NARA

San Marcos, United States

2.9

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 760-752-4444
Website:
www.narasmokeshop.com
Address:
407 N Twin Oaks Valley Rd Ste 115, San Marcos, CA, 92069
b/t Christen Way & Richmar Ave
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
710 ftSan Marcos Civic Center
0.8 miCal State San Marcos Station
1.3 miPalomar College Station
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Average
Music
DJ
Good For Dancing
Yes
Alcohol
No
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Tue, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
Yes
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Closed now
Local time (San Marcos) 12:52 AM Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Tuesday 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Wednesday 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Friday 6:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday 6:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday 6:00 pm – 12:00 am

Description

Specialties

Nara… The Ultimate Smoking Experience!

Cigars and Hookah, San Marcos California

NARA Smoke Shop is a unique, upscale tobacco shop offering premium hand-​made cigars complimented by hookahs and cigar accessories from countries all around the world.

NARA Smoke Shop carries a full line of hookah products and accessories. Come in and see our selection and try our cigars and hookahs in the smokers lounge.

We are located in North County San Diego just off the 78 freeway minutes from Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College. Our location is in the 7 – 11 shopping center.

Free Wi-​Fi, 3 TVs, and comfy couches.

History

Established in 2012.

NARA Smoke Shop is owned by Yanni Albana. Yanni was raised in North County San Diego and is a graduate of Cal State San Marcos. Networking his way over the years Yanni has built relationships with people across the globe in social and business atmospheres. As a young entrepreneur he followed his passion to operate his own business. Having years of experience in the tobacco and hookah industry Yanni wanted to present an upscale atmosphere with the best smoking experience.

After years of visiting several smoking lounges Yanni was convinced that he could make it happen in North County San Diego. Selecting the proper location was the main concern. San Diego is filled with smoking lounges but none in North County. San Marcos was the perfect location, home to Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College where Yanni completed his undergrad. Centered between both schools in a college town NARA Smoke Shop emerged.

Come in and enjoy your favorite cigar or hookah flavor.

Meet the Business Owner

Yanni A.

Business Owner

Yanni was raised in North County San Diego and is a graduate of Cal State San Marcos with his MBA from Ashford University. Networking his way over the years Yanni has built relationships with people across the globe in social and business atmospheres. As a young entrepreneur he followed his passion to operate his own business. Having years of experience in the tobacco and hookah industry Yanni wanted to present an upscale atmosphere with the best smoking experience.

