During his travels around the world, Mike Munther, owner of The Living Room Lounge and long-time Burnaby resident, realized an opportunity to bring a new kind of first-class nightlife establishment to the city has called home for the past thirty years.
"Hookah lounges are global,” says Munther. “They’re established in restaurants, neighbourhood community nightclubs and hotels in cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Dubai. Since they’re everywhere in the world, I wondered why we don’t have something like this in the nightlife scene in Vancouver?”
Traditional hookah lounges are coffee houses that also serve hookah, a water pipe used to experience shisha (fruit flavoured non-tobacco) within a communal setting. Originating in India in the 15th century and later spreading to Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America, hookah was often used at diplomatic meetings and royal dinners during the Ottoman Empire, becoming a status symbol for society’s most notable people.
Today, hookah culture has been adapted into Western culture as a social activity that brings groups of people together with a shared sense of belonging, joy, and comfort.
And now, residents of Burnaby can venture into the hookah lounge right here in their very own city.
Established in Summer 2019, The Living Room Lounge is a luxurious social lounge in the Cascade Heights neighbourhood. The space fills a void in Metro Vancouver for a spot where groups can gather for casual get-togethers with friends, special occasions, business meetings, industry networking, and other social settings in a sophisticated space, all while enjoying the hookah experience.
While the concept of the hookah lounge is often stigmatized, with Munther and his team encountering disputes with the City of Burnaby, the Living Room Lounge stands to challenge negative views of hookah lounges by providing an all-welcoming environment through a VIP-like experience.
This is apparent from the lounge’s detailed set-up, from the Moroccan-style seating to the exquisite decor, designed with the intention of fostering both Middle Eastern authenticity and West Coast elegance.
The Living Room Lounge designs and engineers their own unique line of hookahs and accessories, with the hookah created by Turkish artisans and made with hand carved solid wood, rare lightweight and non-corrosive Japanese metals, a custom-made glass base imported from Germany, and a hand-selected Phunnel clay hookah bowl from Spain.
Munther has also cultivated an extravagant supply of specialty hookah flavors and imported coconut charcoal from Germany. The heat management system, provided by Starbuzz, sits atop of the clay bowl to regulate the heating of the natural charcoal and make the shisha session smoother.
Those who don't wish to partake in the hookah experience can still enjoy their time at the lounge with the selection of food, drink, and entertainment they have to offer.
Utilizing culinary techniques from the Middle East, The Living Room Lounge features a gourmet Halal dining menu, with ingredients sourced locally and throughout Canada. The hummus and vegetables platter is perfect for sharing, followed by the succulent lamb shank for the main to finish with the sweet and crunchy baklava for dessert. Meat and vegetarian options are available to accommodate each guest’s dietary preferences.
The lounge offers an extensive full-bar menu, including an award-winning wine selection, champagne, unique cocktails, and other premium drinks. There are also a variety of non-alcoholic drink options, such as mocktails, tea, espresso, fresh juice, milkshakes, and fruit smoothies.
The Living Room Lounge also hosts special events, such as birthday celebrations and holiday parties.
Event packages include a VIP table and decorations, with the option of reserving an opulent themed VIP room, complete with velvet sofas and plush tapestries. Package add-ons include custom-made cakes, food and dessert trays, champagne service, photography, videography, belly dancers, and valet services.
"Now, people from all over the world, from across North America, Middle East and Asia, have heard about the Living Room Lounge and come here to visit,” says Munther, showing an evolution from the integration of the hookah lounge in Burnaby to becoming a mainstay in the community.
The Living Room Lounge is located on 116-3787 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. Visit livingroomhookah.ca for more info.
