Guess Hookah

I tried to visit, but this place was completely closed as of March 29, 2013. It’s a shame that their website is still up and there is no notification. We drove all the way over here … to be disappointed.

I bought a hookah w/​free tobacco quite some time back for just $ 20 flat! The place looks nice in and out also.

I always just kind of assumed that hookahs were really expensive… Like in the multi-​hundreds-​of-​dollars range. I stopped in at Guess Hookah, and I was proven wrong. I picked up a nice little hookah, 3 boxes of shisha, tongs, two rolls of coals, a poker, and a carrying case for about $ 70.
So far I’m really happy with it. The mint stuff is really good, and the hookah is awesome. The included coals are self-​starting, which is awesome. They seriously last for over an hour.
Great deal from a great local shop.
Parking sucks. Take the train.

I went here because of the overwhelmingly-​positive Unilocal reviews, and I was not disappointed. The man who helped me select a hookah was overflowing with knowledge and advice, but not in a pushy way at all. He was extremely friendly and helpful. He answered all of my questions thoroughly and was perfectly content with me mulling around and taking my sweet time making up my mind.
Even though it took me a while to drive to his shop from where I am, I will probably return to his store for all of my tobacco-​related purchases just to patronize such a well-​run, bright, and friendly business!

I wish they would branch out and open more places in more cities but Chicago is one of the only big city areas where small businesses like this can survive.
Great prices. Wonderful service. The Hydro was fantastic.

I’m a big fan of Hookah and after relocating to Chicago from Seattle, I was in search of where I could find one for a decent price when a friend of mine told me about this place. I took the brown line here, and when I walked in I was really impressed. They had nothing but hookah and hookah supplies lined up on the wall. A wide array of flavors and different sized hookahs to meet any budget. The guy behind the counter was very friendly and informative… this guy really knew his stuff. After talking with the guy behind the counter, I purchased a medium sized pink hookah which came with a complimentary pack of charcoal and a pack of shisha to start for around $ 42 with tax included. The quality of the hookah was great and I was glad that I came to this location. I would definitely return.

This was one of many hookah shops I’ve stopped in. It’s a small shop but the John was very helpful and informative. Told me that he could order anything if he didn’t have. Every time I go in there it feels like I’ve been a costumer forever. Its also very close to where I live and around roscoe village there aren’t many hookah shops.

I really like this place and its prices. I have been purchasing products from this location for 2+ years. I am a hookah connoisseur and love to buy different brands and flavors of shisha. This is my go-​to-​place for four very important reasons:
1. Price — One tin of Layalina, 360 Degrees, or Starbuzz costs on average $ 2 – 3 cheaper than any tobacco store or head shop on Belmont or location further south in Chicago.
2. Selection — The store has over ten competitive brands of shisha that I would consider purchasing with hundreds of different flavors. Competitors might carry 2 – 3 brands altogether.
3. Location — A block away from the Brown Line stop Paulina. Belmont is two stops before it, so I would recommend taking the time to commute to save cash.
4. People — There is one employee who works there that is very knowledgeable of his products from tobacco to coals to shisha. It’s refreshing to find a place that cares about their business. Similar shops around the city have shisha as a fourth or fifth option for sales, this place puts it first.
I will continue to shop here.

This is a local business that I am proud to support, and which I refer people to as often as humanly possible.
Let’s start out with John, who I think is the owner. Amazing guy to talk to, ask advice, and do business with. He will always steer you toward the optimal blend of price and quality based on what your needs are. He has, numerous times, guided me toward products that are less expensive than some of his other stuff, because he truly believed that’s what I would be happy with. Now THAT is how you run a business, ladies and gentlemen. He is as honest as any businessman I have ever encountered, and for that he has earned my undying loyalty.
For instance, he charges $ 7.99 for about 100g of Tangiers (read: the best) shisha. Online, you can get 250g for about $ 15. So would it save me money to order it online instead? Sure. But in my opinion, it is well worth the few dollars I would save to give Guess Hookah my business and support. Since discovering this place, I have not bought my supplies from anywhere else. And if he doesn’t have what you want, he will order it for you. He has ordered me parts, bases, and anything else you can think of.
If you are a hookah aficionado, look no further. Go to Guess Hookah once, and you’ll be hooked. If you read the reviews on here, you won’t have any doubt that you’re going to the right place.

This place was great…
I knew I wanted to buy a hookah, but was going to buy online, just because they seemed so much cheaper. The prices ended up being reasonable, and the owner was super helpful. I was there over an hour checking out different sizes and styles. He was not only knowledgable, but not pushy at all. I ended up buying a high-​quality hookah (which came with coals and some starter tobacco free). Very happy with my purchase, and will be going back for more!

i love hookah, but not many of my friends do, and going to a lounge can get pricey sometimes, so i’d been considering getting my own for a while. i’d looked at things online, but knew i wasn’t ready to spend $ 80+ on one. i happened to be in the neighborhood one saturday and decided to go in just to walk around, no intention of buying anything.
but like everyone else says, the place is great. i went in and confessed to not knowing how to put a hookah together or anything, and the owner took his time in explaining the different hookahs, how to put it together and take it apart, and how to correctly pack it. he also did all of this without talking down at me for not knowing these things, or for being a girl.
i walked out of there with a beautiful little hookah for $ 40, along with the free charcoal and tobacco that comes with a hookah purchase. i’m so happy i went to guess– i’ll definitely be back for all my hookah needs!

