South
Bay(Santa Clara and Santa
Cruz Counties)
South
Bay(Santa Clara and Santa
Cruz Counties)
Choose a region:
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The Far South County
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Contributions are Encouraged. |
City Tobacco & News : 161 W. Santa Clara, San Jose, CA {MAP}
408-295-6236 --- Hours: M-Th 9-8, Friday 9-11, Saturday 3:30-10, Sunday
Closed.
A small supply of cigars in one cabinet. High prices and a clueless staff
make it hard to shop here. This would be an emergency stop only. Located
next door to "Peggy Sue's" Burger joint which has plenty of outdoor
seating.. burger, beer and cigars anyone?
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.50, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Pinnochi Special Cigars & Out of State Newspapers : 43 S.
1st St. (@ San Fernando), San Jose, CA {MAP}
408-297-2187 --- Hours: Mon-Thur 5-7, Fri-Sun 7-7.
A small selection of cigars in one cabinet. Questionable storage conditions.
Friendly staff that is eager but not very knowledgeable about cigars. He
said the manager and owner would know more.. Okay for an emergency smoke
downtown. You're better off down the street at Sainte Claire News Stand
(listed below).
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.50, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Sainte Claire News Stand : 311 S. 1st St. (@ San Carlos), San
Jose, CA {MAP}
408-275-0242 --- Hours: M-F 7-9, Sat 9-10, Sun 8-8.
This place is located just south of "Original Joe's". It is your
best-bet in "downtown" San Jose when it comes to cigar selection
and proper storage conditions. Some of their prices are on par.. although,
many are quite high. You have to know your stuff, the staff is utterly
clueless!
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.50, AF Curlyhead: Not in Stock.
Beverages, & More : [
Click here to see the review ]
Santa Clara : 4175 Stevens Creek Blvd. (@ Kiely) {MAP}
/ 408-241-7353
San Jose : 14800 Camden Ave. (Cambrian Pk. Plaza @ Union) {MAP}/
408-369-0990
Mountain View : 423 San Antonio Rd. @ California (San Antonio Ctr.)
{MAP}/
408-949-1826
C & D Liquors : 435 Kiely Blvd. (@ Saratoga), San Jose, CA
{MAP}
408-246-8174 --- Hours: 11 am - 10 pm, 7 days a week.
A liquor store with a small selection (2 small cabinets) of premium cigars.
They carry the full Don Thomas line (including Astral), some General Cigar
Line (Macanudo/Partagas) and others. Friendly service with very limited
cigar knowledge. Very good for a liquor store though!
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.49, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Cigarettes Cheaper : (5 Locations)
Club Havana Premium Cigars : 860 El Paseo de Saratoga (@ Prospect), San Jose, CA
408-871-2199 --- Open: M-Th: 10-9, Fri-Sat: 10-10, Sun: 10-6.
This place is located in the huge new shopping complex across from Westgate mall. It is to the left of the theaters, near Crown Books. They have 10 large, well stocked cabinet humidors. If you want something that isn't there the owner, Andrew Reddy, will get it for you. Plenty of accessories at the front of the store with a display of humidors in the center. At the back of the store is a comfortable smoking area with a sofa and two comfortable chairs. The general atmosphere of the store is quite congenial, if it isn't busy you can talk to Andrew while enjoying your cigar. If you aren't sure what you want, or just want to try something new, you can always get a recommendation from the staff or another customer. One night I was in there when the owner and a few others ordered a pizza.. Definitely a friendly place! They also have a "frequent buyers program" and occasional cigar events. Rental/storage lockers are also available. (Review by: Chuck Samuels)
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.95, AF Curlyhead (Deluxe): $3.75.
Downer Square Bottle Shop : 402 Blossom Hill Rd. (@ Snell), San
Jose, CA {MAP}
Owner Refused to provide a telephone # --- Hours: 9:30-10, daily.
This is the liquor store located next door to Winchell's Donuts. Their
single cigar case is stocked mostly with drug store cigars and a few premiums.
They had 3 types of Don Thomas cigars, Hamiltons Coronas, Astral Maestro
($8.99). They all felt dry but I could hear the humidifier working in the
case. The owner was very rude and abrupt. He refused to answer any questions.
I wouldn't even go to this place for an "emergency cigar"!
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.99, AF Curlyhead: None.
Jack's Smoke Shop : 1818 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA
408-279-9741 --- Hours: The employee REFUSED to tell me their hours!
This place doesn't deserve the name "Smoke Shop". Mostly XXX
videos, cheap "sexual aids" and a .25 cent peep-show. A few dried
up off-brand sticks under the counter and some drug store brand cigars.
