MIAGuide
The Best Cigar Bars In Miami
photo credit: Tasty Planet
Freud once said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” But innuendos aside, a cigar is more than that in Miami. It’s a symbol of cultural pride for Cuban exiles, a way to relax after work, and has the potential to make you look 79% cooler. Miami is home to some of the best cigar shops and factories in the world. At the places on this guide, you can sip on whiskey, coffee, and—at one spot—even get your hair cut while you puff away.
THE SPOTS
Thoughtful, modern touches are what set this Downtown cigar lounge apart from the rest. If you like lighting up with a soft flame, a candle and spills are provided. After you’ve finished your cigar, you get a finger bowl of aromatic oils to wash your hands and a gingery citrus shot to cleanse your palate. They have a pricey cocktail list that uses high-end liquor and a meticulously curated cigar program that’ll make both cigar connoisseurs and novices happy. Plus, there are food options that go way beyond your average cigar bar menu, like caviar and poutine. The overall look of the space kind of makes you feel like you’re hanging out inside a very rare cigar box.
It’s a mixed bag of masculinity and complaints about stock prices at Galiano Cigar Room, where the fashion ranges from polos and tilted caps to slacks and light blue button-downs (a.k.a. the Coral Gables uniform). It's not surprising, since it’s a really fun place to wind down after work. Their indoor lounge has a humidor, a long marble bar where you can watch the game, big maroon banquets, leather smoking chairs, and narrow hightops. It can get pretty loud, so if you want a more relaxed atmosphere, head outside to their patio. The staff will help you choose a cigar, cut it, light it, and take your drink order in under five minutes. It’s a bit of a scene, so it’s not the best introduction to cigars if you’re looking for an education. But if you know your stuff or just want to mix up your usual bar routine, it’s perfect.
If Sebastian the Ibis hadn’t quit smoking, you’d probably find him sitting at this South Miami cigar lounge puffing on a stogie and drinking a beer after a long day of cartwheels. Cigar Cellar is a good place for novices but also a quiet spot where seasoned smokers like to relax. They don’t have the largest humidor or the biggest lounge, but they have an excellent staff that’ll patiently walk you through each cigar in detail. They don’t serve liquor, but do have beer, wine, and an impressive selection of Padrons at good prices. The corn cob pipe days might be over for Sebastian, but there’s no reason why he can’t indulge in a Padron 1926 Serie 80 Years with a pint of Guinness here.
While walking through the heart of Brickell, we often wish we could take an elevator to a secret room and hide from everything and everyone. That’s kind of exactly what Empire Social Lounge is. The second-floor cigar bar isn’t visible from the street, and it’s not your average sceney Brickell spot. No, this place is usually filled with serious cigar regulars who have access to the members-only section, and normal folks seeking a cigar and a classic cocktail. Empire does both those things really well (their Manhattan is just lovely), and the space has plenty of comfortable seating and lots of TVs playing whatever game you’re trying to watch.
This Downtown cigar bar is actually a solid place to work. They have a big and comfortable lounge area, free wifi, and a large selection of cigars running across their back walls. But it’s also a great place for a post-work or weekend cigar. They have cocktails, cognacs, draft beers, and an impressive selection of premium liquors. You can smoke an Aroma de Cuba Noblesse while sipping on a glass of Oban scotch. You can also order a charcuterie board of Spanish meats and cheeses or a decent (by cigar bar standards) smoked mahi fish dip.
It looks like a tourist trap—we know. And its location on Calle Ocho probably lends itself to some sightseers. But don’t let the neon signs, giant cigar columns, and Cuban chucherias deter you from coming here if you're in the mood to smoke. They have a decent selection of cigars in their small humidor, a coffee counter, cocktails, and some appetizers. They even have live music on the weekends and karaoke on Thursday nights. The cigar lounge is lit with blue and red lighting—the color of the Cuban flag—and it’s filled with all kinds of nick-nacks and photos of old-timey Hollywood stars. There’s also outdoor seating, where the bar opens up to the sidewalk. And despite the scene, they take their cigars seriously enough to roll their own.
Cuban Crafters is a cigar retailer and factory in Little Havana. It also has the largest cigar selection of anywhere on this guide. The walk-in humidor is as big as a duplex, and inside there are hard-to-find smokes as well as their own handcrafted cigars. They have a big team available to help, and they’ll serve you a free cafecito while you browse or smoke. You can enjoy your cigar and coffee in their comfortable lounge or while they cut your hair. That’s right—they have a barber in the shop. And they do not mind if you puff away while they snip away.
This cigar shop has been around since spray paint artists sold those neat planet posters on the sidewalks of CocoWalk. Back then, Coco Cigars was next to the Cheesecake Factory on the second floor. These days, you can find them in their new location next to a Sweetgreen. It’s a small spot with great service, a few lounge chairs, and a bar that serves espresso while—they (and seemingly everyone else in Miami) wait on a liquor license. They also have free wifi, so you can come here and smoke a Romeo Y Julieta under the buzz of their pink neon sign while you work on a tragedy about star-crossed managers from Flanigan’s and Sandbar. Plus, they’re very dog friendly—if you’re cool with Mr. Buttons smelling like a casino bar.
