The Meridian Hookah Lounge

[Will_Evo]

Hello everyone, here is a review of the lounge that got me into smoking hookah.

The Place: The Meridian Hookah Lounge in Tampa/Orlando. (meridianhookah.com)

The Atmosphere: VERY chill, it features anywhere from 8-10 HUGE FLUFFY couches that can host a party from 10-15 people on each couch easy. The room is lit sparingly, with modern paintings on the walls. All Couches can see the stage easily which hosts a new act every night of the week(From belly dancers to live music). When there is not a stage performance going on, they are playing the best chill music from John Mayer to Bob himself.

The Price: Its a 10 dollar cover charge. That is it, unlimited bowls all night.

The Hours: 7pm-3am everyday of the week

The Staff- Awesome people, usually students from the University of South Florida. Very helpful and they know their stuff, they know mixes I can only dream of.

The Extras- They serve soda, coffee, and some other drinks for a good price. They usually have a VIP couch if you can get your hands on it that can host a private party. Also each couch gets anywhere from 1-3 hookahs on the table in the middle so no one person is waiting to long to take a puff. They also provide free plastic mouthpieces.

The Hookah- I do not know exactly which type of hookah they are using but here is a list of their flavors:

7spice, Acai berry, Butterscotch, banana, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cola, double apple, fruit punch, grape, green apple, guava, honey, kiwi, lemonade, mango, margarita, melon, menthol, mocha, orange, peach, pineapple, pomegranate, raspberry, rose, spearmint, strawberry, tropical punch, vanilla, watermelon.

Overall I give this lounge a 10/10. This place is awesome, always filled with beautiful people, and always a very relaxing and fun experience. Check it out next time you are in the Tampa/Orlando area.

[Will_Evo]

Also, I completely forgot to tell you how the hookah smokes:

The hookah is always prepared perfectly, I have never had a bowl by them that was harsh or bitter..it is ALWAYS good. They heat their coals on a skillet type top and use foil to create a wind screen. Always big beautiful smoke, and no problems with ventilation.

-Evo

[euphoriaxj]

Been to the one in orlando (near UCF). Very relaxing atmosphere.. except for when they have live bands playing way to loud it hurts my ears. However, I do enjoy normal nights where they play music from itunes and put it up on a projector. They raised the price to $12 for unlimited smoking, I think it's $5 if you aren't smoking (if you have a big group you can get away with some only paying the $5 and still smoking). I have had some experiences where the smoke gets harsh after only about 5-10 minutes, but the staff will quickly change it out for you. They also sell their shisha, $10 for a 250gm jar of hookah hookah tobacco. I'd have to say the price is a bit steep compared to other places where you can buy a bowl for $8 and split it with a large group, so everyone only shells out like $2. However, if you are going there alone or with 1 or 2 buddies and plan to spend a few hours, the $12 for unlimited smoking isn't bad. I'd give it a 7 our of 10.

[Vampy6997]

Been to the one in orlando (near UCF). Very relaxing atmosphere.. except for when they have live bands playing way to loud it hurts my ears. However, I do enjoy normal nights where they play music from itunes and put it up on a projector. They raised the price to $12 for unlimited smoking, I think it's $5 if you aren't smoking (if you have a big group you can get away with some only paying the $5 and still smoking). I have had some experiences where the smoke gets harsh after only about 5-10 minutes, but the staff will quickly change it out for you. They also sell their shisha, $10 for a 250gm jar of hookah hookah tobacco. I'd have to say the price is a bit steep compared to other places where you can buy a bowl for $8 and split it with a large group, so everyone only shells out like $2. However, if you are going there alone or with 1 or 2 buddies and plan to spend a few hours, the $12 for unlimited smoking isn't bad. I'd give it a 7 our of 10.

Live bands at the one in Tampa too. It gets pretty loud, but it's good atmosphere.
Only neg, is the cd player was skipping on cd's when the bands weren't playing. Not fun to listen to music skippity skipping. Overall, decent. I haven't been there in over a year now though, and last I heard, they were changing to a new Tampa (not "New Tampa) location.

I miss florida!!!!! rawr.

[FamiliarJoe]

They have gone very far down in quality according to about 10 of my friends at UCF who are daily regulars there. Horrible customer service. They usually have a huge menu of hookah hookah flavors. They last time my friends went (last week) the lounge owners told them AFTER they paid that they only had 3 flavors available (all the shittiest flavors that nobody smokes). They asked if they could get something in return for them expecting all the normal flavors, they offered them "complimentary water".


Fuck that place honestly.

[Kelso]

i had many many good experiences at that place. when i first started going they had ana wesome music selection and i remember saturday nights was reggea night, and they would place some of the best new reggea artists as well as old and even dabble in other genres a bit. however my friends and I went in one week and they had a bunch of new employees playing shitty music, sometimes giving slow service. the place was awesome for the price, and the general atmosphere and way the place runs has been my favorite as far as a business model. but i think the employees were getting irritated with the management of the place and it shows. they need to reevaluate how they treat the employees and everyone will love the place

[Hellaslow]

this place is the suck!

[Murakamikazi]

Yeah, Meridian Tampa was the first hookah lounge was the first hookah lounge I ever went to and it was great at first, that was about two years ago. Now though I'm not so sure. I used to get constantly great hookahs, but now it's a gamble as to whether or not I'll get a good one or one that burns or doesn't smoke too well. I think that just boils down to the servers though. Some of the servers they have now are substandard. They tend to stand around and talk to their co-workers, which I don't normally have a problem with, but when my friends and I sit there with no smoking hookahs for forty-five minutes that's a little ridiculous and it wasn't even that busy. Oh well, it's still one of the better lounges in my area. After all, nobody is perfect. I'd say give it a shot now that they've started to offer Starbuzz and Fantasia.

[monoxide]

i think this is the closest hookah lounge to me so i may have to take a trip up there one day. unless any one knows of any closer to sarasota to port charlotte area.

[xtianhookahlover]

My wife and I went to the Orlando location this past Sunday night, and had simply an awesome experience. The lady that was tending our hookah was spot on in offering new bowls, the music was ecclectic but very appropriate to the venue. You could tell from the number of regulars there that they treat their clientelle with respect and courtesy. It was our first hookah lounge experience, but we will be making a weekly trip out of it. And if there was any problems with management or sub standard staff, you certainly could not tell from the visit we had. And as far as what flavors were available, they had every single one we asked for.

[Bella]

I will have to check this place out, although the mixed reviews make me a little nervous. The Orlando location is the closest hookah lounge that I am aware of; I've never been to one so it will be interesting anyway.