Wafi Lounge & Restaurant

You'll find yourself drawn into this Lebanese spot that doubles as Newcastle's most reliable shisha destination. The upstairs restaurant serves proper Middle Eastern fare – think generous platters of hummus, tabbouleh, and grilled meats that actually taste like they've been seasoned by someone who cares. Downstairs transforms into a lounge where the shisha pipes come out and the atmosphere gets properly social. The crowd is refreshingly mixed – students celebrating pay day, couples on date nights, and groups of friends who've discovered that apple mint shisha pairs surprisingly well with Lebanese wine. It's not trying to be the fanciest place on Clayton Street, but the staff know their way around both the kitchen and the hookah pipes, which counts for a lot when you want both done properly.