I'm sure they sell more K-Y Jelly and "Zig-Zag" papers than cigars.
P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C-!
- Macanudo Portofino: None, AF Curlyhead: None.
Lunardi's Supermarket : [
Click here to see the review ]
Los Gatos : 720 Blossom Hill Rd. (@ Los Gatos Blvd. in King's Court
Ctr.) {MAP}/
408-358-1731
San Jose : 4650 Meridian Avenue (@ Branham Lane in Meridian Park
Plaza) {MAP}/
408-265-9101
Mission Pipe & Tobacco Shop : 812 Town & Country Village Drive, San Jose, CA 95128 {MAP}
408-241-8868 --- Hours: M-F: 10-7, Sat: 10-5:30, Sun: 12-5
Arguably the best Tobacconist in the South Bay. A friendly place with a large variety of cigars and accessories. They have a table outside in the shade for smoking your stogies as well as a new smoking lounge inside (in the back). They're located across from the Winchester Mystery House in the same building as Chili's Restaurant. Can be very crowded on weekends.
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.00, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Smoker's Paradise : 3617 Union Ave. (@ Camden Ave.), San Jose,
CA 95124 {MAP}
408-377-1335 --- Hours: M-W 8-6, Th-F 8-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5.
This shop has a walk-in humidor with a good supply of premium cigars. They
also have a case near the register with an extensive selection of machine
made/drug store type cigars. They have a good selection of smoker's accessories
and a LOT of pipes and pipe stuff. They seem to be a good source for AF
cigars (AF #3 @ $10. ea, with a 3 cigar limit) and Avo's (from $7.50-12.
ea).
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.60, AF Curlyhead: $1.60.
West Coast Cigars : 1650 Almaden Road (at Stone Ct), San Jose,
CA
408 283-9323 --- Sunday - Thursday 10 AM - 9 PM | Friday - Saturday 10 AM -
Midnight
Welcome to the West Coast Cigars website. We are located in the Willow
Glen neighborhood of San Jose, California. Come visit the South Bay's
largest walk-in humidor and browse our full line of premium cigars.
Enjoy your cigar in our indoor lounge with big screen TV in a relaxed
and casual atmosphere. West Coast Cigars is a 100% smoking zone, both
indoor and outdoor. Bring your laptop or other portable Internet device
because we also provide free Wi-Fi (wireless Internet).
We offer a full line of humidors, cigar cutters, travel cigar cases,
lighters, premium tobacco, pipes, and premium cigarettes. We have cigar
lockers for rent, cigar specials, and events. Box sales are always 20%
off.
Willow Glen Cigars : 1068 Lincoln Ave. (@ Garfield), San Jose,
CA {MAP}
408-283-9323 --- Hours: 10am-8pm, Mon-Sat. Open late (10:30pm) for Monday
Night Football. Closed Sunday.
Located on Lincoln at Garfield in Downtown Willow Glen. The best part is
they have a huge room with overstuffed furniture and a big-screen TV that's
reserved as a smoking room. No drinks served, but BYOB encouraged. They
have a well stocked walk-in humidor with all the requisites. A bit pricey
on some brands, but worth it if you're looking for a great selection of
Arturo Fuente's, Avo's or other hard to get cigars that are in high demand.
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.99, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
3N1 Smoke Shop : Union Ave. @ Bascom Ave., Campbell, CA
Advantage: Very good selection and good prices. Disadvantage: also a "Bong
(water-pipe)" store and "Beeper/cellular phone" store with
a mixed crowd of patrons. Hard to understand staff (VERY thick accents).
They do seem somewhat knowledgeable though. (Review by: Matt
Stovall) Price comparisons and hours
needed. Anyone?
Blue Rock Shoot: 14523 Big Basin Way, Saratoga,
CA {MAP}
408-741-5180 --- Open: Sunday-Thursday: 7am-10pm, Friday-Saturday:
7am-11pm.
This wonderful place has small outdoor patios (front and rear) with gas heaters. A coffee shop/bar on Saratoga's famed "Restaurant Row". Small selection
of premium cigars in one 6' case located near the sales counter (upstairs).
Smoking is encouraged on the downstairs rear porch. Beverages include coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices, beer and wine including ports. They also serve sandwiches and desserts.
FRIENDS OF THE LEAF Cigar Club meets here every THURSDAY night from
8-10pm.
Coach House Liquors & Deli : 1655 Saratoga-Sunnvale
Rd. (@ Prospect), Cupertino, CA
408-252-8854 --- Hours: M-Th 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-8pm.
