Cafe Lulu, San Diego

Between the world music, the scarlet-tinged lounge environs, and the tendrils of fragrant hookah smoke, visitors to Cafe Lulu feel as though they've entered another world. Appetizer plates present the likes of charcuterie and jalapeño hummus, and desserts abound, while hookahs deliver clouds of flavor. White peach, "Birds of Paradise," and a host of other varieties and blends occupy the shisha menu. There's even a red wine-based flavor, accented with coconut and citrus, that goes by "Captain Jack Sparrow." Coffee and cocktails round out the spot's edible offerings, but the cafe is best known for its stylish, international atmosphere.