Excellent service and well mannered staff. The ambiance is great and a wide variety of music. Oh I can't forget to mention their beautiful and friendly serve the one with the "E"pendent . Top Notch

This is the best spot for fresh, delicious Middle Eastern food and a relaxed hookah vibe. George makes you feel right at home and was very helpful in guiding us on what to order. Definitely recommend checking this place out! 👍

I loved the food. Laura and Admad were so great. They made sure that we were happy and satisfied. I loved the food and the music. They treated us so well. I would definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for somewhere to chill with great drinks and hookah. I will definitely come back.

Loved it here ! Good vibes . Good music . Good drinks . Hookah amazing . 10/10 recommend! Ask for George ! He gives good service and fast. Deff would come back!

It was an excellent experience the drinks were tasty and the food delicious. The waiters were always helpful and pleasant and polite. And I enjoyed their company as they helped us and assisted in giving recommendations of which drink would suit my description. Overall good time.

First time here was over ten years ago and it feels like the first time every time. it’s so vibrant and the atmosphere is impeccable. Sahara has the best food, best hookah and the best service in nyc. Thank you Sahara for existing, and being good to me and my people.

I keep coming back to this place… great tunes, service and food! This last time we got a Shisha and delicious hummus and baba ganoush… George took real good care of us - they have a great drink selection as well!

Good place with awesome music and what a vibe! Definitely heading back for more.

I own two hookahs, have checked out a bunch of places in NYC, and I can tell you Sahara East has the best hookah period. They have ice hoses, great flavors, and a rare thing for hookah places: their food is delicious. Just as a restaurant it would be five stars, but with hookah, and open even in the mornings…this is the spot!

Great hospitality and the customer service was very top tier. The music also set a great ambience especially for weekend nights. Definitely recommend !

Excellent service by the team here at Sahara East! The food is incredible and the Hookah and drinks are phenomenal! A big shout out to the owner and my man George for taking care of me and my family twice with my first visit to NYC. Do me a favor and please come check this place out! I promise you will not be dissapointed.

Foods great and generous portions. Service was quick and staff was friendly and attentive. Large selection of hookah flavors and drinks. All around a great vibe.

This place was amazing! This was the first time I've been there and the food was great. The service by Paulie was unmatched!! Would give 7 stars if possible!

Mr. Karim is very kind the owner and gives very good service and the Sheesha is amazing as well as the food, I must go place for Sheesha lovers in New York City

Staff were very friendly, experience was great.

The staff was super awesome. Went out with my boys for a drink and found this place. They use coconut coal and the hookah was pulling. Definitely planning to come again.

Beautiful ambience. Quality hookah. Good music. Cozy. Great for a friend's gathering over tea and hookah

I didn’t have any food here so I can’t speak on that. But the vibe was great, it’s such a cute little date night spot. We came when there weren’t a lot of people inside so it was nice to have our own private space. Staff was really nice and helpful as well. And I really loved the music!! Definitely would come back again.

the location is great and hidden! great hookah, great service. love the atmosphere. chill vibes. Dj is great too.

Great food drinks and environment can’t go wrong at Sahara

Very calm & welcoming atmosphere, music selection is versatile and vibey! I went with my friend for the first time for some hookah & I LOVED IT . (not really a hookah smoker) . The hookah was A1 though. Definitely check this spot out during the later hours of the weekend 🥳

George was fantastic. Provided excellent service. The food is always delicious, and the hookah flavorful and seems to never burn out! Sahara east is great for chill vibes, and a beer and hookah after a long day of work. They have comfortable seating, and accommodate vegetarian diets as well.

Great afternoon vibe Manuel and the staff was awesome … great hospitality and attentive

It’s definitely a good lowkey vibe; I would definitely be back.

Went there on a Sunday afternoon with a friend and had a great time lounging, watching soccer, eating, and smoking hookah. Our server, Pauley, was very friendly and attentive. Thank you!

Friends and I wanted to have a chill night but still have a good time so we stumbled here…what a great decision! The music was a vibe (they gave us aux) and the drinks were great! The service was awesome, kept checking up on us and just a vibe overall!

The kofta was amazing!! I loved the atmosphere

Great place for Hookah and Mediterranean food! We visited this place as a group of four and we had so much fun! We tried tropical fruit with ice tube ( recommended by staff) ad it was great! Also, the falafel from food was great! We also tried their cocktail pitcher which easily served four people. Amazing ambience , great service and friendly staff. Highly recommend!

My girls and I come here often because we love this place. The food, drinks, and hookah is all a 15/10. Our server George always gives us the best service every time we come!

