PUFF MART

Puff Mart has earned a strong reputation among the many smoke shops around Pittsburgh, and it's easy to see why locals keep picking this one over all the competition nearby. Ask anyone who shops here and the first thing they'll bring up is the owner. People describe him as genuinely friendly, helpful, and quick to appreciate the folks who keep coming back. If there's something he doesn't have on the shelf, we hear he'll order it for you, no fuss.

The shop covers tobacco pipes, hookah and shisha, and a solid range of smoking accessories. One regular put it plainly: if you need hookah items, he sells the best of them. Prices are a big part of the draw too. In an area packed with options, folks say the fair pricing and the personal touch are what keep them loyal to this corner.

There's more here than tobacco. Puff Mart doubles as a handy corner market, stocking milk, juice, and a good spread of sodas and carbonated drinks, including several from the bai line. On a hot day or on the way home from the farmers market, people like being able to grab a cream soda or a coconut bai while they're in. The word around Pittsburgh is that the place is clean and the people behind the counter are polite and pleasant to deal with.

One thing worth knowing before you head over: hours on Sundays can wrap up earlier than expected, so it's smart not to cut it close near closing time. Beyond that small note, Puff Mart is one of the highest-rated spots of its kind in the area, and the steady stream of neighborhood regulars tells the story better than anything.