Even though California is heaven for health nuts, it’s also the home of many cigar and smoke shops. Los Angeles has an enormous number of such shops, spread out from a couple of blocks from the ocean in Santa Monica to out in the Valley and beyond. I’ve been to several of these cigar shops with friends who are cigar aficionados, and these are the ones that stood out to me the most.
Lone Wolf Cigar Cellar. This is the first cigar shop I ever went into. It’s around the corner from the famous Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and is wonderful. It was founded by Jim Belushi, which definitely gives it some attraction appeal, and is always busy. The Cigar Cellar has a great selection of cigars, tobacco, lighters and accessories. It’s dark, cozy and very old world charm like. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and very helpful with questions about selection. 223-B Broadway, Santa Monica – 800/586-9653
Diplomat Cigar is in downtown Los Angeles, and has made a huge effort to make their smoke shop a social happening place as well as a place to buy cigars and tobacco. Once a month on a Thursday, from 4-6pm they have a Spirit Tasting where you can try complimentary spirits as well as your favorite cigar. They also have a wonderful selection of cigars from brands like Colibri, Butera, Ashton, and more. As well as premium cigars, they sell pipes, tobacco and accessories. Their Private Smoke Room accommodates from 1 to 25 people and is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 8pm, so bring your friends and enjoy good smokes, great cocktails and amazing music. 806 West 7th Street, Los Angeles – 213 627 6434
Grand Havana Room Beverly Hills. You have to be a member or the guest of a member to get in here, but boy is it worth it. The entrance is through the restaurant, On Canon, and members are taken up in a private elevator to the private club with panorama views of the Hollywood Hills. You can watch satellite TV, have lunch out on the patio, or enjoy a smoke and a brandy with friends. The club has one of the world’s biggest humidors with more than 350 wood lockers, all privately owned by some of Hollywood’s most famous. Some of the rarest cigars are also available for sale here. Membership is by invitation only. Corner of Dayton Way and Canon Drive, Beverly Hills.
Tinder Box. Tinder Box in Santa Monica is one of many Tinder Box franchises, but this one was the original Tinder Box store opened over 80 years ago. It looks like an Old English country cottage from the outside, and is stocked to the brim with more than 100 brands of cigar, pipes, pipe racks, leather tobacco pouches, hand-crafted humidors and cigar cases. They also have a good selection of bar ware, so it’s a wonderful place for gifts for the man (or woman!) in your life. 2729 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica – 310 828 4511
La Plata Cigar Company used to be 2nd Street Cigars, and has been in business for more than 60 years. La Plata cigars are made with long leaf tobaccos grown in Honduras, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. They also manufacture their own cigars in Honduras and the Dominican Republic, and recently unveiled two new lines of cigar. They have a small rolling room near the store in Los Angeles, where their own brand cigars are hand rolled. They also stock Punch, Excalibur, and El Rey Del Mundo cigars as well as other brands. It’s family owned and the staff are incredibly nice. 1026 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles – 213 747-8010
As well as these, there are many other cigar shops and smoke shops in Los Angeles. The declining tobacco and cigar industry has closed down some of the shops in the area, but many are still surviving and thriving, so don’t miss them. If you’re a smoker who loves a good cigar, you’ll easily find one here.