Our waiter George was really nice. The hookah was very smooth.

Amazing place in the city to get hookah and vibes !

Amazing patio and service! Highly recommend if you want to share hookah with friends. Their tea tastes exactly like what I have back home (I’m from the Middle East.) Highly recommend.

If you’re looking for a good time, Sahara’s is definitely the place to be! The drinks were great and they played a verse amount of music. Our waitress was very tentative and quick with our orders. Definitely looking forward to coming back :)

Hookah was good and the drinks were nice!

Very pleasant place to relax

10/10! Hookah is amazing the hospitality is awesome! The music is a plus! Highly recommend when you in the city definitely will be coming back.

Such a good vibe, great music, super chill, and so many hookah options. The staff is very accommodating and attentive.

Came here on a Saturday night with some friends and got amazing service at a great price. Highly recommend if you’re in the area!

my favorite spot to kick it at in Manhattan good hookah, good drinks, great vibes and the workers take great care of their customers.

Good vibes! My friends and I had a great time. Definitely will be going back!

Everything was amazing! George was great, on point and super nice! I will be coming back

This place holds a special place in my heart from 15yrs+ ago, hung out here with friends and came back to this gem recently. The Hookah’s still burning, food is still amazing, and the vibe is still vibrant. Hats off to this place! To many more years in the east village!

This was my second time trying hookah in New York and this place delivered! They have a wide variety of hookah flavors and can also accommodate any special requests you may have. Sahara East has a chill vibe and welcoming atmosphere. The customer service is also top-notch! What more can you ask for? Come, unwind and relax at Sahara East.

I’ve literally been coming to this place for 2 decades, the vibes are always immaculate. George takes great care of us whenever we go. More than anything though. Mahmound, the owner, is the MAN! Used to be a pro soccer player, has stories for days and is the most welcoming host you can imagine.

Best in the test , very friendly , they never asked me about my religion like other meddleeastern shisha did with new ppl , they are very kind

It had great customer service, and the music was also great m, the waiters were very responsive. I would recommend.

Stopped in for a friend’s birthday after a concert at Pier 17 and had an amazing time. It was Jay-Z night and my friends loved it!!

A super chill spot I always enjoy coming back to. The vibe is relaxed, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the prices are pretty standard; not too high, not too low. Definitely a go to when I want to be somewhere familiar.

Great atmosphere drinks was on par and great customer service heavily recommend to come

I’m obsessed with the ambiance. Service is unmatched. Top tier hookah, drinks & did I mention the FOOD?! Love. Highly recommend. *chefs kiss !

great customer service . wonderful scenery definitely would recommend and will be returning

great vibe , friendly service and quick delivery of food and shisha

When I tell you, this is the place to go to just chill, vibe, and have a good Hookah and drink lm absolutely coming back. Make sure Ellie is taking care of you, she hooked me up with the dope flavor mix.

Food was amazing. Hookah was amazing. I bit chilly but everything was good. Will return

The vibes here are great! Awesome music, nice atmosphere, great prices, delicious food, and the service is top notch. The smoothies are my favorite! George was particularly awesome - he was super attentive, gave us great recommendations, and made us feel cared for the entire time. We will definitely be back!

Place feels like home !! Paulie is the best, he was so kind and personable. Did

It's a great environment. Lay back and you meet alot of great people from all walks of life. It's also a great place to network with people.

This is the perfect duck off spot! The ambiance and the service is amazing!!!! Ask for Paulie, he’ll take great care of you!

Friendly very nicez employees and the owners are amazing this is the place like the TV show named cheer's Where everyone knows your name Ask for Paulie Ahmed Mahmoud or Debbie they really know how to make anyone we'll come they treat you like family

Paulie was super sweet and super accommodating. His service is top notch. I will definitely be back!!!

Markeyta Young

Love this place! Very accommodating and good vibes every time. Drinks and hookah are great.

Don Pablo

Paulie is one of the nicest guys and this place is a hidden gem in the LES. From George to Ahmed the customer service is top tier, would highly recommend this place to anyone, great vibes and great hookah

Manny

Best chill lounge spot in NYC! Good hookah food drinks and good drinks!!! 10/10 I highly recommend to anyone looking for a laidback spot will good service and good vibes! Sahara east to the WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

Dwayne Akanwa

This is one of the best Hookah bars I’ve been to in my life. George is one of best owners I’ve met in my life. He caters to his customers and makes sure you have an amazing experience . If you’re looking for a smooth night, turn up venue, or just an easy going night cap this the place!

