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Cigar Lounges

M

mr.mac

New Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Messages
1,174
Hey folks. Well, last night I had my first experience with a "cigar lounge". This particular lounge is in the back of a very nice restaurant in Uptown Dallas, TX. I was very much looking forward to the experience. My sister is getting married tonight and last night was the rehersal dinner. The meal was fantastic and the time spent with family and friends was priceless.

So afterward I found my way back to the lounge. It was very comfortable. Full bar and humidor. Descent selection. Nothing really special, but your typical Padron Anniversary, Davidoff and Fuente selections. I was torn between Davidoff, CAO Sopranos and Padron Anniversary 1964 selection. I went with the Padron '64 - Imperial. I must admit, it was a mighty fine smoke with loads of that rich and sweet Padron flavor that I have come to love in the X000 series. Although this smoke was richer and more full bodied than the X000 series.

The experience was great. I passed the smoke on to my girlfriend several times - she enjoyed it as well. We sat and watched all of the single folks mingle and the ladies looking for men to buy them $20 mojito's. Good times all around.

When they brought me the bill, I was floored at the price of the Padron... $35! Holy shit! I thought $25 at most. I payed and tipped nicely, as I figure the price included the wonderful smoking environment and the once and a while experience.

I keep thinking about it though. Not because of the money itself, but also because of the principle surrounding the fact that the price on this cigar was marked up at least 100%. It has kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Call me cheap if you will, but I'm sure the Padron's would agree. I have read the articles on Orlando when he was first rolling cigars after fleeing Cuba. They had nothing and were willing to sell short fillers for cents to the old Cuban men in Miami. My understanding is that these short fillers are still only available to the locals in the Miami area today. So I wonder, would the Padron's support the idea of charging $35 for a $15 cigar? And is it safe to say that cigar lounges have just become the next stop for consumerism? I feel a bit jipped.

BTW - very much looking forward to smoking my first Monte #2 tonight, which I payed about $10 for. Go figure...

mac
 
Well, one thing you might have to look at - local law regarding places like this. With so many cities passing no-smoking laws, places like this are hard to come by. I know in some cities, the law is for an establishment like this to stay open, a certain percentage of their sales must come from tobacco.

Now, chances are you had more than one drink here, but probably only one cigar. So, to help keep the percentages in line, they need to over-charge for the smokes.

And oh yeah... you said they were charging $20 for a mojito... And you expect a reasonable price on a cigar?
 
I don't know if that would be gouging, but consider the cost they have with running that type of establishment. You can't expect to get cigars at the same price you get them at a B&M.

I used to stop in at Kool River in the Dallas area. At the time they had a great lounge and from what I remember, the prices were not too bad. I don't think they even required that you purchase the cigars from them in order to use the lounge.

Ken
 
I read this post and laughed.
Mr Mac, you should fly down here and buy a cigar or two and compare.
I won't go into the price of drinks from a bar down here. Lets just say I do not drink out very often :D
 
coventrycat86 said:
Many restaurants mark up wine and scotch a hell of a lot more than that. I think you got off cheap.
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Ditto. We had this discussion while out to eat at a nice joint the other night. When you go to a nice restaurant you pay mainly for the service and the surroundings. Don't get me wrong a 35 ribeye is pricey, but just how good can a 35 dollar ribeye be? You are getting the service a ambiance. Being able to smoke a 35 dollar padron whilst having my drinks brought to me in a nice air conditioned lounge, is worth it to some people. Beats an old musty garage or a sweltering back patio sometimes. I often get taken aback when I see a Padron X0000 for 12 bucks, but I grab it, along with a 15 dollar drink of Stag 141 and smile.
 
If you thought that was bad, you can come out here to Churchill's. There you can have the pleasure of an $80 BTL or if you're feeling really flush, a $300 pre-embargo slightly moldy Monte.

Oh yeah, wash it down with the $500 shot of cognac.

