Honestly, I only picked this lounge because I saw they own two cats. I don't smoke hookah, but my family members said it was okay; they'd give it a 3/5. The space is a bit dingy but there are indoor and outdoor spaces with heaters. The service was good, the owner brought us some apples which was nice lol. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

A blind man's perspective. Amin is the man. This is the most hospitable wonderful place if you ever get a chance walk through it go upstairs smoke a hookah drink a mint tea and relax. This place is all about escaping the world stress finding your inner peace. I could not recommend this place anymore. read more

Great service , stay late $35 a hookah And tea for $6 Hookah is good and charcoal service was good ( was cold night they turned the outdoor heater on for us ) overall recommend read more

Ali Mama Cafe - View - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

A for ambiance. The stairs need help. More railings. But overall it was a nice place to smoke hookah. It's 35.99. Drinks are 4 dollars like kerns and soda. The service was great. He kept the coals hot. The grape mint flavor hookah was nice. We had a good time there. Will go back. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Sitting on the couch on the top - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a hookah lounge not cafe sure they sell coffee but last time I went you needed to purchase the hookah

Hands down has to be one of my FAVORITE hookah spots in SoCal. The service was amazing and attentive to us. The hookah was FANTASTIC! The tea was also great. The cats that roam around were adorable. The outside sitting area was so cute and can def fit a larger group! The music was 10/10, all of the old Arabic classics. This place is authentic and I LOVED it. I would highly highly recommend and I will be coming again soon :) read more

My wife and I stumbled upon Ali Mama Cafe after having dinner across the street and it quickly became one of our favorite spots in the area. When walking in we took the stairs all the way to the top outdoor area and we were greeted by the cutest and friendliest cat Primo. He spent some time with us and we couldn't have been happier. The owner (I believe) was very very very friendly and accommodating. He turned on the heaters for my wife, let us play music on their Bluetooth speaker, and even offered to let me charge my phone. It felt like I was visiting a family members home. With the outdoor lights, comfortable seating, and Sunset Blvd view the ambiance was perfect. The watermelon peach hookah was good and never got harsh or died out even after a couple hours. The African tea and tea latte were also very good and you can tell they were homemade. Overall we love this spot and you will too if you appreciate friendly service, good ambiance and hookah. We're definitely looking forward to coming back here and bringing some friends! read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Primo hanging out and making our night - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing Service Amazing Drinks!! Chill spot with a great view, Owner is extremely nice and attentive! read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Elite Employee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My new favorite place for hookah and Arabic coffee. Great vibe, and the hookah server makes you feel like you're at home. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Outside patio, has a great view. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My cousins from out of town and I were looking for a hookah place nearby, and I found this place on yelp. Didn't have many reviews but none of them were bad so we decided to go check this place out. When we got there we thought it was the wrong place, just looked like it had a couple of tables, some snacks, and a tv, we were about to leave when the server or owner I can't recall came to greet us, and asked if we wanted to be seated. We hesitatingly said yes because he was really nice, then told us to follow him to the back. When I tell you my jaw dropped when I saw what was behind the scenes is an understatement. You had to go up stairs to different levels, and all of them were awesome! We decided on the top level, and hung out under an umbrella with a big net around it, it also had a bug zapper for the mosquitos. We were immediately relaxed when we sat down, and he let us know we would be able to put music on the speaker with the blue tooth. We did not want to leave! Reasonably priced hookah, snacks, and awesome view! Please check this place out. read more

See all

My friends are regulars and I come here often to hang out. Every time I come I have the best experience. They have the best coffees, really good quality hookah, and always a good vibe. The service is always top notch and everyone is so kind. Definitely a great spot and hidden gem in the city. read more

Pretty neat hookah lounge with indoor and outdoor patio seating. By far one of the best I've visited. Menu is limited to teas, coffees and snacks, so definitely recommend eating before you visit. Service is great. Owner is great at explaining what they offer, memorizes your order and provides everything promptly. Hookahs are clean and mouth pieces are provided. The vibe outside is great. Overall a chill place to visit and hang with your friends read more

