For many, cigar smoking isn’t simply a relaxing means to pass the time. It’s an extensive subculture within the international landscape, comparable in some aspects to the enjoyment of fine liquor or high-end cuisine. Yet unlike the world of spirits or the culinary arts, cigars command a somewhat niche community of individuals who enjoy premium tobacco products.
Whether celebrating an upcoming birthday, wedding, or bachelor party or simply enjoying an occasional Cohiba stogie now and again, there are only a few select cities throughout the U.S. that cater most directly to those in search of a good cigar. From Florida cities famous for their night life to sprawling Southern metropolises, here are five American cities renowned for their rich tobacco subculture.
Atlanta, Georgia
Other cities in the U.S. might maintain a firmer basis in cigar culture, but Atlanta remains an excellent place to visit if only for its extensive number of cigar clubs and lounges. With celebrated venues like The Continent, Buckhead Cigar, or Stanley’s Cigar Lounge, there’s nary a bad choice when it comes to lighting up in any one of these refined Atlanta establishments.
Las Vegas, Nevada
It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that almost everything is legal in Vegas, including a city-wide leniency towards tobacco usage. To that end, Las Vegas’s most famous hotels offer a countless array of standout lounges like the Montecristo Cigar Bar (Caesars/Paris) or the Eight Cigar Lounge (Resorts).
New York City, New York
Given its sheer size compared to most other cities, of course Manhattan is celebrated for its eclectic line of cigar clubs and shops. With lounges dotting the entirety of New York City from Lower Manhattan to the Bronx, you’re always a stone’s throw away from a fantastic cigar shop of some kind in the Big Apple, be it Downtown’s Barclay Rex, Midtown’s Carnegie Club of Midtown, or Uptown’s Club Macanudo.
Tampa, Florida
If any city were to give Miami a run for its money in terms of its cigar culture, it’s Tampa. Miami’s Gulf Coast sister city, Tampa continues to attract a large number of visitors interested in the community’s active night life and diverse regional cuisine.
Due to its geographic relationship to the Caribbean and South America, it’s also a city well-known for its cigars, with Ybor City in particular specializing in premium tobacco products. When visiting, be sure to stop by J.C. Newman Cigar Company for a hands-on look at the oldest family-owned cigar maker in the U.S. since 1895.
Miami, Florida
Next to Havana itself, nowhere else in the world offers the same all-encompassing cigar experience as fully as Miami, Florida. Often described as “The Cigar Capital” of the U.S., Miami’s sizable Cuban-American community has given way to a flourishing cigar subculture within this popular Florida city.
With numerous shops offering a traditional, approachable, endlessly enjoyable cigar atmosphere, Miami is the place to be when it comes to self-professed tobacco lovers across the country.
