Ancient Grounds

forget westside.
OG egyptian men. cheap hookahs. late nights. good times.
(BYOB and they have a nice bathroom)

Also known as Ali Mama café, this hole in the wall hookah joint is hard to find and seems rank from the outside. However, once you step inside, you’ll find it cozy and hardly ever empty.
Unlike most hookah cafes in the Los Angeles area, this place is far from pretentious and very affordable. Prices for individual hookahs start at around $ 7 and go up depending on how many hoses you want in your hookah. As for the menu, they do not serve food, but you can chose from a long list of drinks including Gatorade, mint tea, and hot cocoa. The store owner even allows you to bring in your own food and beverages (alcohol too if you’re over 21).
What makes this place even greater, besides the price, is how at home you feel whenever you go. If you want extremely loud music, belly dancers, door men, and valet parking at your hookah café, then this certainly is not the place for you. If you’re looking to chill with a large group of friends and actually have a conversation over hookah, under a gazeebo in the night sky, then you’ll indeed be in the right place.
Not to mention, the staff here is incredibly friendly and is good about remembering names and faces. If you frequent the place enough, they may discount your bill from time to time just for coming to visit. Moreover, they’re open until the sun comes up the next morning (6pm-​6am) so if you’re looking for a place to end you’re night of bar hopping in Silver Lake, this is the spot for you. (Just keep the volume down for the neighbors).

Ok, I know what your thinking. .. at first glance, this place
seems like a hangout for old Egyptian men, who play
cards and smoke hookah. Alas. .. for it is more than the
eye can see.
Allow me to explain, the first time I ventured into this magical
place of hookah, it was for a friend’s B-​day party (whom is now
my boyfriend), anyway, he lives up the street and always hangs
out at this spot. So, he decided to have his soirée here.
When I arrived, I thought, gee is this the right place. This must
be some sort of joke. There were nothing but old men in sight,
gawking at me! Once I was able to traverse through the smoke,
I reached a patio area with tons — o — drunken fun awaiting!
Yay, I thought to myself. Who would have thought, that this
place ever existed.
The patio area is small and nothing grand, however, it is very
quaint and there are no hipsters. Ha! I believe they have plans
in the works to expand. No one is trying to be anything or anyone
here, come as you are. Friendly service and homely environment.
They have an array of hookah to choose from and yummy tea.