Edmond C.
Yelp
The Cigar House is a great cigar lounge with a fifty year history under continuous ownership by the original proprietors sticking to tradition, very evident in its appearance and energy. The Thursday evening I was there had its regulars trickling through limited by the rains.
The exterior does not begin to convey the adherence to traditional decor. I suspect a lot of furniture has been there the whole half century. Upon entry, you see all manner of cigar accessories and even a great selection of straw and leather hats. The hats seemed to be fit to compliment a Gentleman. A clean bathroom to your left precedes a desk to your left with a plexiglass barrier ostensibly there for Covid reasons. Cash and credit cards accepted.
Leather couches and chairs are all around you at the front of the house, mingling with various display cases and those hats. The heart of the house has a double room humidor again on your left with commensurate capacity. The strongest suit appears to be Arturo Fuente, but they have all manner of brands and vitolas, including their House Blend in Toro and Robusto. Do not underestimate their slightly peppery, but well rounded nutty medium to slightly full profile. Seriously, for about ten bucks, you'll be glad you chose them and they are multiple or five pack worthy. Their house blend transitions well and the second half adds a touch of cedar to round out the whole affair. Not terribly complex, but easy to draw with the right resistance and easier to enjoy. Prices seem fair.
Step further into the heart of The Cigar House and take note of the couch and upright seating with hightopper tables under an opaque skylight transversing the ceiling. Even more impressive was the number of air filters and air conditioning units above keeping you, your clothes and your girlfriend's hair free of smoke. Do not underestimate the value of that last sentence.
The back of the house has a more dimly lit leather lounge seating area with a bar serving beer and a very wide range of spirits to suit most any connoisseur. The bottles are not limited to the bar. They are all around in display cases that line the hallway that runs past the humidor rooms and the aforementioned couches and hightop seating. They have a lot of liquor in there and some bottles one may not always encounter. Rum was the order of the evening and they have some excellent solers rums and another coffee infused rum that was unique and delicious. It's a bit rare, so there are apparently not many of these bottled. That's just the beginning and feel free to ask for your choice of scotch, bourbon, or whatever you have on your palate's mind. It will be served up neat or on the rocks. This is not a cocktail affair.
The Cigar House is a great place to unwind and feel the tradition of sharing a space where many folks have, regular folks and those whose pictures, paintings, and posters adorn the walls. A great place to chill after walking around the two forts nearby, a perfect place to cap off a day in Old San Juan. Come on a Friday or Saturday with no rain and the energy may elevate a bit more.
Four stars and you may say more.