The best hookah in Brooklyn comes down to fresh flavors, clean setups and a comfortable room where you can settle in with food and drinks. At SET Lounge & Billiards, the hookah program lives at the McDonald Avenue venue in Gravesend, where guests 21 and over choose from named regular and premium flavors, pick a base, and pair the session with a full kitchen and bar. This guide walks through what a good hookah lounge should offer, what SET charges, and how to enjoy your first session.
Where to find hookah at SET
SET serves hookah at one location only: the McDonald Avenue venue at 1828 McDonald Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223. The Brighton Beach flagship does not offer hookah, so if hookah is the reason for your visit, head to Gravesend. The McDonald Avenue room is open Sunday through Thursday from 2pm to 2am and Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 4am, so there is plenty of late-night runway for a relaxed session. You can reach the venue at (718) 758-5999 to check the room or plan a group.
Hookah at SET is a 21 and over experience. Bring a valid ID, since the program is served alongside the bar and follows the same age rules as alcohol. If you are looking for pool, ping pong or Russian pyramid billiards without hookah, the Brighton Beach venue covers those games instead.
What a good hookah lounge offers
A good hookah lounge offers fresh flavor, a clean setup and a comfortable place to linger, and SET is built around all three. The room pairs hookah with a proper sports bar and kitchen, so a session is not just about the pipe: it is about settling in with friends, ordering food, and staying a while. That combination, hookah plus a full menu and a bar, is what separates a real lounge from a quick smoke.
The other marker of a strong program is a clear, honest flavor list with named options rather than vague promises. SET keeps its selection organized into regular and premium tiers so you always know what you are getting and what it costs before the coals are lit.
Flavors and prices
SET’s hookah is priced in two clear tiers: regular flavors at $50 and premium flavors at $70. The regular lineup includes Ice Berry, Ice Grape, Ice Watermelon, Love 66, Mint, Dragon Fruit, Blue Melon, Mi Amor and Hawaii, a mix that runs from crisp and icy to fruity and sweet. If you like a cooling finish, the Ice flavors and Mint are the natural starting point. If you want something rounder and fruit-forward, Love 66, Mi Amor and Hawaii are easy crowd-pleasers.
The premium tier, at $70, features Sweet Comet, Skyline, Fruittalitty, Pinkman and Passion Plum. These are the flavors to reach for when you want a more layered, complex session. Whichever tier you choose, refills keep the night going without starting over: a regular refill is $25 and a premium refill is $40.
Base options
SET lets you build your session by choosing the base your hookah is prepared with. A milk or juice base runs $5 and keeps things smooth and simple. For something with more character, a wine base is $10, and tequila or whiskey bases are $15 each. The base changes the texture and edge of the smoke, so it is worth trying a different one on a return visit to see what you prefer. Because the spirit and wine bases are part of the 21 and over program, expect to show ID.
Pairing hookah with food and drinks
The best part of hookah at SET is that it sits inside a full lounge, so you can pair your session with real food and cocktails rather than snacks alone. The McDonald Avenue kitchen and bar run the length of the evening, which means you can order a meal, keep drinks coming, and let a single hookah anchor a long, easy hang. Browse the McDonald Avenue menu before you go so you can plan what to order alongside your flavor.
A practical approach: match a lighter, icy flavor with sharper cocktails and a fruit-forward or premium flavor with richer plates from the kitchen. There is no wrong pairing, but ordering food early keeps the table settled so nobody has to break the session to go hunting for a bite. Note that outside food and drinks are not permitted, so plan to order everything in house.
Etiquette and tips for first-timers
For a first hookah session, go slow, share the pipe, and keep the hose pointed down when you pass it. Hookah is a social, unhurried activity, so there is no need to inhale hard or fast. Take relaxed draws, set the hose back on the table between turns rather than handing it directly mouthpiece-first, and let everyone at the table get a rhythm going.
A few more practical tips. Start with a regular flavor and a simple milk or juice base your first time, then explore premium flavors and spirit bases once you know what you like. Drink water through the session to stay comfortable. Ask a refill when the flavor starts to fade instead of pushing a tired bowl. And come with a group, since hookah is built for shared time: it is a natural fit for the same kind of night out that fills SET’s bar and lounge with regulars.
If you want to combine hookah with a celebration, the McDonald Avenue venue also hosts private events, so a birthday or a casual get-together can be built around the lounge. Call (718) 758-5999 to ask about availability and to confirm the room can seat your group for the night you have in mind.
The short version
Hookah at SET means the McDonald Avenue venue in Gravesend, 21 and over, with regular flavors at $50 and premium flavors at $70, base options from $5 to $15, refills to keep the night going, and a full kitchen and bar to pair with. The Brighton Beach location does not offer hookah, so point your evening toward McDonald Avenue when the pipe is the plan. Bring ID, bring friends, take it slow, and let one good session carry the whole night.
Frequently asked questions
Does SET Lounge offer hookah at both Brooklyn venues?
No. Hookah is available only at the McDonald Avenue venue in Gravesend at 1828 McDonald Ave. The Brighton Beach flagship does not offer hookah and focuses on pool, Russian pyramid billiards and other games instead.
How much does hookah cost at SET?
Regular flavors are $50 and premium flavors are $70. Refills are $25 for regular and $40 for premium. Base options add $5 for milk or juice, $10 for wine, and $15 for tequila or whiskey.
What hookah flavors are available?
Regular flavors include Ice Berry, Ice Grape, Ice Watermelon, Love 66, Mint, Dragon Fruit, Blue Melon, Mi Amor and Hawaii. Premium flavors include Sweet Comet, Skyline, Fruittalitty, Pinkman and Passion Plum.
Is there an age requirement for hookah?
Yes. Hookah at SET is a 21 and over experience served alongside the bar, so bring a valid ID. The spirit and wine base options follow the same age rules.
Can I order food and drinks with my hookah?
Yes. The McDonald Avenue venue has a full kitchen and bar, so you can pair your session with a meal and cocktails. Outside food and drinks are not permitted, so plan to order everything in house.
