplanning on coming here anyway after finding it on Yelp. The space itself is the only downside - it's small and the seating is not very comfortable or conducive to relaxation. The vibe inside is nice, however, and they were playing a combination of Middle Eastern and American pop music videos while we were there. The staff was very friendly and attentive- I didn't catch the girl's name but she was very knowledgeable about hookah and had some good tips for us. The flavor was great- we had to try the house-made "Pussy Juice" flavor, which was a combination of different fruits and had a really nice citrus-y bite. My boyfriend wanted to buy some to smoke in his hookah at home but they don't sell it except for on-site use.

We stopped by on Wednesday night around 10pm during their soft opening. We aren't hookah smokers…read morebut wanted to support a locally owned business, especially since they're taking over a space that has been vacant for years. They have coffee, tea, mocktails, and it's BYOB and we brought along some beers. The inside has a pretty big bar area, seating on a comfy couch, and some other chairs. There is also an outdoor patio in the back. The inside is moody without being too dark and has vibes reminiscent of a jazz bar. We talked with one of the owners, Max, and we chatted about all the work it took to revamp a space that had been vacant for years. Max was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about hookah and wants to turn his space in a community third space with lots of events. The staff was really nice and their grand opening is this weekend with live jazz. Wishing them success!!

Great clean environment to hang. Excellent addition to the neighborhood,…read more The hookahs are packed perfectly and last long time

If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy a good hookah, Illusions Hookah Lounge is the…read moreplace for you. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the hookahs are top-notch. The lounge has a great atmosphere, and it's definitely worth a visit.

If you're looking for a great hookah lounge in the heart of downtown, look no further than…read moreIllusions. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the selection of tastes is excellent. The lounge itself is cozy and comfortable, and the music is always great. Whether you're a hookah connoisseur or a first-timer, Illusions is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some great conversation and hookah.

A friend and I stopped in here for hookah on a Sunday evening. This spot is open late, which is…read moregreat for Pittsburgh. They are a restaurant in the front and hookah in the back. However, you can still order food in the hookah area. We ordered a hookah and then ordered some hummus, veggies, and drinks (non alcoholic) a little later. The vibe is chill. The service is great and the hummus and drinks were delicious! I'll definitely be stopping back in here soon. It's right in Lawrenceville too, so it's in a great location.

Very happy with my decision, and I enjoyed waiting in the restaurant. It has a comfortable, homey…read morevibe! The food is amazing. The eggplant special was loved by my partner. The waitress was very nice and communicated the menu well. Thank you, Dijlah Restaurant and Cafe team for making this amazing place possible for us to enjoy!

We came to Pittsburgh while they were hosting the D2 March Madness in 2026, and thanks to my…read morenephew's team bringing us out here, we were able to uncover this gem of a cigar lounge. I've been to quite a few cigar lounges--and even worked at one--so I have a good sense of what makes a place stand out. Burn by Rocky Patel did just that on every level. The ambiance, décor, cigar selection, and service were all top-tier. It's a classy lounge with a twist of sports bar energy, which made it both elevated and fun. We enjoyed it so much that we came back the next day, and they had live entertainment--a violinist playing along to hip hop and R&B--which created such a unique vibe. Kayla, the bartender, let us know about the live entertainment the day before, it wasn't posted on their social media or website. She was attentive, sweet, and made excellent drinks. Evan, who was working the cigar side, was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and communicated well with customers even during a heavy flow. One thing that really stood out was the crowd--mixed ages, mature, and plenty of ladies confidently partaking in the beautiful art of cigars, which I loved seeing. Even if you don't smoke cigars, the vibes in this place are worth the visit. If and when I return to Pittsburgh, this place is a must. It's also within walking distance to the stadiums, which is a huge plus. Feedback for management: The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the disconnect between locations and social media postings. There was an event listed on the website that wasn't actually happening at this location, while an amazing event that was happening wasn't shared online; which would have been a shame to miss. It may be worth considering in-house social media and website management to ensure updates are accurate and timely to the specific location.

We happened upon this place by recommendation from someone we met on the street while strolling the…read morestrip lol. We had come from the city winery and because it was still early were looking for a place to hear some music and dance! The dj was rocking, the bartenders were on point and we had a time! We didn't get any food but I'm not even sure if they have any lol this is one of the spots I'll be coming back to when I visit again. The staff was kind to us and we had no issues whatsoever. Loved it!

The best Mediterranean restaurant in Pittsburgh, especially for vegetarians. But they have more…read moremeat dishes than any other. In addition they have American food, like burgers and pasta. Milad provided excellent, friendly service. She is fun, too!!

Better than it had any right to be. This is essentially an unassuming dive bar deep in Homestead…read more Somehow, it is also an excellent Middle Eastern restaurant. Not everything was fantastic, but the overall quality of the food items we ordered was well beyond expectations. We ordered takeout, and our order was ready at the expected time. The only comment I'll make on online ordering is that the first available pick-up slot was about an hour after we placed our order. Plan accordingly. In terms of the food, we were generally impressed. The falafel plate was generally good, but not fantastic. The falafel was a little doughy and lacking in crunch or herb content. The pickled beets on the platter were a very nice addition. So a mixed bag. The mujaddara was excellent, with nicely caramelized onions. The musabaha was interesting and flavorful, but it didn't seem to survive the drive home particularly well. The fatoosh salad was good, with extremely crispy pita chips. That having been said, the lettuce was starting to wilt by the time it got home. Possibly unavoidable. The hummus was excellent, and the spinach and feta pie was fantastic. So generally good food, with a relatively small number of minor misses. Overall, this is a reasonable takeout operation. There were a handful of people enjoying the bar when we picked up our order, but I'm not sure I would opt for using the space as a drinking destination.

Great setting, solid menu, staff are friendly and seem relatively knowledgeable. My only qualm is…read morethat I came to hopefully sample some flavors I've been looking at, but their flavors are somewhat limited. I say somewhat because they have an extensive range of Al Fakher, and a handful of Starbuzz and Adalya, so they're not exactly lacking in options, and the flavors they do have are widely held in high regard. That said, they only have blondes, so if you're looking for a deeper buzz, or to try something richer like Tangiers or Must Have, you'll have to look elsewhere. In summation, I'll keep looking at others, but this one's not bad, worth checking out if you're a beginner or just looking for a generally chill experience

the owner is very attentive and hospitable. cool vibe and great selection. my favorite hookah spot…read morein the city.