Hookahs — large Middle Eastern water pipes used for smoking flavored tobaccos — are becoming a trendy pastime in the East Valley.

Eighteen-year-old Ashley Jumper, smoking apple-flavored tobacco from a hookah with friends at Coffee Society in Ahwatukee Foothills, says the pipes are all the rage.

“They're everywhere,’’ says Jumper, a recent graduate of Ahwatukee's Mountain Pointe High School. “You see people smoking them in movies. You see them in magazines. You associate it with a certain kind of coolness.

‘‘It's not uncommon that the trend would take over locally. I was thrilled to find (a hookah bar) in my neighborhood. Up until now, I only thought they had hookah bars in Tempe.’’

Napoly Salloum, owner of the Red Sea Hookah Lounge in Tempe, says the hookah craze started in the U.S. about five years ago.

“I started a hookah lounge in California first, and a month later we moved over here to be close to the university,’’ says Salloum, who opened his Tempe lounge in November 2002. “ASU is one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation. That's why I chose Arizona.’’

Salloum says that hookahs are becoming intertwined with an entertainment culture.

“There was an article with Britney Spears saying that she loves smoking the hookah,’’ he says. “In the movie ‘The Matrix’ they show people smoking a hookah, so it's popping up more and more. I think because of that people are becoming more interested in seeing what the hookah is all about. It's a new concept. It's a new trend.’’
And it's one that people are embracing.

Nineteen-year-old David Moffatt, 20-year-old Sarah Eikner and 20-year- old Joshiwa Winters kick back in three cushy chairs and take turns smoking from a watermelon-flavored hookah at the Red Sea.

“This is one of the few establishments where you can come, relax and smoke,’’ says Moffatt, referring to the Tempe smoking ban — which hookah bars are in violation of, although the Tempe Police department will not cite the bars unless they receive complaints. “There is usually a good mix of people in here. It's a fun place to come and meet people.’’
Scottsdale resident Eikner says the Tempe hookah bar is her favorite in the East Valley.

“The shesha is really good,’’ Eikner, a bookstore clerk, says of the tobacco. “It's always fresh ... I really like that it's laid-back and not crowded all the time here.’’

Need a hookah fix? Here are some suggestions:

Red Sea Hookah Lounge, 827 S. Rural Road, Tempe,
Prices: $2 cover; $6 per bowl
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
The lowdown: Unlike other hookah bars, the Red Sea isn't a restaurant. However, customers can order food to be delivered from the neighboring Devil House.

Coffee Society, 4905 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee Foothills,
Prices: $10 per bowl Hours: 9 to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
The lowdown: The quaint and quirky shop serves up java and hookahs.

King Tut Cafe, 1125 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, Prices: $6-$8 per bowl
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
The lowdown: King Tut offers Middle Eastern food along with hookahs galore.

Sinbad Restaurant, 5004 S. Price Road, Tempe,
Prices: $12 per bowl
Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday.
The lowdown: Bellydancing, hookahs and Middle Eastern food are all part of the fun at this Tempe hot spot.

Oasis Cafe Mediterranean Hookah Lounge, 1319 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe,
Prices: $9 per bowl
Hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday
The lowdown: Hordes of college students can be found chilling outside this dive lounge, which features belly dancers, Turkish coffee and 50 percent off their entire menu (including hookahs!) from 6 to 7 p.m. daily.