I’m writing a review because most of the reviews are for their old location which also had a hookah lounge next door. I don’t like hookah lounges… preferring to smoke hookah in the privacy of my own living room where I can control the coals… shisha…setup…music…food…drinks…noise level… etc.
There are very few «bricks and mortar» hookah stores in Chicago that I’d shop at. In fact there’s really only Guess Hookah.
I’ve been to a few Middle Eastern stores that felt rather like shopping at the Izmir bazaar in Turkey. (Yes…I’ve been there.) I don’t want a deal on a hookah. Don’t want hoses shaped like cobra heads… or with plushy covers. And I don’t want to be overlooked because I’m female. And though you can get some of that crazy stuff at GH… what he’s really in the business of is selling you a hookah that functions. And everyone who walks in is treated well… from the 21 year old stoner dudes… to this nearly 40 woman who likes an evening of hookah and snacks with friends once in a blue moon. (Or Blue Mist…)
I’ve bought two hookahs here… one a Mya QT from their old location. That was my «starter» hookah. I bought it really not knowing anything about hookahs… and was pleasantly surprised after reading up on the online that in fact I HAD been sold a quality «inexpensive» starter hookah… matching his sales pitch exactly. The next time I bought a hookah… I was looking for something I could take camping without destroying. He sold me a really nice Mya Acrylic hookah. Functions like it’s supposed to… and the base won’t break schlepping it around camping… and to outdoor parties… etc. Though I mail order most of my shisha… the prices at GH are in-​line with the suggested retail price of shisha… AND you can tell that the stock turns over more than once a decade.
Though they sell some crazy stuff… lighters and Buddha’s and sunglasses… I don’t feel like I’m walking into an utter head shop… which is one of the things I DON’T like about most places that sell hookah’s and shisha. Last time I went in to buy some new hose grommets and coals… and my dinky $ 12 purchase was treated with as much care as when I dropped $ 100 there buying a hookah.

For some reason, I had a major itch to get a hookah for myself and the GF. After doing a bit of research around the interwebz and Unilocal,Guess Hookah came up as the best and closest location for me.
Their location on Lincoln Ave is great since it’s like 100 yards from the Paulina stop of the Brown Line (not that I took the train. I drove…)
The store is clean and packed full of goodies from hookahs, to tobacco, to hoses, and a ton of other stuff. The owner was busy but took time when he got a few minutes to explain to me the basics of using a hookah, the different tobacco flavors, etc… He let me smell the different flavors and told me of the differences between this brand and that brand. His customer service sealed the deal for me. He treated me (a total n00b) like I was the most important customer and answered every dumb question I had.
He gave me a great deal on a Mya QT and let me customize the hose and bowl colors, as well as throwing in a free goodie in my purchase. Keep up the good work! You have a returning customer right here!

We are first time hookah buyers, and after checking out half a dozen shops on Clark Street, we were so happy to arrive here. The guy who runs the store is knowledgeable, honest and really enthusiastic.
We ended up buying the same hookah we checked out at a few other shops, but got a much better deal. The owner quickly and expertly showed us all the options, and threw in a great deal on charcoal, tobacco and foil. At the other shops, some of the owners shouted out the door as we were leaving that they’d go down on the prices. We appreciated that this guy offered it all up front. He even talked to us about tobacco quality and shelf-​life, and helped us pick out the best brand for our tastes.
Overall, it was a great experience, and we’d recommend it to anyone. We know where we’ll be going when we need refills on our supplies.

I originally intended on buying incense from here, but instead walked out with a beautiful little hookah to place next to my buddha statue.
I also bought some mint-​flavored hookah tobacco. They included tongs and some coals at no additional charge.
Anybody want to come visit me and try out my hookah?

My good friend was in the market for a hookah and we shopped several stores and eventually landed here. This place was great and the guy who helped us, John, was incredibly informative and friendly. I highly recommend cutting the crap of the other stores in the area because this place has great service, selection, and prices.

Hmmm… kinda bummed they moved but the amount of cool accessories is cool.
Use to like going to the old location for some tunes and boardgames. The staff is very informative and knowledgeable about their retail.

Note: review is only for the shop/​retail section.
I’ve been thinking about getting hookah for my partner for some time. I searched online for a store and Guess seemed to have a large selection. John was very helpful and funny, and walked me through the various models and gave me a great hookah 101 lesson. The prices were very reasonable and when you buy a higher end hookah they’ll throw in the rest of the kit — one free tub of tobacco, charcoal, foil, etc.
All in all, I really enjoyed the customer service experience, and I thought I got a great value. My partner is thrilled and btw the product is top rate! I’m going back for another hose because this thing is too good not to share!

They have a big sign outside the shop that claims that they sell fine cigars. Frankly I didn’t see anything in their small humidor that I couldn’t buy at a Shell station convenient store. If I ever start smoking wacky tobaccy out of a Hookah again, I will give it another try, but for now, I will stick to my cigars.

Great selection of hookahs and shisha, but HORRIBLE service. I bought a hookah here awhile back and had a great experience. Twice now I’ve gone back to buy more shisha and left empty-​handed. Why? Both times the staff have refused to acknowledge my presence in the store, and either looked past me to serve customers who came into the store after me, or blew me off to flirt with a customer.
No matter that it’s in walking distance of my place, I won’t be returning to Guess Hookah — it’s a complete waste of time.
UPDATE: The owner contacted me offering to make things right, which I very much appreciate. And I do like smoking my hookah, so …