Cabin 164 shisha and desserts; ‘Unhealthy fun in Headingley’

This unassuming little place does not draw your eye immediately, it looks like any ordinary café, however, once you delve inside you will realise you are somewhere different.

The aroma of fresh baking fills the air, whilst the sound of bubbling water, tame music and laughing, washes over a mix of students, residents and visitors to this little part of Headingley everyone there to mingle and relax whilst enjoying traditional shisha.

It is undoubtedly a hotspot for those who like their shisha, there are well over 20 different flavours with at least twice as many combinations available to the customer. And, although I cannot admit to trying them all (or even being a shisha aficionado) the ones my friends and I tasted (blue mist and a mint and apple) were damn good.

This is not to say that those who do not smoke shisha are excluded from the frivolity. Cabin 164 in Headingley has a range of fresh cakes and pastries to tempt that grumbling student stomach and a huge variety of milkshakes and ice-cream to satisfy those with even the sweetest tooth.

Non-shisha-smokers (and I do differentiate as smoking is still banned in the Cabin) will not be fumigated out of the building in a haze of shisha smoke as the Cabin is considerately vented and the air cleaned so much that whilst you can see billows of smoke around you-it hardly assaults the senses.

Cabin 164 really the place to go and socialise with your university mates or Headingley neighbours, there are small cosy booths that can be rented out and there are a plethora of artsy wicker chairs and sculptures to lounge around on which add to the intended ‘authentic feel of the woodlands’ in the Cabin.

For the anti-social person inside you why not hide away in one of the snug corners and take advantage of their free wi-fi connection (and we students do love something for free). The staff are very friendly and will not be affronted if you just want to be left alone to work on essays.

Whilst we’re on the subject, the students of Leeds are welcomed with open arms in Cabin 164 in Headingly with a very agreeable 10% student discount on purchases.

The only downside is those Leeds students who are on a real budget may find the rule of only two people per shisha a little restricting, though I haven’t been one to challenge this so I don’t know how strict they are on this rule

I must implore you though, give it at least one go and you’ll be back for more.

Reviewed by Chris

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