Entering shisha bars is like entering another continent.. . suddenly you’re immersed in Aladdinesque paraphernalia – shisha smoke sweetens the air, colorful lanterns dot the scenery and the atmosphere, although relaxed and bohemian, has a touch of excitement.
The protagonist of these spaces is the famous oriental water pipe, better known as shisha, shisha or even hookahs, which is also a symbol of conviviality in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Thanks to the miracle of globalization, it has been in Lisbon for some years now, in spaces that make us travel, even if only for a few hours.
The flavors are as varied as mint, blueberry, strawberry, vanilla or lemon, and traditionally the shisha is complemented by the tasting of infusions, such as mint tea, although in Western lands it is also accompanied by a cold beer and a couple of peanuts.
Warning to consume in moderation
Before we move on to the list of places where you can try and smoke shisha in Lisbon, we want you to know that this practice can be very harmful to your health, just like regular tobacco.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has even published a report stating that shisha smoking is even more harmful to health than cigarette smoking, exposing the smoker to toxic components equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes in an average session lasting between 20 and 80 minutes.
The fact that one of the components is water leads many to believe that it removes toxic substances, but the truth is that it causes the person to ingest even more smoke and therefore more than 4,700 potentially carcinogenic toxic substances, from nicotine to tar.
Another fact is that, since shisha is a social occasion, it is often smoked by several people at the same time, in the same hoses, which can add other diseases to those already mentioned, such as herpes, hepatitis C and even tuberculosis.
Now that you know some of the things that can come from this practice, it’s up to you to go to one of these shisha bars in Lisbon, many of which have different atmospheres and varying services.
Table Of Contents
Cocktail & Shisha Bar & Lounge
On the corner of Calçada Patriarcal, half hidden in the Príncipe Real, is the Sushi Bar, one of the most popular in the city.
When you enter through the lilac doors, you’ll find a bar with blue walls and an orange ceiling, with a shisha on every table and a bar full of spirits, just waiting for you to make the various cocktails.
Address: Calçada da Patriarcal 8 (Príncipe Real)
Lisbon Café – Shisha Bar
As well as being a shisha bar, Lisbo Cafe also has plenty of oriental delicacies for you to try, from kebabs a hamburgers.
But it’s in this more relaxing space that you can experience other aromas of nagrilé, decorated to make you feel like you’re in an Arabian atmosphere.
Address: Rua Padre Francisco 24C (Campo de Ourique)
Luxury Shisha Bar
It’s one of the biggest shisha bars in Lisbon, largely because of its terrace, an advantage that few places on this list can boast.
Located in Campo Grande, here you’ll find various flavors in the famous water pipes, from mint, strawberry, apple, orange and much more.
Address: Rua António Albino Machado 35G (Campo Grande)
Marina Lounge
The terrace of this bar, facing the marina of the Parque das Nações, it’s the place to be if you like to spend a few moments with friends smoking Arab pipes.
It’s also nice and comfortable inside, especially on colder nights… but summer is coming, isn’t it?
Address: Passeio Neptuno 7A (Parque das Nações)
Elite Shisha Bar
Open from Wednesday to Sunday between 11pm and 4am, Elite is one of the most exclusive bars of its kind, even accepting reservations for the longest Arabian nights.
Also noteworthy are the theme nights and music sessions with DJs, which are said to be full of excitement.
Address: Rua Camilo Castelo Branco 23
In some of these bars you’ll find a decoration very oriented towards Oriental culture, with Persian rugs, stools, Moroccan poufs and lamps giving these spaces the desired effect.
There are more than 30 flavors of tobacco and mint tea accompanies many of the regular customers’ requests. Each of these places offers a unique experience for shisha lovers, with different atmospheres and services.
It’s worth checking out the menus, reviews and specific locations to choose the shisha bar that best suits your preferences in Lisbon.