Crazy bar scene: check. Prominent music venues: check. And a chill atmosphere where one can learn to blow smoke rings: check.

Students no longer have to drive as far as Atlanta to satisfy their flavored tobacco cravings now that Xhale, downtown Athens’ first and only hookah lounge, is open.

George Bessada is the proud owner of the lounge stationed in the building that was formerly occupied by City Bar, as well as Raw, the bar next door.

“They’re two separate business licenses and entities,” he said of his establishments, which differ greatly in atmosphere.

“It’s a chance to sit down and relax for 45 minutes, which if you’re anything like me is something you rarely get to do,” Bessada said about the lounge.

“You’d be surprised how chill it is down here.”

Featuring authentic Middle Eastern music, some of which Bessada mixed himself, Xhale also contains a fine array of high-quality tobacco flavors shipped directly from Egypt.

Flavors include caramel, apple, earl grey, licorice and many more. The first hookah is $16, which includes up to two flavors that can be mixed, and $6 for every refill after that.

“Without going totally Middle Eastern, we managed to create a good mix which I like to call ‘hookah contemporary,’” Bessada said.

The lounge’s hours of operation are 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., and Bessada said to keep in tune with the bars in Athens, patrons must be 21 or over to enter the premises.

“I’d have to hire at least five door guys to allow (for the lounge) to be 18 and up. There’s no way I can do it and guarantee I’m not going to run into issues of underage drinking – which I am strongly against,” Bessada said.

Bessada said he and the management have many plans for the lounge in the near future.

Come January, there will be authentic Middle Eastern ottomans, belly dancers on Monday and Tuesday nights, and there has been talk about integrating a “hookah happy hour,” during which all hookahs will be half-off.

Bessada, originally from Egypt, said he opened the lounge because he has extensive knowledge about the history of the hookah and enjoys sharing it.

He said business has been even better than expected but anticipates it to grow as word gets out.

“Smoking hookah is the best social experience you can have with your friends or even people you’ve just met,” he said.

“You will probably fall in love with the hookah your very first time.”