Wonderful & friendly service. I stopped in just for a hot tea and was greeted like apart of the family! The outdoor lounge is beautiful and is perched on a hill with a pretty good view! Thank you for the tea read more

To start, I never leave reviews, but I had to for this place! Was there last night with a friend and let's just say I was a little careless with my belongings and forgot my cell phone at the place. I didn't realize until I was almost home. I called the Cafe and the owner answered and assured me that he would keep it safe until I had a chance to go pick it up, and sure enough, that's exactly what happened! Now about the place: The service is spot on. As already mentioned, the owner is a stand up person who is very attentive and genuine. The place itself is great as well. You feel like you're at home in your own backyard - literally. With countless hookah lounges all over town, it's hard to find a place that offers amazing customer service, has a great vibe/atmosphere and makes you feel like you're at home. Highly recommended. read more

ALY MAMAS CAFE & HOOKAH BAR IN SILVER LAKE EAST OF HOLLYWOOD THERE HOURS suit my life stile, I am the type that likes half the day in the sun the other half I like to stay up at night so I get the best of both out of my day I have not been there in 8 months but I now it's still open It goes like this ! walk in no reservations for 12 or less people Pull out any empty chair from any table or just seat your self in any booth that appears empty before you now it you get fresh coals & you will be asked what you would want from the menu That's it & that's all it's that simple everything is prepared HALAL style in other words everything is handled with care Bring your cell phone tablet laptop boardgame cards chest board checkers boards ALMOST anything is allowed ALMOST ? To keep everyone as happy as possible Pets ok that I now of birthday parties too all other occasions I now you should call ahead I personally been a customer for 18 years I live on Sanborn near by its new years day & I called there open from 5 pm till 6 am go watch on TV new york new years celebration it's three hours before LAS ANGLES read more

The customer service is very unfriendly , too many rules. Just to get hookah there is a cover charge of $3.00 per person . Hookah flavor is good but service needs a lot of improvement . read more

I love this place, every time I come here I feel welcomed and I appreciate their hospitality. Their outdoor area is much more aesthetically better than indoors! read more

See all

Absolutely cool and awesome place to relax and smoke hookah. Bluetooth enabled so you can play your own music. Owner is the nicest man and goes out of his way to make you feel welcome and relaxed. You are not rushed and there are games to play while you just smoke and chill. I had the black cherry tobacco and had miik in the reservoir, it made for a really mellow smoke. Definitely the best Hookah in Los Angeles. Can't wait to go back. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Mancala game - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I have been to many a hookah lounge. Ali Mama Cafe, right in the heart of Echo Park, is no different than the rest; this place, like many others I've been to, have been great experiences all around. I was in the area with my long time bro looking for a place to indulge our hookah needs! I yelped up this place, which had an average of 4 stars. I can see why. The service was very impeccable. From the outside, it looks like a tiny room with only 2 tables. Inside, they have a darkened room as well as an outdoor patio where you can smoke. We decided to smoke outdoors. I chose the Irish Peach flavor, which was amazing. They do charge for a 1 drink minimum or a $3 cover charge per person I believe. The only downside is their cheap coals- they burn out too quick! Guys, use Titanium or Cocoa Nara coals! Street parking only, as it is with other establishments in the area. If I am in the area, I'll be sure to drop by. Loved it here already!!! read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Irish prach flavor in outdoor patio in back. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

The customer service is excellent! Very attentive and friendly, they are definitely welcoming! Last time I was there my wallet fell out of my purse in the restroom, and they were kind enough to come upstairs and I must admit it was a bit embarrassing, but they called out who it belonged to! I felt so happy I wouldn't have noticed it missing. I enjoy sitting up there listening to music ( last time Wutang was on haha) and playing cards till literally early hours of the morning! don't get turned off by the hole in the wall look, it is definitely worth a shot and if you like hookah your bound to enjoy this place. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - No whip...lots of marshmallows - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great donuts! Great staff! You have to try the matcha munchkins! Also the Vietnamese iced coffee boba cream puff is soooooo good!

