"Hong Kong Cigar Shop Guide": places to buy cigars in Hong Kong


I'll start from Wanchai and Causeway Bay area. Hope this helps!

1. Name: Club Cigarism
Add：2/F, 521 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong(Behind Sogo, Metro D1 Exit)
Tel：+852 28915600
Website: http://www.kinlonz.com
Opening Hours：12:00 noon-Midnight(Mon-Sat)
12:00 noon -22:00(Sun, holidays)

Comments: This cigar store was opened in early 2009. When I walked out the Burberry store at Sogo the other day, I was attracted by its eye-catching outdoor black&white sign with Che Guevara and the slogan "life is fun, live it!".

This prime-locating store is about 600SF, and could accommodate up to 20 people at the same time, making it the biggest cigar club in the area. When it comes to cigars, I found many rare puros such as Partagas 15 Sublime, Cohiba/RyJ/Hoyo Book Ediction, Ramon Allones Phoenicio and other regional editions etc to name few, selling at the lowest prices in town.

According to the manager Rocky Fung, the founder of this club is a long-time cigar smoker and decided to transform his office into a private cigar club for one big reason: Hong Kong's smoking ban in July 2009. Well, that’s a good and luxuary solution for a smoker.

PS: remember to have a look at the store's collection of fake Cuban cigars, educational and interesting!

Smoking Room: Yes
Lockers: Yes
VIP Room: Yes
Wireless Lan: Yes
TV, DVD, Printing&Fax: Free for VIPs

Value for money(10):9
Smoking room(10):8
Location(10):10
Services(10):8
Total Scores: 35/40

2. Name: Cigar Time
ADD: 1/F., The Excelsior, Hong Kong, 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852 2882 6928
Opening Hours: (Mon - Sat) 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
(Sun & Public holiday) 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Comments: Just 5 minutes away from Club Cigarism, Cigar Time is located in Excelsior Hotel 1/F. This tiny store sells their cigars mainly to hotel's customers, as well as customers from Dickson's Bar. Local smokers seldom buy here since the cigars and accessories are over-pricing. Cigar Time try to justify their pricing strategy by explaining that their source of cigars is Pacific Cigars Company(PCC). Well, since I can get a 30% off from their supplier, what is the point of buying from Cigar Time then? But I do think that Cigar Time is smart to focus their taget customers on tourists.

In spite of the hyper prices, one good development about Cigar Time is that they opened their members-only smoking room inside the hotel in 2009, the room has about 8 seats with high-ceiling and very nicely ventilated.

Smoking Room: Yes, members only
Lockers: Yes
VIP Room: No
Wireless Lan: No
TV, DVD: TV only
Printing&Fax: No

Value for money(10):4
Smoking room(10):6
Location(10):9
Services(10):7
Total Scores: 26/40

3. Name: Acanta
Comments: Owned by Bluebell Group, the exclusive distributor for Davidoff for Hong Kong market. Acanta store is located at the lobby of Parklane hotel, 5 minutes away from the metro station. I always have the impression that all cigar stores in the hotels are over-pricing, and this is proved by Acanta again. However, comparing with Cigar Time, Acanta has better quality of cigars and standard of storage.

This store is good for buy and go only since they have no smoking room.

Add：Shop D4, Parklane Hotel. Causeway Bay
Tel：+852 2576 7665

Smoking Room: No(but you can still smoke at the opposite George and Co Bar before July 2009)
Lockers: No
VIP Room: No
Wireless Lan: No
TV, DVD: No
Printing&Fax: No

Value for money(10):5
Smoking room(10): N/A
Location(10):8
Services(10):8
Total Scores: 21/30

Reference: more Bluebell cigar stores: (http://www.bluebellgroup.com/hk/shoplist/):
Davidoff(The Landmark) Shop G12, The Landmark, Queen's Road, Central
2525 5428
Davidoff(The Peninsula) Shop E3A, Peninsula Hotel, Salisbury Road, Kowloon 2368 5774
New World Centre Shop L144, New World Centre, Salisbury Road, Kowloon
2721 5520
Acanta
Gateway Arcade Shop 3323, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon 2175 5169

4. Name Cigarros Inn
Comments: All my local cigar friends simply call this store "4/F", and never call it by name for 2 reasons. Firstly since people have to "climb"' up 4 floors to get to the shop(this building has no lift), and secondly because we don't think a store selling fakes deserves a name.

At my first-time visit in 2006, I was so happy about the choices of the EL cigars they had in the store. However, I found that many of them had no 3-caps, and even found some Montecristo EL 2000 with a new label on. Out of curiosity, I bought some and tried, well...fakes!!

After so many years, they are still selling fakes, but mainly to tourists from mainland China(especially who speak Mandarin). Cigarros Inn is the only cigar store I would suggest NOT going in Hong Kong, unless you have no choices.

Add: 4th Floor, 22 Russell Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 28388687
website: http://www.cigaros-inn.com/e/default_home.asp

Smoking Room: Yes
Lockers: Yes
Wireless Lan: No
TV, DVD: Yes
Printing&Fax: No

Value for money(10):0
Smoking room(10):6
Location(10):4
Services(10):8
Total Scores: 18/40

source: Fred Leung

Here is an in depth look at Halfway to Habana in Greenville, SC - lengthy but worth reading!

