Want to see how smoking venues have affected how people interact?
Coffee houses, cigar lounges, hookah bars and other smoking venues have been the cultural gathering places of society since at least 17th-century London. These spots have historically enabled people to network, debate, and build community.
Here’s what you should know:
Traditional coffee houses changed how people socialized and exchanged ideas. The modern cigar lounge is experiencing the biggest resurgence in its history. The success of smoking venues then and now relies on fundamental social dynamics that affect people’s behavior and decision-making.
All you’ll learn:
- Coffee houses birthed the social smoking venue
- Traditional tobacco options, like Hookah pipes
- Luxury cigar lounges are on the rise
- Psychology of gathering places
- The data on modern smoking venues
Coffee Houses Birthed the Social Smoking Venue
Let’s start at the beginning…
The smoking venue as cultural gathering place was actually born in the Middle East during the 15th century. Coffee houses (qahveh khaneh) became central meeting points for socialization, sharing stories, and political and philosophical discussion.
Coffee houses did this because:
- They filled a need in society for neutral space to gather and share stories.
- People had been displaced from communal environments due to changes in industry.
- Coffee houses were inclusive places where people of all social classes were welcome to gather.
It wasn’t long before European coffee houses adopted the trend in 17th and 18th-century London, Paris, Rome, and Vienna. By the time coffee houses swept the continent, tobacco had also become popular. Cigar lounges would emerge in the U.S. later in the 19th century to replace the anti-smoking coffee houses that dominated during the 20th century.
European coffee houses were also places where people from different cultures came together. They went hand-in-hand with the growth of Britain’s overseas trade empire and colonialism. Hookah pipes were often enjoyed with coffee as a leisure ritual that predated modern cigarettes by centuries.
The success of historic smoking venues relied on addressing needs in human psychology and capitalizing on the social dynamics of gathering places.
Traditional Tobacco Options, like Hookah Pipes
As you can see, this isn’t anything new…
Hookahs, shisha, water pipes, narghiles – whatever you call them, these devices have a long history of social use.
As far back as the 16th century, hookah smoking has been popular in the Middle East. Hookahs are a water filtration device that cools tobacco smoke and produces a dense smoke and flavor. Hookahs first gained prominence in India and were introduced to the Ottoman Empire and Persia during the Mughal Empire reign in India.
Hookah smoking reached its height in the 17th and 18th centuries before a decline in the 19th century. It gained even more popularity in the 20th century with the rise of international migration and chain restaurants like Ashwana and Brick Lane that offer shisha as a beverage pairing option.
Hookah smoking has historically been part of a wider sensory experience that involves multiple senses and activities, like food preparation. Hookahs were smoked by people from all walks of life across different cultures in ancient times, just like today.
Hookah pipes and shisha lounges are also popular today as a traditional alternative to modern cigarettes. The longevity of hookah as a preferred smoking product means hookah lounges are likely to remain fixtures as long as people enjoy tobacco.
As with any social smoking venue, hookah lounges also provide face-to-face connection in an increasingly digital world. Hookah bars serve an important cultural and community function in terms of identity, gathering, and relaxation. Native smokes 4 less offers authentic traditional options for consumers who want to connect with the history of smoking venues.
Luxury Cigar Lounges Are on the Rise
The cigar lounge business is booming now like never before…
Recent cigar lounge industry research shows the global market hit $6.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to more than double in size to $13.2 billion by 2033. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%! That’s incredible.
It’s more than just cigars.
The new cigar lounge has invested heavily in technology, hospitality, food, services, and other touch points to build customer loyalty and attract new patrons. The days of a lonely old man smoking a stogie in his basement are over.
Modern cigar lounges are luxury lifestyle experiences. They serve a variety of purposes, from exclusive networking venues to office spaces to sophisticated social destinations.
The U.S. has the most cigar lounges in the world with 3,343 as of 2024. This is a 2.5% increase from the prior year. The U.S. is followed by Canada, Mexico, UK, and Spain.
Psychology of Gathering Places
Here’s the interesting part…
The human need for gathering places like coffee houses or cigar lounges hasn’t changed much over the centuries. Here’s why:
Humans are tribal
We naturally form groups based on common interests, activities, and values. Smoking venues are self-selecting. People who enjoy tobacco smoke tend to seek out places where they can do it together with others who share that interest.
People like rituals and ceremony
Preparation, presentation, and enjoyment of coffee and cigars are time-intensive activities that help people slow down and connect with others.
Identity and status matter
Venues like coffee houses and cigar lounges project a certain image. People who smoke at these venues often value a perceived level of prestige, style, and sophistication.
Humans crave exclusivity and belonging
Venues can create a sense of community by curating the environment, activities, and community experiences. Many successful venues have membership programs, regular social events, and other tactics that make patrons feel special.
Third places are powerful
Sociologists say we need three types of “places.” Home, work, and “third place.” The third place is where people gather for meaningful social interaction. Smoking venues fit the bill perfectly. They are places for community, human interaction, and a break from work or home life.
The social dynamics of smoking venues have been in place for centuries because they fulfill a basic psychological need in society.
The Data on Modern Smoking Venues
Guess what? Despite all the progress against smoking, venues like coffee houses and cigar lounges are more popular than ever.
Why? Because they’ve adapted.
Successful modern cigar lounges have a number of characteristics that older venues either couldn’t offer or didn’t emphasize. These include:
- Cutting edge ventilation systems
- Luxury amenities and seating areas
- Exclusive events and tastings
- Hospitality partnerships
- Curated experiences that go beyond cigars
Research from the University of Kentucky found 70% of smokers say they smoke more in social situations. The communal aspect of cigar lounges enhances the overall experience and is a big driver of frequency.
Successful venues know that smokers are a small, discerning market that wants authentic experiences and quality products. The modern cigar lounge can be a freelancer’s office, a networking space, a cultural venue, and a place to de-stress from daily life all at once.
Here’s what the data says…
Smoking venues are big business. Here are the numbers:
- The world’s largest market is North America with 38% of global share
- Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region at 11.2% CAGR
- Premium cigar culture continues to grow globally
- Tourist and hospitality integration is a growth driver
Smoking venues have evolved over time. What hasn’t changed are their purposes as cultural gathering places and business accelerators for networking, community building, and connecting with like-minded people.
Bringing Everything Together
The tradition of the smoking venue as a cultural gathering place goes back centuries. They have historically helped people network, debate, and build community in ways that transcend time.
The evolution from Middle Eastern coffee houses to European intellectual salons to modern luxury cigar lounges shows how adaptable these venues have been. They have survived and even thrived despite wars, recessions, public health crises, changing social mores, and other challenges.
Successful modern cigar lounges also retain something from their historical antecedents. They have stuck to the roots of what makes people want to spend time at these cultural gathering places. They provide face-to-face human interaction, authentic connections, and meaningful experiences people can’t get from other places or online.
The modern cigar lounge is likely to remain a fixture of business and leisure as long as people smoke and value face-to-face interaction. The industry continues to adapt and invest in venues, experiences, partnerships, and hospitality to meet people where they are.