The atmosphere, fantastic! I go there whenever I can. (Usually with my own cigar)
 
To my knowledge we don't have any "Cigar Lounges" that don't require some kind of payed membership in the $300-500.00 annual cost here in So Cal. I don't see myself spending that kind of money on an annual membership unless the place is a block from the house. I would however like to see the type of "memberships" that they have at the bars in Utah. You buy a nightly membership for the right to be able to drink at that establishment. I wouldn't mind spending a $10.00-20.00 surcharge to be able to smoke cigars and enjoy a drink somewhere other than my backyard. Keep in mind that I'm in So Cal and who knows, smoking on your patio may become illegal at any moment.

Where I'm going with this is that you payed $35.00 for a $15.00 Padron. I buy and collect wine I've seen bottles of Cab that I've picked up for $20.00 listed at $100.00 in nice restaurants, so a $15.00 Padron Anny going for $35.00 is hard to justify but you may want to consider it your "membership" cost for the night to able to smoke in a place with great ambiance.
 
Here in Atlanta we have an upscale steakhouse called Chops. I was thumbing through their dessert/port/dessert wine/single malt scotch/brandy/cognac/liqueur menu and on the last page was a cigar list. Well, let's see here...Padron ESV-$30, Macanudo Hyde Park-$15. Perdomo Reserve Champagne-$22! (3x what I paid in Al's shop) I forget the rest but you get the idea.

Good thing I brought my own sticks to the party. The guys seemed pleased.

TampaSupremo
 
I think from now on I will just stick with smoking at my B&M when I want a reprieve from the Texas heat. Great prices and comfortable setting. For someone who doesn't drink, it only makes sence... ;)

mac
 
Is there a certain positive that adds to the cigar if it's smoked inside a room? This is a serious question. I've never had the pleasure of smoking in a room or building. All that I've done has had to be outside, whether it be a back porch, picnic table, or golf cart.
 
You know, I had a similar experience in Dallas a few weeks ago, at a steakhouse called IIIForks. (3 forks)

I passed on their $75 OpusX robusto, (thankfully, I had brought one of mine..LOL ) but the $40 pepper-encrusted ribeye was to die for. :thumbs:

I realize the $$ mark-up is excessive, but when I go out to celebrate, I don't sweat it. However, I don't celebrate that often, either... :laugh:

Cheers,
JC
 
Tonight we at at Bob's Steak and Chop House here in Grapevine, TX. Reluctantly, I checked the cigar menu for the lounge area... try $42 for Opus Belicoso, $32 for PAN... :0 On the bright side, you could pick up an Acid - Blondie for $8 :whistling:

No.. not tonight. I will be enjoying a CAO Brazilia - Gol! out back by the pool. Could buy half a box for the price they were asking for the Opus.. ???

mac
 
TampaSupremo said:
Here in Atlanta we have an upscale steakhouse called Chops. I was thumbing through their dessert/port/dessert wine/single malt scotch/brandy/cognac/liqueur menu and on the last page was a cigar list. Well, let's see here...Padron ESV-$30, Macanudo Hyde Park-$15. Perdomo Reserve Champagne-$22! (3x what I paid in Al's shop) I forget the rest but you get the idea.

Good thing I brought my own sticks to the party. The guys seemed pleased.

TampaSupremo
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I wish I could smoke a cigar when I go to Chops here in SWFL.. Would just make my meal that much better!
 
Coinguy89 said:
Is there a certain positive that adds to the cigar if it's smoked inside a room? This is a serious question. I've never had the pleasure of smoking in a room or building. All that I've done has had to be outside, whether it be a back porch, picnic table, or golf cart.
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Absolutely. I enjoy a cigar MUCH more when I'm not sitting out in the rain or snow and away from the 100 degree heat or sub zero temperatures. Around here, the conditions outside are only ideal for smoking a cigar about half the year. Not to mention, the atmosphere of a typical cigar lounge...
 
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