Alizze Alizze

This place is fantastic! You absolutely must come here. I had delicious drinks and a great hookah experience. It’s definitely worth the time, and they’re open late.

Sebastian Nusimow

I had a good time smoking and enjoying the drinks here. Always a good time with music played at a good volume and being able to talk with my friends. Definitely would recommend for hookah enthusiasts. Server was good, I didn’t get food so can’t speak for it but great time.

April Sandmeyer

Best kept secret, except for those who know, there is an exceptional Egyptian restaurant at 184 1st Ave., between 11th and 12th St., in the East Village 38years called Sahara East. They are professionals in what they do, which is obviously why they have been a neighborhood trusted favorite for so long. Generous portions. Deliciously satisfying, high-quality food. Friendly service. Cozy atmosphere. The enormous year round temperature controlled hidden tent out back in the “garden”, which is a hookah lounge, is fun party space for all occasions. They have large screen TVs for watching sports also. Open ‘til 3 AM! Our baba ghanouj was excellent with a unique chopped parsley. We loved the flavor. The hummus was whipped to perfection with a smooth consistency, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, tasting as good as it looks The lamb Shawarma with vermicelli rice was flavorfully done. The Argentinian Malbec wine was a perfect pairing The cottage fries had a crispy texture yet soft inside. The baklava came piping hot fresh out of the oven. Great rice pudding with rosewater, coconut, walnuts, and cinnamon. The peppermint tea with fresh mint was the perfect ending for a wonderful dinner. This was the first hookah lounge in New York City. I didn’t think that I was in the mood for Middle Eastern food, but as soon as it came, I cleaned my plate so fast and it was so good. I am grateful that my friend chose this restaurant with excellent fresh high-quality food! You will feel blessed , too. Thank you!!

+17

Stephen Barnes

All staff are amazing friendly attentive! Sahara east is very clean with delicious food choices ( vegan options ) and the music is amazing! You can watch the latest sports games on tvs with comfortable seating! Prices are reasonable. Security ID check enforced for 21+ alcohol beverages. Enjoy :)

Marcella Edwards

Sahara East is a great place to go if you're looking for that chill, non-stuffy vibe. The food and drinks were amazing. And the service was kind, caring and fast. I had the Lamb Shawarma, and it was so good. I wasn't a fan of hummus, but Sahara East has changed my mind completely. My husband and I do plan to visit again.

Rahel Nuguse

The service was great, our server came around many times to check on the hookah. There was a lot of seating, and the setting was as definitely a vibe. We had a large group and were all comfortable. The drinks and good were good. We will definitely be back.

Naniaka Camara

Where to start the vibe was very nice and the place was very aesthetically pleasing.Good music, food and the drinks were not watered down. Our server was very attentive and tended to our needs. There was no wait and no reservation needed. I will definitely be back here and 10/10 recommend. Try the lamb chops they are Bomb. The blue mist hookah was strong and lasted a long time. Come to this spot with your girls or for a calm date night.

Mia

Found this place on google maps and had to check it out! The decor inside is cute.. but that’s the patio and it’s hot in the summer…Obviously. They do put really big fans in front of your table. I just wanna notate that because next time I will sit on the AC inside because I can catch really bad headaches if I sit in heat too long. I feel like you’re at an Egyptian mom’s house here. You get mismatched utensils, the cups are different sizes when you get a refill lol, but.. Service was great! Very attentive. The Hookah is really good and you don’t wait so long for hot coal refill. The food is SO GOOD! I mean really good!! I loved my kofta platter. The meat tastes so good and seasoned. The lamb sliders were 12/10. I mean delicious. I loved the platter because you get salad and a side of hummus and grilled veggies and a few pieces of pita with your protein choice. Great plate! The fresh lemonade is so refreshing. I had a great first visit. Great food and hookah all in one. Only thing I don’t care for the music choices. Would’ve preferred maybe Arabic music or a different type of American music. It was too raunchy with curses. Still I give 5 stars!! And will be back! Oh and the nice guy gave us a few pieces of baklava on the house when we ordered tea. Thank you!

+2

K E

Came here on a whim. I'm glad I did. Turkish coffee may be the best I've had, and the hookah is great too. The thing that really stood out on top of that was how clean it was. Came in when it was slow and they were cleaning ever cleaning every surface, even the fans. I was super impressed with the attention to detail. Also, I love that the music wasn't extremely loud, like most hookah lounges. Will be back.

