Well and good to provide your customers with a laid-back and chilled-out experience, but North Buffalo's premiere hookah lounge, Sahara, takes it to the soporific extreme. If you prefer a more peppy ambience, head instead to the University Plaza, where LIT offers events such as karaoke (every Wednesday night), DJ sets (multiple times a week), belly dancers, and other spectacles (check their Facebook page for details) to go with your sheesha session. A downside is a more modest variety of flavors on offer, and higher (but still reasonable) prices too.
Sun-Thu 6PM-1AM, Fri Sat 6PM-2:30AM
The Heights' other Greek/Lebanese restaurant, lacking the boho ambience of Amy's Place but making up for that with food that, on the whole, is a good deal tastier. Shawarma, falafel, shish kabab and kofta, and gyros are available as either platters or wraps, and delectable Greek salads and fatoush are on hand for those in search of greener options (tabbouleh is on the menu as well, but never seems to be available). Though a good deal of the business done here is take-out or delivery, those enjoying their food at one of Venus' handful of tables are treated to a neverending stream of delightfully cheesy Lebanese music videos on the satellite TV.
Mon-Fri 11AM-11PM, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-10PM·$10-15
3500 Main St., Suite 150, Amherst
Mon-Thu 10AM-10PM, Fri 10AM-11PM, Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun noon-10PM
Lucky Koi down the street has the hipster tunes on blast, the sleek trendy decor, and the über-creative food menu. But if you prefer a comfier café that's better for lounging and lingering, hit up Cow — a place where the seating is cozy, the mood music is chill, and there are even board games on hand to pass the time whilst sipping on an ample variety of fruit- and milk-based teas, smoothies, and slushies. If you're indecisive, daily specials always hit the spot; if the opposite is true, you can customize your drink with your choice of fruit slices or compotes. And if you're hungry rather than thirsty, you've got an abbreviated but delicious slate of Vietnamese banh mi to nosh on.
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM, Sun noon-10PM