Shishababa’s House Of Hookah

REASON FOR COMING: To buy a hookah as a gift for someone.
I’ve looked all over DC/​MD for a hookah shop. Shishababa’s staff was hands down the most helpful — both over the phone and in person.
HOOKAHS FOR SALE: They sell new and used hookahs — used being the ones they use for customers who come in to smoke hookah there. I went with a used one because they look fine and I trust they’re the best of the best if they’re using it on a regular basis to run shop. They cleaned one up right in front of me and provided new pipes and all the basics — all for a much better deal than most places around. Altogether it was about $ 90 for the hookah (it’s big), pipes, coals, and shisha.
Overall: Good customer service and beautiful hookah. I’ll be back to smoke!

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It’s in a sketchy area, and its nothing more than a tiny house sitting behind bigger buildings, and what I think is an automotive detailing business. Recently went here with friends, and it took forever to get any service. It wasn’t even busy, there were maybe two other small groups present.

Been to my fair share of hookah bars, by far the best hookah in town… Ask for Stephen or Akaan to make it

It’s been 2 years since I’ve been here and it still is my favorite local hookah spot. A lot of new changes such as the outdoor patio area. I came on a Friday night with some friends and made even more friends by the time I left.

Been here twice since my last review to smoke hookah and both experiences were great. Friendly staff, wide assortment of flavors and generally decent atmosphere.

Every employee makes me wanna continue coming here, especially that cute white looking justin bieber guy ;)

Sooo hookah is not my thing, but this was a first for some of the folks I went with, and it was a night of celebration.
This place was easy to miss, it looks like a house! and can be mistaken to be because it borders between residential and the back end of a small strip mall. For us, the parking and outdoor patio with tons of people with hookahs was what hinted that we were at the right place. I don’t remember even seeing a sign (but we did go when it was dark out). They had plenty of unmarked parking (basically on grass), so we just snuck up next to all the other cars there and walked around to the front of the «house». The house itself was small, had a small kitchen where they prepared the hookah, a counter for the «business» part, and it opened up to a «living room» with a few old not-​so-​comfy couches and old ikea square coffee tables, enough to seat maybe 6 groups of 4 or 5 people (there were vents everywhere so it didn’t seem smokey but the lighting was kept dim and atmosphere was still a little hazy and had a damp feel). The backyard/​patio region is where most people were, and could seat I think about 20 – 30 total too.
First off, their service was wonderful, they were friendly and very helpful. A couple of us made sure to check in on Unilocal to get a much needed free bottle of water, so always check for check in offers folks!
We arrived fairly late, midnight, and that was partly why we came, we wanted to stay out but didn’t know where to go. We shared one hookah amongst 5, which means it exceeded their limit. Each hookah can be shared amongst 3, and they charge an extra $ 5 per person beyond 3. Each standard hookah was $ 15, and more for more complex flavors. So if you are a group of 6 and are big hookah people you might think 2 hookahs would be the best value for your money, that’ll give you 2 flavors, but we weren’t so we stuck with one and just shared amongst 5. At the end of the night it costed $ 35 (including tax/​tip) for 5 people.
We stayed really late, past their closing time. And they were very friendly about it and even gave us fresh coals after they closed. They said the workers themselves clean up and then chillax with a hookah afterward so they didn’t mind a small group lingering. We left around 4am, but they were still cleaning about and getting settled.
All in all, it was a low-​key and inexpensive place to hang out that did not involve eating or drinking. Personally, I don’t smoke hookah much and don’t care for it, but if a group of friends wanted to come, I’d come back to hang out.

Great quality hookah. Great customer service worth every bit of your money. Hookah lasts a long time and they don’t charge for coals or anything like that and if your not satisfied they’ll make sure you leave satisfied. Shisha babas is the place to be great Shisha.

What an awesome store! I needed to pick up tobacco and coals and the guy helping me out was very knowledgeable and made recommendations on what different flavors mix well together. I’ll definitely be back to shop or hangout, as it is a pretty relaxing spot!

It’s hard to find good hookah in the area, but this place by far has got to have the best hookah I’ve had in town! The crew is very welcoming and they always make you feel like you’re a part of their family!

This is me and my friends go-​to hookah spot when we’re back in town. It’s located right in the middle of Shady Grove Road. They provide both hookah and vape supplies. They also have plenty of outdoor seating and indoor seating. Definitely would have sat outside if it wasn’t raining. However, when we arrived it was pretty crowded. Especially on a Monday. It seemed like all the high school and college kids were back in town. Luckily, someone just got up to leave, so we snagged their spot.
The ambiance here was really chill. It was basically a small house turned into a large hookah sesh. They had neon lights lined up around the ceiling and two large tv’s on both ends of the «living room». They had music playing as well which kept the place up beat.
The customer service here was ok. At first the guy gave us a couple of choices for flavors and was patient with us. But then it took him 30 or so minutes after we started to smoke hookah to ask us whether we wanted any beverages. Nonetheless, they replaced the coals at a timely manner when they noticed it wasn’t burning as well.
The price per hookah was ~$ 23 and any additional person after the 3^rd would be +$ 5. These prices were reasonable compared to other places because they didn’t have a cover charge or required you to purchase a drink. In the end, after tax, the four of us paid $ 8 each.
The hookahs were packed well and the smoke was smooth.
The only problems I had with this place was the heat and humidity that stuffed up the place. It was uncomfortable after 30 minutes and I just wanted to leave. (But this was probably because it was a hot and rainy summer day). In addition, it didn’t feel like we had privacy between parties. The tables were close enough that I felt like I was a part of other peoples conversation.
Pros:
Parking is easy
Wide-​rang of flavors
Good amount of seating
Checkers is right next door!
Cons:
Stuffy feeling inside
If you’re looking for something to do. This place is a nice to try out. Definitely recommend this place on a nice sunny day when you can sit outside and smoke hookah.