They have one (chest high) 8' long cabinet with a good selection of cigars
(for a liquor store/deli). Storage conditions appear excellent too. Prices
are "average" with Astral Maestros @ 8.76. They carry a few of
each in the "Don Thomas Line" including Hamiltons ($9.95-$10.95).
The best thing about this shop was that they had a whole bundle of LGC
Soberano's (@.. brace yourself.. $13.95 each.. gee, I remember paying about
five or six bucks for those a few years ago!). This place is located
next to Johnny Z's Restaurant/Bar, formerly a great "cigar friendly" location.
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.99, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Cherry Chase Liquors : 673 S. Bernardo Ave. (@ El Camino Real),
Sunnyvale, CA {MAP}
408-736-0360 --- Hours: Mon-Sat: 7-10, Fri: 7-11, Sun: 8-8
They have two cabinet type humidors and carry all of the Don Thomas line
and some others. They have a good selection for a liquor store, but are
a bit on the expensive side.
- Macanudo Portofino: Out-of-Stock, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Cindy's Collectibles : Located in the "Oaks Shopping Center",
on Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA
Phone: ? --- Hours: ?
They just finished building a 4' x 8' walk-in humidor and their selection
still growing. VERY NICE and knowledgeable staff as well. Prices are rather
high and the store closes too early. If they could find a way to stay open
until midnight, they would get a lot of business, mostly from crowds that
park at the Oaks to go to Flint Center shows then to get a cup of coffee
afterward. My friends and I kill many hours at that place. By the time
we are in the mood for a cigar, it is at least 9:00 and all the local shops
are closed. Several nice humidors, lighters, cutters, etc. (Review by:
Matt Stovall) Price
comparisons address, phone number, and hours needed. Anyone?
Dante's Premium Cigars : 5259 Stevens Creek Blvd. (@ Lawrence
Expwy.)*, Santa Clara, CA
408-261-2277 --- Hours: ? --- Located in Paellas Shopping Center.
This is a nice place with a great selection and good prices. It is the
first place I have seen Dominican Cohiba's. Top quality; Fuente's, Macanudo,
Partagas, Punch, H. Upmann.. virtually anything! A knowledgeable staff.
Comparably good prices, such as $4.70 H. Upmann Corona, $4.20 Zino's! Cool
carpeting. Good selection humidors and accessories. (Review by: Matt
Stovall) Price comparisons and hours
needed. Anyone?
Dominion Premium Cigars : 130 North Santa Cruz Ave. (@ Grays
Lane), Suite "M" Los Gatos, CA
408-354-1516 --- Hours: Mon-Wed: 11:30-9:00pm, Thu-Sat: 11:30am-11:30pm,
Sun: 11:30-7:00pm.
Dominion is a new classy, but friendly, cigar store/smoke lounge modeled
much like a Dunhill store. Excellent selection of premium and super-premium
cigars. They sell their own line of Dominican cigars. These cigars, named
Dominion, are actually quite good. I was surprised at their quality. The
prices of the rest of their cigars (Punch, Dunhill, Key West Havana, Royal
Jamaica, Partagas, Don Tomas, and more) do reflect the Los Gatos location
and quality/atmosphere of the store. This is a cigar store you must see!
(Review by: Ed Haslam)
Editor's Note: I made a special trip there on July 5th, 1998 and found the shop closed up, without explaination, at 5pm! You may want to call ahead to save headaches.
Additional information from Mike
Egan: This is a small shop located next door to
the -Los Gatos Brewing Company-. Their house brand comes in many various
sizes and is a cuban-seed Dominican Republic cigar. The Dominion Short
Churchill ($6.85) I had was very similar in taste to an AF Hemingway. The
shop is one giant humidor. The owners encourage smoking in the store, as
they have a complete HVAC system which exchanges the air regularly. The
system is so good, you could have 10 people smoking cigars in the store
without having a smoke filled room! Their prices seem fair too.
Edward's Pipe & Tobacco : Located on San Antonio & El
Camino in Los Altos {MAP}
415-941-1228 --- Hours: ?
It is nice (read: convenient) if you live close by, but it not worth a
trip from out of the area. The store owner and staff are general friendly.
The lady who staffs the morning shift has no knowledge of cigars. I don't
think she smokes at all. Their cigar prices are on the high side and the
selection is reasonable. Other items are highly overpriced. You will have
a much better time at Mission Pipe and Tobacco at Town & Country Village
(listed below). (Review by: Ben Wong, Hunter@best.com
)
Price comparisons and hours needed.
Havana Hideaway : 3 1/2 N.
Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030 {MAP}
408-399-1867 --- Lounge hours: 10am-10pm, 7 days a week.