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20 reviews of NARA

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Place rating: 1
El Centro, CA
Bad place to go over priced. 26 dollars per hookah and they use quick light coals. The flavor goes bad after 20 min. Worst hookah experience in over 5 years.
Place rating: 1
San Marcos, CA
I was here with 5 of my fiends and because I didn’t order hooka they asked me to leave because every time 2 people come in they have to buy a hooka even if they don’t smoke, so I and all my friends got up an left! And I will tell all my friends not to go to this place!
Place rating: 4
Vista, CA
Love the owners. Go here pretty often on friday for the DJ. Always nice to relax. Good choice of flavors. A little pricey. Wish they had food and better snacks.
Place rating: 2
Vista, CA
To be honest, went here for my 18th birthday and wasn’t impressed at all. First of all, I was new to smoking and the lady at the counter was really impatient with me choosing a flavor and asking questions. It took a very long time to get a hookah so we sat there chatting for like 30 mins, which was weird because we were the only people there. The first thing I realized when we got the hookah was there was no ventilation in there at all, it was seriously hot and stuffy in there. My friends and I smoked for maybe an hour max, and then kept waiting and waiting for more coals. By the way, they don’t use coco Nara, they use quick lights ugh. Anyways I literally had to go into the back of the store and ask them to replace our coals which also took a long time. They were all in the back just playing with their dog who they let just run around the store at a place that serves food too??? Gross in my opinion if there’s food involved. At least the dog was nice. Anyways, smoked for probably another 30 minutes. By then, a few more people showed up and it was really stuffy in there. I had to step outside several times to breathe but it didn’t help at all. I left feeling sick. I came home and immediately ran for the bathroom because I started puking up violently. This lasted for about ten minutes. Serious carbon monoxide poisoning. I thought about going to the ER it was so bad. I fell asleep naked and in my own puke on my friends couch. That’s how good I felt. I will never come back here again.
Place rating: 2
San Diego, CA
Came in w/​a group of 5. Had to get 2 hookahs ($ 18.99 Each), makes sense. But then the lady behind the counter told us the total was $ 45 because of tax. Did the math, it still doesn’t add up to $ 45. She then said because there’s an additional person, we have to pay a $ 5 cover. I held my tongue. That’s so irritating, if there’s a $ 5 cover then why do we all not pay it? Idk. There’s two stars is because I hate giving out 1 stars. We still sat down. Music was good but they were charging $ 2 «if we really want our song to be played,» though still took suggestions & still got our song played. We didn’t get our own tongs, we had to ask. Idk. The main reason for our visit was to smoke hookah, & it kinda sucked — on top of the service which was irritating.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
THE ABSOLUTE WORST HOOKAH LOUNGE IN SD!!! First of all the prices are unbelievably high. $ 20 for a bowl? Out of their minds if u ask me. They also have the audacity to make you pay a cover charge of $ 5. I refused to pay that lol i just walked in. They dont supply you with tongs to move the coals or even a roll of coals at that. I had to ask for both. My friends and i went on a «DJ night» and the dj was horrible. Didn’t know how to mix songs properly (my bestfriend is a DJ) And to top off my whole experience at Nara, they kicked my group out after about 45 min because a few people were filtering in and there was no where to sit. THE BOWL WASSNT EVEN FINISHED. Best believe i gave the owner a mouth full. She was extremely rude to me and her breath stinks like ass. (The old fat ugly middle eastern woman) i hope they go out of business. NEVER GO HERE!!!
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
This place is absolutely horrible! The manager was rude and very unprofessional. The hookah is over priced and they are stingy with their coals. I do not recommend coming here!!!
Place rating: 1
Torrey Hills, San Diego, CA
This place is so pricey, 18.99 for a regular hookah and it’s only 2 people per hookah and it’s $ 5 more for each extra person. You can go to a cheaper place other than here. This place is not worth to buy a hookah and chill. Their DJ sucks, and their just really stingy and rude with their customers.
Place rating: 2
Fresno, CA
So I was Escondido for the weekend and decided to go out with my girlfriend. We ended up here because we smoke hookah on a daily basis. the place is nicely decorated, light show is decent, and pretty nice service. BUT, this is a hookah lounge, what they are selling or providing is shisha smoke and it was was up to my personal standards. Broad shisha selection but hardly any «exotic» or «excited to try» flavors.
Smoke is horrible. They use the cheap instant light circle coals. hence the name Nara, I thought they would be using coco naras or some kind of block coconut shell coals.
By the time they came around and put new coals on, the flavor was burnt out and all we can taste is the coals burning.
Prices
18,99 $ plus tax for a hookah.
9.99 $ bowl refill.
Music was nice and loud alot of bass but the DJ plays kind of club scene booty shaking music when no one is «turning up» and they don’t even serve alcohol.
Only come here if you like the taste of coals and transparent smoke.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Great atmosphere, music, and service!
They tended our coals continuously until we left. The two workers there were so, so nice, and always treated us with the upmost respect.
If you plan on going here, try to grab two, four, six, etc. amount of people so you do not have to pay extra to share one hookah.
I went with two other people, and we all ended up paying $ 10.50 each which actually isn’t bad at all, but I still recommend getting an even amount of people.
Will definitely be coming back because of their wonderful everything.
Thanks!
Place rating: 5
Poway, CA
I always love it here! One of my favorite place to smoke hookah! Very nice middle eastern and English music! Great vibes!
Place rating: 5
Vista, CA
I’ve been going to Nara since they opened in San Marcos. I love this place, the owner is amazing her and her husband, and all the employees I’ve ever known that worked there or work there now are very friendly and nice. Place is nice to relax, or on the weekends to relax and listen to loud music. I love this place very much. And recommend it to people almost feels like your sitting at home
Place rating: 5
Poway, CA
Fantatstic! Service was amazing and hookah was great. Music was at the right volume and everything was enjoyable. I’ll defiantly be back!
Place rating: 3
Carlsbad, CA
This is an awesome place to just come and relax. Kick back and have a nice smoke with friends. The prices here are by person and the flavors are nice and delicious.
Jawanna (Spelling?) is super nice and friendly. She is also willing to help out when needing new coals or anything like that.
This place also has a check in offer and totally will be coming back because this place is just that relaxing fun and they’ve got great music!
Place rating: 5
Camp Pendleton North, CA
The owners are very friendly and welcoming. The coal service was great and the live DJ played great music.
Place rating: 5
Escondido, CA
This place is amazing I’ve been coming here for a while now with my boyfriend and they never disappoint. The customer service is great and it has such a welcoming environment. It’s laid back and has good music. And there’s even a DJ some nights which makes it even more fun! And it’s very affordable.
Place rating: 1
Carlsbad, CA
First time coming here, can honestly say I won’t be back. The lack of professionality and the way the owners approached me was rude to say the least. The prices are outrageous and they put a max of 2 people per hookah. Not reasonable at all considering the place isn’t even nice. Very tacky, and the type of people that hang around here aren’t the classiest… The hookah barely hit! Flavor wasn’t the greatest either. NO VENTILATION AT ALL! Very disappointed.
Place rating: 1
Poway, CA
Good service. But the atmosphere was horrible with no ventilation and hookahs were the worst. No alcohol either. Great place for 18 year olds.
Place rating: 5
San Marcos, CA
Have been coming here since they first opened. Great place for a chill night during the week and have a pretty good DJ on the weekends as well! Although they don’t serve alcohol it’s a cool place to grab a good hookah and relax with friends.
The service is great and the owners are always more than accommodating to whatever you may need. They used to only have 1 or 2 people working at a time but they have started to hire more people their quality of customer service is top notch. Glad to have a place like this so close to hang out!
Place rating: 3
Escondido, CA
There’s a bit to be desired with this place. I’m sure they don’t serve alcohol here because it would severely limit the age group who could attend but at only 27, I totally felt like I was too old for the crowd in there.
Other than desiring some alcohol, the place was decent. There was quite a bit of seating and we went here on a Friday night and surprisingly it wasn’t packed.
The mango was a delicious flavor and they constantly kept rotating the coals, which was definitely a plus. They will however check your ID on most people, myself included haha.
All in all, a decent place to go to. Service was good. Seating was decent. Maybe I’m just spoiled and wish it was a little more inviting with some food or alcohol.
**I would like to note that I was contacted by the owner about the food/​alcohol situation. San Marcos is… not very nice on permits. I knew that from before but apparently with a hookah lounge they’re even worse. Just worth noting.**