The doors to cigar heaven are finally open. A unique addition to the nightlife of downtown Greenville – the much anticipated Halfway to Habana’s Cigar, Martini and Tapas bar officially opened their doors this past week, offering an upscale environment of contemporary elegance. It is the epitome of perfection for the trendsetters and professionals alike, who wish to savor fabulous cuisine, drinks and cigars; truly the new place to see and be seen.
The venture is a passionate combined effort of Paolo Varvaro: owner of the original H2H cigar store and lounge at its former location on Main Street downtown, his wife Debra and their family. Paolo is also joint owner of a similar posh cigar bar in downtown Anderson, “Halfway to Habana 2” and is seemingly thrilled to now be able to deliver this one of a kind cutting edge experience to the movers and shakers of Greenville proper.
The distinctive combination of a retail cigar store, restaurant and bar offers up the divine cuisine of renowned Executive Chef David Anthony Sparacino. Chef Sparacino possesses exceptional European talent having trained in Italy and France. This is certainly emanated through his design and presentation of mouth watering appetizers and main dishes, amazing tapas and decadent desserts. The tantalizing menu includes items such as a European Antipasto platter, Lump Crab Shooters, Lobster Risotto, Colorado Lollipop Lamb Chops, Wood Grilled Hangar Steak and Frittes, Gnocchi with a creamy gorgonzola sauce, Alder-wood Smoked Breast of Duck, Tiramisu, and a wonderfully rich Flourless Chocolate Cake that was pure chocolaty perfection, absolutely one of my favorites!
Our first experience at the new H2H occurred during a Greenville Cigar Club event that was sponsored by Arturo Fuente Cigars. In attendance was Cynthia Fuente (a Fuente daughter part of the fourth generation of the family to be involved in the Cigar industry) along with Gorman David Ludwig, a Fuente representative. David conducted a Cigar 101 session, handed out some great Fuente Cigars and answered questions from the cigar club members and patrons. H2H runs events similar to this frequently, including visits from various cigar industry representatives, beer samplings, food and cigar pairings etc.
This night was well attended, and began by walking into the establishment and taking in the ambient lighting and chic décor including warm tones of sienna and mustard that complement the classic mahogany accents and exposed brick walls. The feeling is reminiscent of a trendy big city bar, but relaxed and inviting all in the same.
Off to your right is the wall of private mahogany humidor lockers which are available for rent on an annual basis, along with a club membership which includes access to a VIP member’s only lounge, among other benefits.
To the left is the largest part of the retail area: the walk in Humidor. It is a generous sized, glass windowed room, with carefully regulated temperature and humidity, as is necessary, for its contents are the heart of the business; hundreds of well maintained boxes full of hand rolled cigars of various origins, sitting amidst shelves lined in Spanish cedar. Walking into the humidor is a heavenly experience that stimulates all of one’s senses. The smell of the cedar and aged tobacco is incredible, as well as the visual excitement of choosing your smoke for that evening. If you need help deciding, or have never partaken in a cigar before; have no fear – here you will also find Rudy, cigar connoisseur extraordinaire. Rudy runs the retail part of H2H and is available in addition to Paolo, to help in your selection of a cigar or cigar/smoking accessories. He makes great recommendations based on your personal taste, will also cut and light your cigar, and answer any and all questions about cigars for you. Rudy is a local favorite; hailing from Munich, he speaks English, German and French and is obviously well loved by the members of H2H. He has years of smoking experience and it is rare that you won’t see a stogie in his own hand.
Moving past the retail area, which also includes impressive wall and counter displays of wine, cigar antiques and other exotic treasures, you will find the VIP lounge off to your right guarded by a beautiful stained glass door that adds further to the interesting and unique surroundings. The lounge houses comfy leather chairs, a flat screen television and classic décor. Inside it is surprisingly quiet, even with a full house in the restaurant.
Just after this area, running the length of almost the entire wall sits the bar, impressive in its own right. The glass topped bar has colored LED lights beneath it that are constantly changing hues, illuminating the sumptuous martinis and cocktails in their fine stemware atop its surface. The drink menu is expansive and original. The bartenders offer up rare and unusual items such as the Dragonberry Martini and the Greenville Mouse Martini (which comes complete with a little chocolate mouse) in addition to several well thought out varieties of high end scotches, whiskeys, cognacs, beers, wines and other fine spirits and after dinner drinks that complement cigars.
Across from the bar are several small glass tables and leather club chairs, and a few steps above that are several larger, linen covered tables set alongside huge windows overlooking Greenville’s famous suspension foot bridge and Falls Park. There are additional tables and seating outside of the restaurant on a covered patio for seasonal smoking and dining.
At the very back of the restaurant, the baby grand piano emits sounds of jazz and classical masterpieces, which softly fill the soaring ceilings of H2H. You can expect there to be some live bands playing on select nights in the future.
Since cigar & pipe smoking is allowed throughout the entire establishment (cigarette smoking is prohibited) the ventilation system is fantastic. Even if you are non-smoker, (as was a member of our party) the ventilation system combined with the very high ceilings make it possible to sit and enjoy your meal amongst friends that are smoking, and not be bothered by an overly smoke filled environment.
Overall, our experience was top notch. The staff was pleasant and attentive, the service personal, the cuisine delectable and the drinks amazing. And of course the cigars were out of this world.
You too can enjoy this nouveau experience Mondays through Fridays 11:00am-2:00am and Saturdays 11:00am-12:00am. H2H is located at 631 S Main St. in Greenville just over the bridge in the West End on the edge of Falls Park. They can be reached at (864) 232-9224 and followed on facebook.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CigarMama,