WARNING: Los Gatos has the most
restrictive smoking ordinances in the Bay Area!
Great Irony:
The Havana Hideaway is located in the heart of "Anti-Smoking" Los Gatos in the turret tower that is the symbol of this smoke-forbiden town! The owner has built a private cigar lounge and cigar shop upstairs. The upscale club/shop is decorated in British Colonial style with a tropical/Cuban flair. They feature a wide selection of premium cigars as well as an impeccable array of quality cigar accessories. Their prices are a bit on the high side, although there are many great values on their shelves, if you know what you're looking for. The lounge is free for members (who also enjoy the luxury of a private storage locker) or patrons that spend over $8 in merchandise (not hard to do here!). This place is definately worth checking out if you are in the area!
King's Bottle Shop : 730 Blossom Hill Rd (@ Los Gatos Blvd.),
Los Gatos, CA {MAP}
408-356-3858 --- Hours: 9am-9pm Mon-Thu; 'til 9:30pm weekends
This wine shop carries 40-50 excellent selections of premium imported cigars.
Storage appears to be a perfect 70/70. They have a good variety of smokes,
ranging from Arturo Fuente & Astral to Siglo, V Centennial & Zino!
It appears much of their stock is from JR Cigar Co. They are
located next to the Lunardi's Supermarket in King's Court Plaza. The clerk
advised the Wednesday & Monday staff know everything about cigars.
They are nice and friendly. The store also has quite a good selection of
wine. (Review by: Luis Del Rio)
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.95, AF Curlyhead: Not in stock.
Little Havana Cigars : 530 Barber Lane (near MacArthur @ 237), Milpitas, CA408-435-0698 --- Hours: ???
Little Havana features a large walk-in humidor with good selection, a
smoking area with a pleasant, latino atmosphere. They have rental ockers available for a monthly fee. It is usually hard to find parking, I recommend parking on street just before car dealership.
(Review by: Jim McAllister)
Price comparisons and shop hours needed, anyone?
Mac's Smoke Shop : 534 Emerson Street, Palo
Alto, CA
415-323-3724 --- Located one street east of High St., about half a block
south of University.
"This is a really great place. Good prices! I brought a Cigar Savor (the basic model) for just $19.95! That's 10 bucks cheaper than Thompson's (mail-order) Cigar price and way below Mission Pipe Shop's prices." -- Alvin McManus
Mac's has one of the three nicest counter humidor cigar selections I've ever seen. All the classics are represented when available, however they do not follow such trendies as LGC's or Hamiltons, just classics like
Fuente's, Punch, Macanudo's, ham, H.Upmann, Partagas as well as a small but good selection of low cost bundled smokes of surprisingly good quality. It is one of the few places in Palo Alto where smoking is not only allowed, but apparently encouraged (judging from the stand-up ashtrays at the end of every magazine rack). (Review by:
Bernie Adalem)
Mission City Cigar Co. and Smoking Parlor : 791 Franklin St.
(@ El Camino Real), Santa Clara, CA
408-296-2510 --- Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
This place just had their Grand Opening!!
Full review pending. (Introductory listing contributed by: Ron
Freeman)
Old Knickerbockers : 480 University Ave. (@
Crowper St.), Palo Alto, CA 94301 {MAP}
415-328-7473 (PIPE) --- Hours: 10am-9pm, Monday-Saturday.
This is a NEW location for Old Knick's. It opened in December 1996 and
is owned by David Hamren. They stock a full line of cigars, pipes, rare
tobaccos, and a variety of smokers requisites. It is a large store (about
8 to 10 times larger than the Menlo
Park location) with very reasonable prices. Very cozy place, great
to stop in before or after dinner. Amazing decor, very inviting. (Review
by Garrett Gafke)
Price comparisons needed.
San Thomas Liquors : 240 Saratoga Ave. (@ Pruneridge, near San
Thomas), Santa Clara, CA
408-984-3811 --- Hours: Mon-Sat: 9-10, Sunday: 9-9. {MAP}
Located in the strip mall, next to Lucky's. They have one small case and
carry most of the Don Thomas Line, some Macanudo's and a few others. A
bit expensive. You're better off at Bev'Mo or C&D Liquors nearby (both
listed above).
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.99, AF Curlyhead: Do not stock.
Drive-In Liquors & Cigars : 17290 Monterey Road (@ Third St.), Morgan Hill, CA
408-779-2525 --- Hours: 10-10, 7 days a week.
