2 Very Different Hookah Lounges Open in North Hollywood

Rain Forest Cafe

The recently opened Rain Forest Cafe in North Hollywood is not just a hookah lounge, it's also a restaurant that serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food in an all-you-can eat Brazilian-style buffet manner.

After filling up on the buffet, rounds of meat are brought out to the customers, who may also order and enjoy hookahs right at their table or in the hookah lounge.

The Rain Forest Cafe is an open-air restaurant that has been completely remodeled since the Magnolia Boulevard site was occupied by an establishment called Royal Garden.

"We are all outdoors, 6,000 square feet," said Avo Hakopian, who opened the restaurant on March 26. Because it's outdoors, smoking is not prohibited.

"We're not a smoke-free environment, we're a free-to-smoke environment, since we're all outdoors," Hakopian said. "Yet if a customer requests a non-smoking section, we do offer that, it's not a problem." Although it is open-air, all the seating areas are covered to protect against rain.

There are some interesting touches, including a cave booth, several small pit fires scattered around and a few bunnies, which roam freely. Belly dancers perform every other Saturday.

Hakopian, who is from North Hollywood, previously owned and operated on Laurel Canyon Boulevard but said he sold the place to invest in the Rain Forest Cafe.

"I've been trying to get this place for like four years," he said. "I used to come with my girlfriend and just say, 'This place has such potential.' And now that I have it, I'm just using my imagination."

Rain Forest Cafe, 11026 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.

Hot Box Cafe

Another new local spot, the , also serves hookahs, but its hip-hop, urban-lounge vibe is miles from the Rain Forest Cafe's ambience.

"We want to give the customers the feeling that they are at their house smoking hookah and give it a Middle Eastern feeling, but at the same time a new, hop-hop, stylish feel so they can be comfortable and have fun," said manager Anthony Hoffman.

The Hot Box, which opened April 1, is a straight-up hookah lounge, which can be rented out for private parties. It also frequently clears out the chairs for weekend dance parties. The lounge has several flat-screen televisions and shows many sporting events, and one can also expect a diverse group of people.

"We have a great mixture here," said Hoffman. "There are Middle Easterners, whites, Hispanics, African Americans. It feels like a cultural melting pot."

Hot Box Cafe, 6006 Vineland Ave., Suite 111, North Hollywood.