Isis Brown

This was my first time here and the customer service was GREAT. There were over 10 flavors of hookah and I couldn’t decide on which flavor to get. I asked the worker George to give me a flavor he liked. George was more than helpful with picking the flavor of hookah for me.

Yung Ssfe

Sahara East is an esteemed dining destination, distinguished by its exquisite gastronomic offerings and an extensive selection of hookah flavors. The establishment prides itself on providing a capacious and tastefully designed environment, ensuring an unparalleled dining experience for patrons to relish their delectable cuisine in utmost comfort and style.

Food, music and vibe of the place is great but the place needs a lil cleaning and renovating

Good spot to chill on a date or with friends. The have a nice backyard with music, good hookah, food & drinks. The drinks are not that great but they will make them stronger if you ask.

+1

Pegah Alipoormolabashi

We had a great time at this place! Food was delicious and the portions were generous. They mixed hookah flavors for us and they were very nice.

Pilar Johnson

Arrived around 10:30 on a Wednesday night and stayed until 2 just talking because the vibe is so easy. Hookah was very good quality but the service is upsettingly slow. Everything I had to go find the server to ask for - water, if we can order, if we can have the check and then to give the check. Wasn’t a busy night either. We ordered food, tea and hookah. High quality hummus chicken and roasted vegetables. I wouldn’t order the mint tea again though. I wouldn’t order anything again actually except for hookah just because the service is so slow. I’ve heard it can get very mixy at night on a Thursday/weekend and given the location can have a lot of NYU students

Zarina

Great ambience and atmosphere. Very nice decor inside. Good hookah spot! Great staff that were courteous and attentive. Great music playing in the background. Food was good. Drinks were alright... not my favorite. I didn't enjoy the sangria. Only one co ed bathroom... there should be at least 2... Overall Highly recommend for a great time to lounge with food, drinks & hookah.

+4

My first experience here was amazing we had an attentive and friendly server he changed the coals with out us having to ask and checked on us the entire time however my second time was not the same experience our server looked like he didn’t want to be at work and wasn’t attentive. Our hookah wasn’t pulling and I had to go looking for him and another employee fixed it for us. I had to flag him down for everything we needed because he never once came and checked on us instead he was either on his phone or not around. At the end I let him know that he was not very attentive and he looked like he didn’t want to be there to which he replied he’s a “miserable soul” which was a very unprofessional way to respond. It was a Monday afternoon and only 2 tables were sat. The food and drinks were good

Frozen margarita was great but they only have ONE bathroom with a long line of people waiting to use it. So unless you have an amazing bladder get a smaller drink.

Mixed reviews because the staff was really nice, we got virgin mango mojitos and they were amazing but the hookah just couldn’t get any worse after getting it fixed many times. Talking about food, it was a long wait time but was hoping for the food to be good but I would give 6 out of 10. Our sheesh kabab was undercooked ( they didn’t charge us for it after I asked them). Did I mention the bees flying everywhere! We changed our seats three times, they definitely need to clean more.

The food isn't great, but the place is really nice

Valeria Escrich

I’ve tried real hookah before, the kind where two puffs and you immediately feel the effect, but this one didn’t feel like anything. It was just smoke. There are much better hookah spots out there. The staff was very friendly, but the place itself doesn’t feel exclusive or high-end at all. It actually looks more like a cheap option. I wouldn’t go back. 18% gratuity included!

If I could give this place no stars I would. I don’t know if this place racist or you just need to have a certain look just to get service. I found this place on tictok and it look cool. My friend and I came here two weeks ago and we sat for 30 minutes no one greeted us, asked if we wanted anything. Two Hispanic women walked in and got served right away. My friend and I just walked out. I’ve noticed a lot of places especially in Manhattan are like this. You’ll sit there for lm 30 minutes to an hour and won’t get no service. It’s said because this city is very culturally diverse and the people who work in this establishment are people of color. So of course I’d never play myself and step foot in this place again.

The food I ordered had a whole Rubber-band in the meat. This was a disgusting hazard a failure in food prep and service last night

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! The staff was incredibly rude, everything was way overpriced, and the place was disgusting!!! The outdoor area has a tarp over it and there was a giant rat I saw crawl over it. Do not come here!

Took expensive not worth it they are using same hoookeh for a different flavor I don’t know what I saw smoking apple or mint 40$ for what and 28% service fee 3 hookah 1 plate of chicken kebab 191$

Maximus Quintero

This was the worst experience of my entire life. The whole vibe was awful and all the employees were so rude. The food was rubbery and the I was told I had to leave because of what I was wearing. Just a disgrace never come here!!!!!