Egyptian Coffee Shop

Hookah lounges are known for their hip decor and low-lighting ambiance, but you’ll find neither at this Astoria coffee shop (and that’s a good thing). A family-owned spot that’s a favorite among serious hookah aficionados, it’s furnished with terra-cotta tiles and simple tables and chairs. The focus here is on the excellent flavored tobacco—coals are always expertly tended to—conversation and a mean Egyptian coffee, sweet and thick. Settle in for a traditional game of backgammon, test out your Arabic on the waiters and convince yourself that you’re in Cairo instead of Queens.