I've been living in the neighborhood for 8 years and I have always enjoyed a visit to Ali Mama Cafe. The staff is like a Persian "Cheers", "where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came". Seriously, you have the "regulars" whom you always see in the front of the cafe playing cards. If they know you, they greet you every time they see you. It's like family :) The back part is where I like to chill and is probably the only space available to chill. It has definitely upgraded since I was last there which was a few years ago. I'm glad to see that business has improved for them because the back part used to be an open patio which was nice then with the open air. Now it's covered, they play music, and they've put some additions to the place adding to the comfort of the place. They have plenty of card decks around so you can just ask your waiter to be provided with a deck of cards that will help you relax and just enjoy yourself. Now to the hookah...there are a generous amount of selections to choose from so choose at your heart's desire. I personally like to order the house tea, which is a persian tea that they serve you with fresh mint. You have a choice of adding sugar or honey to it if you like it on the sweeter side. I like the hookah with ice which makes the hits a lot smoother. You can stay as long as you want and the staff is super hospitable and friendly. It may seem intimidating to a stranger or first-timer, but once you step in and soak the atmosphere in, it'll feel like another great atmosphere to just chill with friends or that special someone. read more

Good service, and food prices( 1 drink minimum per person). I feel like I am intruding in an Armenian mob meeting but everyone is very friendly! Very exclusive, hole in the wall kind of vibe. The prices for hookah are definitely the cheapest I found in LA and is pretty decent quality too. At times, the hookah may be a little harsh, but the servers always come around to change your charcoal. We got the watermelon single hose with milk( $3 extra for a more smooth experience) and the earl grey with ice( $3 extra, this is just for it to be more smokey, I don't recommend). I always have a great time here with friends. Its never overcrowded and feels exclusive as if you are hanging out in a private lounge with friends. Ambiance( 4/5) Hookah( 4/5) Service (5/5) Pricing( 5/5). Overall, I give it 4 1/2 stars! I would recommend to everyone who just wants a "chill" kind of night. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Single hose for $13.99 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Now this is a legit hookah lounge!! Ali Mama is one of those hole-in-the-wall establishments that most people won't even bother giving a second glance when they pass by. Actually it looks like a deli or a small market from the outside. Once inside, however, you go up a short flight of stairs to a dimly lit blacklight room with a TV and ethnic music playing in the background. Patrons have free reign over what types of music they want to listen to, so as long as they can locate the remote. There a ton of hookah flavors to pick from, and the prices are more than reasonable. The workers are attentive to your needs and even if its your first time, they are polite and patient while they show you the ropes. The service is topnotch. My favorite location is the upper-level backyard area. There's a giant trough-looking thing filled with searing hot coals and wood, and occasionally a worker will come by to refresh the patrons' coals. There's a fan that turns periodically as well, and while its on, sparks fly everywhere. Definitely dangerous, but I cant help but be mesmerized by the pretty fire. Like moths to a flame... Anyway, the turkish coffee here is just ridiculously good as well. Coffee enthusiasts will love a cup. Be warned though, two small cups will be enough to send you bouncing off the walls. read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Hot chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Felt like I was in Tunisia, the best Tunisian tea in Los Angeles! Plus great service Thanks Amin! read more

A hidden gem and a must stop every time I'm visiting. The owner I think provides fantastic service and makes great Turkish coffee. Never been disappointed here. read more

Best mint tea in town !!! Great service and atmosphere. Amin always takes good care of us.

omgggg can this place BE any cooler?? not only was the service on a Fri night (like near closing time) excellent but u can even choose the music u wanna listen to cuz they give u the remote for their TV and u can just pull up YouTube and listen to whatever i wanna listen to! they stayed open later just to accommodate me&my friend and they didn't have to so i really appreciate that! i will def be going back for the hukka, which was absolutely delicious and for their inviting environment and awesome ambience and amazing service! read more

