Tropical mango, vanilla, orange cream, blueberry muffin, apple-strawberry, white gummy bear and many other enticing flavors are among the popular choices for visitors who join the long-standing tradition of hookah smoking in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Originally developed in connection with the opium trade, water pipes have evolved into a social pastime. In places where alcohol is restricted, men and women gather at cafés and lounges to relax and converse over the bubbling devices known locally as hubble-bubble or shisha. Since indoor smoking in Jeddah has been prohibited since 2012, outdoor lounges and terraces have become especially popular and numerous across the city.
Alongside seaside venues, Break Time Café and Hookah Lounge’s branch near Tahlia Street in central Jeddah is a well-liked spot. Guests can unwind on curving woven chairs around glass-top tables on the outdoor terrace while watching football matches on large screens. The café’s menu complements the social setting with snacks such as chicken fingers and Mexican beef fajitas, followed by desserts like chocolate lava cake and baked strawberry cheesecake. For shisha enthusiasts looking to experiment, flavors such as grape, mint-lemon and melon rank among Break Time’s favorites.
Whether perched beside the sea or seated on a lively street terrace, Jeddah’s shisha lounges offer a relaxed atmosphere where friends meet, sports are enjoyed, and a wide range of flavored tobacco options adds variety to the experience.