I'm headed to Sao Paulo for a week, then onto Rio for a week -- any suggestions on cigar shops in either city? Anyone know if the Sao Paulo Airport duty free has decent selection? Thanks for the help.
Have not been to Sao Paulo, but I have been to Rio....you have 2 choices from in Rio--the first and the one I frequent the most is Esch Cafe. Small, but acceptable, selection of authentic Cuban Cigars along with local Brazilian cigars (fact they also sell these prevents this location from becoming an authorized LCDH)...great shop and lounge to hang out at as they serve food (full menu), liquor, and offer live musical entertainment. Esch Cafe is located in the safe and posh neighborhood of Leblon--about 3-5 minutes by taxi from Ipanema and 10-15 minutes by taxi from Copacabana. (FYI, you can find their web site if you search on Google or Yahoo).
The 2nd location is an authorized LCDH in the Centro section of Rio (about 10 minutes north of Copacabana) and is also owned by Edgar Esch. Rio is a very cigar-friendly town.
Finally, as was recommended to me on this board before my first trip to Rio in 2004, there is also an excellent music/supper club in the Lagoa area called Mistura Fina (do a web site search)...they have a humidor in the bar where you can purchase Cubans--though they will probably be a bit more expensive than the cigars at Esch or LCDH. Enjoy.
Posts: 653 | Location: Miramar, La Habana, Cuba | Registered: May 07, 2002
Let me know your thoughts on Sao Paulo when you return--food and nightlife is supposed to be spectacular (you may also want to go into the NY Times web site and pull up an archives travel review...I recall one from earlier this year that listed hot clubs and restaurants to go to)....also, leave some space in your luggage as Brazil has some very stylish clothing shops at bargain prices.
Posts: 653 | Location: Miramar, La Habana, Cuba | Registered: May 07, 2002
Plume, I'm from Sao Paulo and I've lived here my whole life. Sao Paulo is also a very cigar friendly city and I could number dozens of good places to get Cubans. I haven't seen any store selling fake Cubans here. I'll name a few stores that are worth visiting:
- Davidoff: there are two Davidoff stores, and they do have a good selection of Cubans, despite their preferrence for their own brand. The best store is the one in Jardins (address: Alameda Lorena, 1821). The place has a good lounge to smoke and hang out. - Tabacaria Lee (at Shopping Higienópolis, it's a beautiful mall down here). Also good selection and great lounge.
Also if you are staying at the Grand Hyatt, at the Upstairs (hotel bar/lounge) they also have a good selection of Cubans.
If you want to have dinner or lunch at one of the best restaurants in São Paulo that you can smoke cigars. Go to Rubayat, the best steak house in Brazil and Figueira Rubayat, one of the best mediterranean food restaurants, certainly one of the best looking one. They both belong to the same owner, and are a must-go here in São Paulo. Anyway, if you need anything else let me know!
Do they allow smoking at the trendy hotels (i.e. Unique, Fasano, Emiliano??)...thinking of visiting in the near future...any opinion of the Pergamon Hotel?--owned by Epoque (when in Rio, I usually stay at their Marina Palace)...looks like a great rate (under $ 100 US) compared to the others I mentioned which start at $ 300 US/night. Thanks
Posts: 653 | Location: Miramar, La Habana, Cuba | Registered: May 07, 2002
I've never heard about this hotel (Pergamon), and its location is not one of the best, Rua Frei Caneca is across Avenida Paulista, opposite to Jardins (one of the best neighborhoods), and that place is not only ugly but also there's nothing much you can do around. Even though Marina in Leblon (Rio de Janeiro) is a good hotel, I wouldn't stay at this place mainly because of the location. Regarding Unique, Fasano and Emiliano... Now these are really as best as you can get in São Paulo, and I'm pretty sure they do allow smoking. In my opinion, one of the best places to stay in Sao Paulo is the Renaissance in Jardins, or Gran Hyatt. Great location and great hotels, though not as expensive as the three aforementioned.
Good suggestions from gersonmorrelli. I've only been to Sao Paulo airport in transit, but can tell you the duty free shop at the international airport has a nice selection.
Go to Brazil quite often. All the hotels listed are cigar friendly, as are the restaurants. Fasano and Unique are the posh, hip hotels of the moment. The Unique has a great rooftop bar with a very stylish clientele. Second the recommendation on Figueira Rubayat for some great meat. Big fig tree in the courtyard. The Renaissance (Alemeda Santos) is a great hotel with a Havana Club Bar (cigars are not the only $$$ things for sale there). The Davidoff shop in the lower level closed sometime between April and July (my last two trips). There is a shop maybe two blocks down from the hotel going toward Figueira Rubayat that sells fakes. Saw Cohiba EL 05 pirimides there in Feb 06. Nice looking, though.
I'm currently traveling in Rio, and will be until Aug 25. Aside from the Esch shops (one downtown and one in Leblon), are there any other locations in the city that sell cigars? And, the prices for Cubans - anyone know if they are comparable in price here compared to, for example, Germany?
"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." Winston Churchill
Posts: 119 | Location: Colorado | Registered: January 21, 2005
I going to SP for Grand Prix Weekend and I'm satying at the Holiday Inn Express at SUMARE AVE. - SAO PAULO. How is this location?? Also are there any Bars in this area?
Posts: 1 | Location: New York | Registered: September 20, 2006
Originally posted by GripperDL: Gersonmorelli and O Man:
I going to SP for Grand Prix Weekend and I'm satying at the Holiday Inn Express at SUMARE AVE. - SAO PAULO. How is this location?? Also are there any Bars in this area?
No, but since your staying at the Holiday Inn Express, will you be driving for Ferrari or Mclaren?