This place is absolutely incredible. Amazing service, and the hookah is packed so well! Amine was particularly helpful and attentive the entire time. I literally want to bring everyone I know here! Highly recommend the Turkish Coffee, and definitely get ice in your hookah (it makes the whole experience better). The ambience is dope. My favorite hookah spot for sure!! read more

This place is the best, and the dude who owns it is the coolest!! He's effortlessly curated the best place to spend a night or end a night. Very very chill, cannot reccommend it enough. read more

My friend got food poisoning from this establishment after they sold her an expired beverage from APRIL. We were there Labor Day weekend in SEPTEMBER. The man working was very unprofessional about this. He even said "don't drink too much next time" even though we were sober. Don't sell expired drinks, buddy. Will not be back and do not recommend. read more

I was there on September 3rd and I got thirsty so I got a Vitamin Water and I of course didn't check the expiration date because that's something the owner or manager SHOULD check before putting it in the fridge to sell to the public. Im not kidding when i tell you I threw up the vitamin water so quick and my friend checked and it was EXPIRED SINCE APRIL!!! And we told the dude that was working & he said "dont drink too much next time" I WASNT EVEN DRUNK!!! He was so rude for that!!!! I dont recommend this place at all!! Customer service sucked read more

First of all, service was excellent. Very helpful and attentive. Prices are cheap compared to many other places. Atmosphere was very relaxing. Makes you feel like you're at home! read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Since 2011, I've come here to relax and unwind with some good tea and hookah and it is by far one my favorite LA haunts, if not my favorite haunt. It give off a vintage and relaxing ambiance, and here's to coming here hundreds of more times! I would most definitely recommend coming here with a group of friends, or just solo after a long day. The staff is by far some of the friendliest people I've ever had the pleasure of talking to! If I can give this a 6/5 stars, I would! read more

Ali Mama Cafe - Hookah - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ahhhhh...to sit back and relax as you let the fragrant smoke drift and curl out of your mouth.... an after dinner smoke with friends is one of the best things in the world. Then to sip sweet fresh mint tea and take a bite of a rose water, cardamon, pistachio, honey, and or saffron flavored pastry or cookie in your mouth and let it melt...then take another puff of the flavored hookah then tea.........mmmmmm The first time I ever saw men sitting around and smoking around a hookah was when I was travelling with my family in the middle east as a small kid. I had never seen anything like that before in Korea. I instantly fell in love with the food, drink, and the culture of the middle east! It was so exotic to me, so flavorful and really like the Arabian nights come alive which I was reading as I was travelling. Everything was new and fascinating and I couldn't get enough of all the new sights and sounds. Mmmmmm.....one of my fondest memories as an adult is smoking in a little bare hole in the wall Arab hookah joint in Acre in Haifa in Israel. I didn't expect really great hookah in Israel since it is really an Arab custom, but they had an area outside where they perfectly roasted the fresh charcoal so there were hardly any roughness to the smoke. It was sooo smooth and amazing and we couldn't stop smoking and got super high and giddy on the smoke, haha! Check that area out, lots of shops and places to eat and really cute. But If I am out with friends and not too far, I'd come here for hookah. The feel and the ambience is really genuine and I feel as though I am back in a middle eastern hookah cafe with the men playing games and chatting and sipping tea. Their drinks and snacks are very good, hookah is fine, and the sakhlab, a thick pudding like creamy drink made from powdered wild orchid roots is so good!! You can mix flavors of the tobacco to create your own favorite combo. We've mixed cedar, double apple, and mint and it was good. So just experiment. When you go up to the 2nd floor through the back, they still have some holiday decorations and night club lights up there. I call that 'disco hookah' since the lights make your teeth and whites gleam and it can be a little disconcerting at first. The guys who work there are super friendly and will take good care of their customers!! Enjoy and relax! read more