Very chill! Its 45 mins from me and I would drive to this place again!

First off, I’m an OG Baba’s patron. I started coming here 2.5 years ago when they were getting off the ground. I only smoke Starbuzz and I only drink water, unless it’s been a long week in which case I have Coke.
They have some of the best Hookah around. Clean tasting, effective drawing, great coal replacement. Their hookah is so good that my friend the hookah connoisseur was hooked the first time he tried them, and now he’s sitting next to me every Friday night.
The place just looks like a house from the outside, and that adds to the no-​frills charm. People go there for the hookah, not the designer chairs. Inside is a low-​key vibe, people playing board games, Carrom, cards, or just chilling. They also allow you to bring your own food or non-​alcoholic beverages, a holdover from the days where they didn’t serve drinks.
We are just now entering the time of year where the outdoor seating becomes an option. Outdoor seating is about twice as nice as indoors — nothing quite like early evening sunlight in Shady Grove.
Come early — the place fills up around 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

The smoke is good here and the hookahs are clean. I didn’t have an overpacked bowl which was nice. However, I went at night and it was way too bright and there was a gentleman who decided he’d turn the music off to watch Family Guy.
I like Family Guy as much as the next person but, watch television when you don’t have customers in the establishment. Not when people want to enjoy a relaxing hookah vibe.
Also, a little dirty. Ash trails everywhere, couches seem dirty, and the counter where you pay (also where hookahs sit) looks as if it has never been dusted.
The staff was very nice and I will go back. It just won’t be an regular place for me.

My wife and I visited this place on a whim, wanting to try something new for date night. The place is tucked between a strip mall and a hotel in the burbs. It looks like an unassuming house from outdoors. Don’t be turned off. Just go in.
The told the guy at the front desk we were newbies and thankfully he and another worker were very helpful with showing us the ropes and picking a good flavor for beginners.
The place is a nice chill spot with comfy couches and decent music. You can sit indoors (where the AC is ice cold and two TVs flank the sitting area) or on the patio out back. They offer water and sodas but nothing else.
I have nothing else to compare this place to, but for beginners it was a fun, laid back environment. The bathroom is clean enough. If you don’t like reggae or uncut hip hop music you may want to bring some headphones. The crowd tends to (understandably) skew younger and gets more congested the later it gets.
The hookah itself was great (again, we are newbies) and you can easily find yourself in there for hours. The workers are diligent about an seeking questions when needed and refilling your coal, or whatever it’s called.
Again, don’t be turned off by the exterior. We loved it and will be back, preferably to try something stronger.

Service: Fast/​friendly service and good packs! I’ve been going here since opening and I have yet to be disappointed. Servers are always readywith coals, music, whatever one may need.
Hookahs: Packed well and come with a decent selection of flavors. Not much more to say in that regard.
Environment: Don’t come here at night if you don’t like a busy/​loud environment. The place is usually packed by around 11 and stays that way for hours. If you want a seat, get there early. Music always playing makes for a fun atmosphere. Will definitely be returning time and time again.

Excellent customer service.
While I haven’t actually smoked here, they are great about their sales and customer service. I stop in here frequently to buy shisha and coals. When I’ve had a problem with my hookah, the staff have taken time out to address my issues, even though I didn’t buy it from them.
Definitely recommended and would return.

There is now a patio in the back complete with canopies, which makes for an awesome spot to hangout with friends again. On top of this addition, they’ve also increased the selection in shisha, but continue to allow for coco naras at no extra charge and keep a reasonable flat rate.
The plastic hoses pull well and appear clean but for some reason, the flavor of the shisha still doesn’t come through at Shishababa like it does with a frequently-​cleaned hookah at home, not to mention a funky aftertaste with some of the flavors. While the issue with the flavors is bothersome, the friendly service and chill atmosphere keeps us coming back.

Shishababa’s House of Hookah is hidden and somewhat hard to find. It’s located right behind the Touch less Car Wash off of Shady Grove Road on a dirt/​gravel lot. It’s the little white house that has white Christmas lights on during the evening. It’s the only house in a small strip mall-​like area of stores and restaurants. I guess the word «House» in Shishababa’s House of Hookah should have clued me in on the fact that I was looking for a house. Doh!
Upon entering the house, you’re in a room with products that you could buy… hookahs, charcoal, shisha, and various accessories. Prices are very reasonable. We initially came here to pick up a piece that we were missing for our hookah. After describing the problem and explaining what we think is wrong, the owner went into the storage area and gave us the missing piece… at no charge. Sweet! We ended up leaving with some shisha and tips ($ 0.25/each) as well.
The rest of the rooms are filled with tables, chairs, and couches for people to relax and smoke. When I came early on a Saturday afternoon, there were only a couple of people smoking, but the owner said it gets pretty packed later in the evening. There were several TVs throughout the house and music playing in the background.
The staff is super friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable.
Although I only came here to buy accessories, I’d definitely come back to hang out. They serve beverages here, but I think the owner mentioned that they don’t serve alcohol though. I noticed that they had some tables out on the porch, which would definitely be a plus as the weather gets warmer.