The Pure Indulgence of a Good Cigar Bar

Cigar aficionados make up approximately 4.6 percent of the adult population, a group that finds the aromas of a premium cigar a beguiling symbol of the finer things in life.

Those savvy enough to cater to such devotion do so in dedicated establishments, often in upscale hotels or in clubs wholly given over to the habit. You’ll find both public and member-only retreats where the initiated can secure their own humidor lockers. And while a cigar bar can certainly be a stereotypically masculine den—dark wood furnishings, deep leather-cushioned armchairs, soft lighting—plenty of women enjoy a fine cigar from time to time as well.

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The Blend Bar

“I was amazed to learn that 20 percent of my clientele is female,” Michael Milinkovic, general manager of BURN Pittsburgh, says. In any case, these days there are seldom dense clouds of smoke hanging around like a malodorous fog. There are sophisticated ventilation systems for that. So it’s possible to have your cigar and pick up the peaty bouquet of that fine single malt Scotch or vintage Petite Syrah you’re having, too.

“We took 12 trips in as many months to scout out the best ventilation system before opening Torch Cigar Bar in Phoenix two and half years ago,” owner Jon Harrington says. “And we probably spent as much time and effort on our lighting.”

BURN

Décor at a cigar bar may frequently suggest James Bond is about to sidle up to a Baccarat table, but at the emerging chain of Rocky Patel-branded sites, integrating some local vibe is the goal. At BURN Pittsburgh, a nod is made toward the city’s industrial past—although it’s still pretty glam, suggests Milinkovic.

Michael Herklots still remembers his first visit to a Boston cigar bar as a teenage musician, at the urging of a friend. “It was like walking into a completely different world. Seeing this room filled with leather chairs and all these guys all doing the same thing, with great jazz music playing—it was compelling. So I had a cup of coffee, took a puff of my first cigar—an Ashton Classic Panatela—it was a flavor I’d never tasted, a medium I’d never experienced,” he says.

Cigars at No. Ten

It was also life changing. Twenty years and uncountable cigars later, Herklots is a Certified Master Tobacconist and the vice president of retail and brand development for the legendary New York tobacconist, Nat Sherman International.  He’s not only knows what is a good cigar bar, but he’s probably lectured on them as well. He’s also a walking fashion plate, though that’s commonly not a requirement at a cigar bar.

“True, when you walk into Torch for the first time, you may feel you need to put on a tuxedo,” Harrington says. “And indeed, you may see some. But you might see someone in flip flops, too. It’s a no-judgment dress code.”

Ready to explore guilty pleasure a bit closer? Here’s a sampling of the best cigar bars to light one up:

The Blend Bar

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The Blend Bar
The Blend Bar in Indianapolis opened in 2013, announced a branding partnership with Davidoff Cigars in 2015, took the Cigar Journal’s 2017 award as the best cigar bar in the world, much less the U.S., and has since opened three other locations in Nashville, Houston and Pittsburgh.

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BURN

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Burn by Rocky Patel
There are six BURN by Rocky Patel cigar lounges around the U.S., owned by the eponymous cigar maker, the first having opened in Naples, Florida in 2010. The newest opened in Pittsburgh and promptly waltzed off with the 2018 Cigar Journal Award. There’s a full dining menu, along with 270 cigar facings (or 77,000 of individual best cigars).

Torch Cigar Bar

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Torch Cigar Bar
Jon and Kelly Harrington adopted Rocky Patel décor ideas for the Torch Cigar Bar in Phoenix but chose to remain independent of any branding. There’s a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio with firepit where members were recently able to light up arguably the most expensive cigars going, the His Majesty’s Reserve (HMR) from Gurkha.

Club Macanudo

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Club Macanudo
Another incredible cigar bar in New York City is the Upper East Side enclave Club Macanudo. It’s hard to tell what’s more extensive here: the premium cigar menu or the wine and spirits list, which runs to the hundreds and includes scores of single malts and the signature Sixty-Third Street Martini.

Cigars at No. Ten

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Cigars at No. Ten
If roaming further afield, you might want to book a room at the No. Ten Manchester Street Hotel in London, where you indulge in Cigars at No. Ten and its all-weather terrace, replete with the artwork of famous cigar smokers and, more importantly, a Hunters and Frankau-designed walk-in humidor stuffed with hand-rolled Havanas. Seems like a Churchill-sized cigar would be the appropriate choice here.