North Bay (Marin,
Sonoma, & Napa Counties)
* UPDATED* Baker Street Downtown : 1018 1st Street,
Napa, CA 94558 {MAP}
707-255-4434 - Open 7 Days a Week and Evenings.
This store has a good collection of the regular offerings
and on a couple of occasions has had the best selection of AF cigars I've
seen.
http://www.bakerstreettime.com/
Beverages, & More: [
Click here to see the review ]
San Rafael : 760 Francisco Blvd. (north of the
Hwy 101/580 merge) {MAP}/
415-456-3754
Santa Rosa : 2090 Santa Rosa Ave. (off Hwy 101's
Hearn Ave. Exit) {MAP}/
707-573-1827
The Humidor : 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael,
CA {MAP}
415-479-6336 (Mall Office) --- Hours: Standard Mall Hours.
A new place that just opened in Northgate Mall. They
are a bit over priced (undoubtedly due to high "mall overhead"), but they
have some hard to find stuff like LGC's, AVO's and Pleidies. I have only
spoken to the female half of the husband and wife owners, she seemed at
least interested in learning, and enjoys a smoke. (Review by: Steve
Perry, sperry@infogenics.com)
Price comparisons needed.
Ludwig's : 431 San Anselmo
Avenue, San Anselmo, CA {MAP}
415-456-1820 --- Hours: ?
They have recently expanded their humidor. They are located
across the street from the City hall. The owners are reasonably friendly,
and may be knowledgeable, but are uncommunicative. (Review by: Steve
Perry, sperry@infogenics.com)
Cross street, hours, and price comparisons needed.
Mill Valley Market : 12 Corte Madera Avenue
(@ Throckmorton), Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-388-8466 --- Hours: ?
A surprisingly good selection for a supermarket in "yuppie-central"..
Mill Valley. I found various sizes of Ramon Allones and Don Diego's
from $6 to $7. each. H.Upmann Rothschildes and Coronas from $4 to
$5. each. Partagas Robustos and Naturales from $6 to $7. each. Well
maintained and well stocked. You'll find the cigar cases at the liquor
counter, in the room to the right of the main entrance.
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.25, AF Curlyhead: None.
*UPDATED*Napa Valley Wine & Cigars : 161 Silverado Trail,
Napa, CA 94559
707-253-8696 / FAX 707-253-8696 / Toll-Free outside CA
888-via-wine.
The new owners are Carrie & Randy Bowman. The new store has a walk-in humidor, enclosed smoking lounge, (California legal), wine bar and wine cellar! Check them out online at: http://www.napavalleywineandcigar.com
St. Helena Wine Center : 1321 Main Street, St.
Helena, CA 94574
707-963-1313 [fax 707-963-8069] --- Hours: 10 am - 6
pm, daily.
This shop specializes in hard to find California and
especially Napa Valley wines. They have an excellent newsletter regarding
their most recent finds as well as more well known but hard to get wines.
For a wine/cigar lover this could be heaven. The cigar selection
is not huge but they are strong on ASHTON - Tamboril - Flor Dominacana
- Thomas Hinds - Napa Cigar Co. - beware that the pricing is not always
the lowest since in some cases they have not yet secured wholesale suppliers,
but there are always interesting cigars available, often some real surprises!
In addition to the cigars - cutters & lighters are available. For most
complete service ask for Tom Alamano. (Review by: Donald
Patz) Price comparisons needed.
Sonoma Valley Cigar Shop : 621 4th Street, Santa
Rosa, CA
707-542-2296 -- Hours: ?
This is a new shop (opened December 1996) with a very
friendly atmosphere. The proprietors, Greg Pryor and Bill Campbell, are
still working on opening a large smoking room complete with humidified
rental lockers, leather chairs and antiques. They display and sell vintage
cigar memorabilia and collectibles. The cigar selection is improving. This
is a first rate place to go if you want to hang around and "burn one down"
with the guys. (Review by: Jon Bixler)
Price comparisons needed.
Sotoyome Tobacco : 119 Plaza
Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-433-3338 -- Hours: M-F 11-5, Sat & Sun 10-8.
Located on the historic Healdsburg Plaza, this shop opened
in late 1996 and is within a block of two great cigar-friendly restaurants:
Bistro Ralph's and Bear Republic Brew-Pub (Reviews
for both locations needed! Help.. someone! --Editor). At only
10' x 10', this "store-idor" has a somewhat limited selection. When reviewed
in early March 1997, they had Partagas, Macanudo, Don Tomas, Cruz Real,
Thomas Hinds, La Pantera, Double Happiness and a few others. They also
sell humidors, and other accessories. The staff seems knowledgeable and
very helpful. (Review by: Daniel Bienkowski)
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.60, AF Curlyhead: Out of
Stock
The Squire : 346 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa,
CA 95401 {MAP}
707-573-8544 --- Hours: Standard Mall Hours.
This is a very nice well established store in the Coddingtown
Mall with a reasonably well stocked humidor. The employees seem to know
their stuff and are very helpful. (Review by: Rick
Bolen )
Additional info from Brian
Sankey: The Squire is the oldest cigar shop in Sonoma County
(established in 1974), Their humidor features many of the most exclusive
brands being manufactured today. As a retailer authorized by the respective
manufacturers, they offer: Montecristo, Diamond Crown, Por Larranaga, Playboy
by Don Diego, Savenelli ELR, Fonseca, R&J Vintage, Royal Butera, Dunhill
Aged, Partagas Limited Reserve, Macanudo Vintage Selection, Gispert Match
Play, and Paul Garmirian. As with all cigars, supply is limited by the
manufacturer's ability to ship. The employees are tutored by owner Linda
Squires, who has toured every major cigar factory in the Dominican Republic.
The Squire is well worth a stop on your next visit to the wine country
for both a cigar or two and the best café mocha in town!
Voted "Best Cigar Store" in The Sonoma County Independent's 1997 Reader
Poll. I suggest you park in the north lot and use the main
entrance.
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.35, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock
(3-31-97)
Telford's Pipe Shop : 121
Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA {MAP}
415-388-0440 --- Hours: M-F: 10-7, Sat: 10-6, Sun: 12-5
As of 12-21-96, they have moved 2 doors down from their
old location to a new shop that is five times larger than
the store they have been in since 1970. Now, with a fireplace, comfy chairs
and a new 35 foot humidor, this is arguably the best tobacco store/lounge
in Marin County! (They have a big screen TV coming soon too.) This
is a great, friendly shop with knowledgeable folks. They have a good selection
and they sometimes even have LGCs! I always stop in as I pass through and
pick up a few quality smokes. This place is a "must see" for any pipe or
cigar smoker in the bay area. (Located across from the Hick'ry Pit on the
east side of Hwy 101)
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.10, AF Curlyhead: $1.40
Vintage Wine & Spirits : 67 Throckmorton Avenue
(@ Corte Madera), Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-388-1626 /FAX 415-388-4249 --- Hours: ?
This shop features the best cigar selection in Mill Valley,
although their prices are a bit higher than the Mill Valley Market (located
across the street, review above). They have
3 well stocked cabinets with AF, Avo, Partagas, Royal Jamaica, Puros Indios,
Dunhill, H.Upmann, and more! Their selection changes frequently and
is subject to availability, but you can tell that someone there knows what
they're doing! Impeccable storage conditions. Well worth a
visit if you're in the area.
- Macanudo Portifino: $7.49, AF Curlyhead: None
(they had AF Rothschildes at $4.99 ea.)