Dueling hookah bars
Zeeba Lounge (916 Light St., pictured) has been the city's fanciest hookah lounge for a long time. It has those small cushion seats and rugs on the floor and walls.
But you pay for the atmosphere -- hookahs and food generally cost more there than at other city hookah bars.
If you wanted to trade the snazzy decor for cheaper, better hookahs, you could go across the street to Three Kings of Egypt (1027 Light St.). With its metal chairs, open kitchen and sparse decorations, Three Kings was the unpretentious Zeeba.
But now, new owners have taken over Three Kings and renamed it Arabian Nights.* I peeked inside last weekend and saw black cushy sofas and tables and a black scrim dividing the kitchen from the lounge.
I guess the whole unassuming hookah bar strategy didn't work out for Three Kings. Now, a new approach is in order. Has anyone been to it yet?
*I'm 90 percent sure it's called Arabian Nights, but I have to double-check on the name.
(Photo by Kenneth K. Lam/Sun photographer)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I though Houckas on Boston Street was the best!!!!! Sam, you loved that place right?!?!
I kid Sam. I hope these places actually have real hookahs. I walked by Houckas on Boston Street on a Friday night and didn't see a soul.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | October 21, 2008 12:13 PM
I walked by Arabian Nights one evening last week and there were several people inside dancing! The music was quite loud and the patrons looked like they were really enjoying themselves.
Posted by: rock | October 21, 2008 3:35 PM
Yea it is called Arabian Nights now, my friend AJ and his other brothers bought it out from the last owners which was a more cafe theme feel. I really like going and watching the insane Turkish music videos on mute while Lil Wayne plays over the radio.
Posted by: Rob Brulinski | October 21, 2008 9:17 PM
Yea it is called Arabian Nights now, my friend AJ and his other brothers bought it out from the last owners which was a more cafe theme feel. I really like going and watching the insane Turkish music videos on mute while Lil Wayne plays over the radio.
Posted by: Rob Brulinski | October 21, 2008 9:17 PM
The place is arabian night, they have premium shisha (both al fakhier and starbuzz flavors) great music and great service. Fridays and saturday is always popping there, and the weekdays tend to have different themes/specials as well (movie night on tuesday nights for example). Great place for after the bars in fed hill or just a evening of hookah (much better than zeeba). Their food is good too.
Posted by: Reza Azam | November 9, 2009 12:29 AM
Shill maybe? Yes. Methinks maybe.
Posted by: Rube Goldberg | November 9, 2009 4:09 PM