A great place with a large cabinet style glass fronted humidor with a broad selection of quality, premium, hand rolled cigars and accessories. Pricing is "okay". They give a 20% discount for boxes or bundles or Mix & Match 20 or more cigars! Humidor is maintained properly and kept well stocked. They offer the convenience of ATM transactions and all major credit cards. The staff is friendly, but somewhat unknowledgeable about cigars unless you catch the owner, Mr. Kim, there. It is definitely the best place for cigars in semi-rural South Santa Clara County. (Review by: Al McManus)
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.95, AF Curlyhead: Not in stock.
J-V Liquors on 1st Street @ Rosanna in Gilroy, CA
Telephone: ? --- Hours: ?
This well stocked liquor store has just installed a cabinet humidor and is beginning to carry premium cigars. (Information provided
by: Al McManus.. full review coming
soon!)
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.15, AF Curlyhead: Not in stock.
Morgan Hill Tobacco Company : 17430 Monterey Rd. (@ 4th St), Morgan Hill, CA
408-776-7667 --- Hours: Mon-Sat 10 to 9. Sun ?
This shop is located next to the Granada Theater. They feature a large walk in humidor with glass faced cabinet humidors on the walls. Private lockers available. Smoking lounge in the front with a pending adult beverage serving area in the rear. Large comfy and agreeable ambiance with a knowledgeable and courteous staff (usually one of the owners). Off street parking in the back. A coffee roasting club is just 2 doors down. Prices are reasonable but don't look for discounts. (Review by: Alvin McManus)
Bay Briar Shop : 2910 Daubenbiss Ave., Soquel,
CA 95073
(408)462-1965 --- 10am-6pm, Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday.
Located about 2 miles south of Santa Cruz on Highway 1 just north of Capitola.
The shop is very close to Soquel Drive in downtown Soquel.
Prices are very reasonable for the Santa Cruz area,which has high prices
for cigars. They have a fairly good selection of cigars and pipes
and pipe tobacco. The proprietress is quite knowledgeable. Their prices
seem rather high, $7.50 for an AF 8-5-8. They have a large walk in humidor
(probably about 10'x 10') and there seems to always be someone there smoking
something. (Review by "Allen")
Cigarettes Cheaper (two locations):
The Pipeline in downtown Santa Cruz, CA
Telephone: ? --- Hours: ?
This shop has a stand-in (notice I didn't say walk-in) humidor with a few good smokes. They also sell pot-smokin' paraphernalia so even though their sign says you have to be 18 to be in the smoke shop (the dark room way in the back) sometimes it gets overcrowded with "punks", so you gotta have a high tolerance for `walking hormones', but the smokes I've gotten there have never been dried out or crackling (unlike the ones I've gotten at Bay Briar), and the guy I always see working in there seems to have a lot of enthusiasm for cigars and actually seems to like the idea of women smoking them and doesn't treat me and my girlfriend like we are from Mars. (Review by: Diane aka BeemerDi@aol.com)
Shop address, phone, hours, and price comparisons
needed. Anyone?
Rick's Cigar Asylum : NEW LOCATION 435 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA
(Located downtown, near Cathcart Avenue)
Hours: Sun-Thurs 1 pm-9 pm, Fri and Sat 1 pm-1 am.
This fantastic shop opened on Lincoln in February '97, and moved to the new location recently. They are open for business and feature a small cigar lounge as well as several large, well stocked, cabinet humdors. They stock a wide array of cigars including some of the hard-to-find ones such as Nazereth's Honduras Romeo y Julieta, the full LGC line, many of the Montecristo's, and other fine cigars. They are in the process of building a large "Members Only" lounge/club with a private entrance and special "Members Only" events. Their "Grand Re-opening" is scheduled for November 1998. (Review by: Marianne Biskup) Price comparisons and telephone number needed. Also, are these hours current?
And, all over the bay area..
Beverages, & More:
In several bay area cities (see list below) there are
Beverages, & More stores. They're all HUGE supermarket sized liquor
stores that each have an extensive selection of cigars and many smoker's
accessories at good-to-average prices. Their staff has limited knowledge
on the finer points of the storage and selection of premium cigars. I have
noted on several occasions that their cigars are stored in an over humidified
environment (although, signs are posted to the contrary).
Head Concierge, John Eckrich,
from the Oakland Bev'Mo Store advised that they are working hard to fix
their problems. If you have any (good or bad) comments, suggestions or
questions about the Bev'Mo cigar supply, feel free to contact him by phone
(510-272-9457) or e-mail. Most stores are open M-F 10-9, Sat 9-8, Sun 10-7.
For location, click on the city you are interested in:
Albany,
Colma, Mountain View, Oakland (Jack London Square), Sacramento, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, Santa
Rosa, and Walnut Creek.
- Macanudo Portofino: Out-of-Stock, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.