What does one do when experiencing insomnia? Well, besides write yelp reviews like I am catching up on tonight (sorry to those of you fans getting a ton today. I promise to stop after this one.), you can go to Ali Mama Cafe!!! They are open until 4am on week nights and until 6/6:30am on weekends. This is the place for those of us serious night owls! Anyway, this past Friday after the dodger game and a trip to my favorite bar in the world - Short Stop, my date took me here to Ali Mama. This is my first Hookah Lounge experience, and I loved it. I'm not a smoker, but really enjoyed the vibe and feel of this place. Our waiter was really helpful and suggested Earl Gray flavored tobacco. It was DELICIOUS - fruity. aromatic, sweet, just wonderful! We also ordered a wonderful custard dessert topped with coconut and nuts for only $5.50 It was vanilla flavored, great texture, yummy flavor. It went well with the Earl Gray as well. We found out you can bring in your own alcohol. They don't serve it, but you can bring your own. The lounge also supplies playing cards. My date and I played poker, then war, then go fish. I won, but he was a great sport. We laughed a lot. The hookah lounge was so chill. We could have stayed longer, but I needed to be up early and to get home to sleep. I just loved this place, and look forward to going back. (The date was good too. Yay! I needed a good experience following the disappointments of last week's dating episodes -different guy. Ouch. But, it's nice to feel appreciated again). read more

LA hookah bars are a real gamble; you never know what you're going to get. Personally, I like my hookah bars to follow the rule of the three Cs: cozy, casual, cheap. So far, Ali Mama is the only hookah bar I've found in the Los Angeles area that meets all three requirements. From the outside, Ali Mama looks more like a rundown convenience store than a place to hang out on a weekend. The front of the cafe has several tables and seems designed for the older clientele, complete with checkerboards and easy access to hot drinks. Up the stairs is the young people room. Blacklights, more tables, and a makeshift DJ table are used to give the younger visitors a more "hip" place to smoke. If you're someone who prefers a more private atmosphere, there's the backyard. This place is no frills, but the service is wonderful. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and very charming. The hookah is on the higher end of cheap, but the flavors were great and we were allowed to manage our own coals. Also, the Turkish coffee is a must have. Our waiter says they use imported coffee, and whether or not that's the case, the stuff is delicious. Check this place out if you're looking for a good spot to have a smoke and a laid-back evening with friends. read more

A total hole in the wall hookah spot with plenty of tricks up it's sleeve. On the bottom floor, you walk in to a rather uninviting looking group of older middle eastern gentlemen playing cards. You don't quite realize that steps away, there is a back room, and an upstairs area, which is shoddy, yes, but holy hell... you're in Silverlake, and this is a real, live, breathing, functioning hookah joint. Hookah itself is cool. I'm no connoisseur, but am of the opinion that ambiance is everything. I load up on tea and middle eastern late night snacks. Cheat at cards. Bullshit with friends, under the heaters upstairs, out of the frenzy of the always-full bottom floor. Minutes bleed into hours, and you forget where you are, or what you're doing. You share the passage of time with friends, all a bit lost in the haze of flavored smoke. It is one of those places you come across that is a *real* place... not inauthentic, not playing at anything, and certainly not lacking in character. Silverlake gem. read more

Knowledge. Kindness. Courtesy. These people HAVE IT ALL. This is a no frills hookah spot for the late night enthusiast. It seems to be a hot spot for the older gentlemen in the community who enjoy a good hookah and a game of backgammon. Get nestled upstairs in the black-lit loft area with complimentary board/card games, and EXTENSIVE sheesha menu, complete with milk or ice to add in, bubble blowing accoutrements and your own batch of hot coals. Service is top notch! Coals are always hot, the hookah is never harsh, and the music remote is always on the move. Kristofer's Rip of the Day: Ask for the music remote and dictate your own vibe. Get creative with the combos... I went with cappuccino x vanilla, add milk. read more

Amazing atmosphere. Hookah is always smooth and the upstairs section is just a whole vibe.