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Cigar Shop Listing
"Cigar Friendly" Bars/Lounges and Restaurants
in the
City of San Francisco
As you may well know, the "cigar friendly arena" in San Francisco is very fluid. Please call in advance to confirm that you will be welcome, as policies can change unexpectedly. This list has diminished considerably since the enactment of the Anti-Smoking legislation of 1998.. fortunately there are still places where the law is side stepped or ignored, as is necessary, for your cigar smoking pleasure!
This first section is a list of dedicated pro-cigar establishments that have found solid loopholes around the new anti-smoking laws. Most are heated outdoor patios or sealed smoking rooms (where you are required to exit to serve yourself). Some are owner operated establishments that are exempt from the new law and may allow indoor smoking. If you find any of these locations are unfriendly toward you and your sticks, please let us know immediately so I can update this list. If you know of a fine establishment that belongs on this list, please contact me through the link at the bottom of this page.
List is in alphabetical order.
"850 Montgomery" : 850 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
415-291-0850 --- Hours: Tues-Sat: 4pm-2am --- Retail humidor w/decent prices!
Located across the street from what used to be "Ernie's".. now "Essex Supper Club", on Montgomery, between Jackson and Pacific. A truly wonderful place that offers both indoor and outdoor cigar smoking with a full bar, wine list, and one pool table. This place seats about 120 (indoors) and features a cabinet humidor with a good selection of premium and semi-premium cigars (at very reasonable prices.. $6 to $12 each, Don Thomas Line from Southern Wine & Spirits). The atmosphere is great and the all-owner staff has legally dodged the new anti-smoking laws while providing excellent service! Call for information or reservations for their nightly cigar dinners ($15 to $20/pp, Seating is at 8:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday). Please help support a very worthwhile venture and an outstanding cigar-oriented venue.
This is the only restaurant/bar in town that is 100% "like things used to be".. maybe better!
Fizz Supper Club & Restaurant : 471 Pine St. (between Montomery/Kearney), SF, CA {MAP}
415-421-3499 -- Open: M-F 11:30am to 3am, Mon-Sat 5pm-12am,
Closed Sundays.
This is a nice "clubby" feeling restaurant that once has plenty of "cigar friendly" outdoor seating on their patio to the rear (Sometimes they do allow cigar smoking indoors, in their second dining room, after 8 pm, if the weather is bad). They no longer have a retail humidor. Happy Hour is 5-7 PM, weekdays (with food and drink specials). More detailed review pending..
Fumo Blu Cigar Smoking Club : (Located at Vendetta Men's Apparel/Cigars)
12 Tillman Place (off of Grant between Sutter and Post), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-397-7755 --- Open: 11:30am-6:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday.
Membership is $300 a year. The selection of cigars in the men's shop downstairs is quite good, and they are well humidified. Bruce, the owner, is knowledgeable about cigars and very friendly. Membership gets you a 10% discount in the store, and you are allowed to store a bottle in the club room (the club provides "set-ups" for your drinks). This upstairs smoking room is a good place to spend your lunch hour if you can afford the membership.
(Review by zachgeo@slip.net)
Gold Coast Bar & Grill / Torpedo Lounge : 230 California Street (@ Front St.), SF, CA
415-989-6939 --- Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:30-3pm Mon-Sat: 5:30pm -10:30pm
Smoking generally allowed in the downstairs bar in the evenings only. But, if you buy a reasonably priced premium cigar at the bar, ask to check out the recently opened "Torpedo Lounge" upstairs! It is a fantastic new smoking club/room that comfortably seats 50, featuring tv's, a fax, phone, cigar sales, full bar and outstanding ventilation! Probably the coolest place to "hang out" in the financial district. Charter Memberships are still available at half-price (for a limited time, call or visit for details).
Gordon Biersch : 2 Harrison Street (@ Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-243-8246 -- Bar is open: 11am-12 midnight, Fri-Sat: "last call" is at 1am. -- Retail humidor inside
According to the Manager; "Smoking is always allowed only on the outdoor deck, which is heated in the evenings." They are located about 3 blocks north of Hennesey's Liquors, near the Delancy Street facilities. If you don't like to walk and don't mind paying more, GB's has a small retail humidor stocked with a wide variety of the Don Thomas line. Bring a jacket in the evenings, it is near the water. The food is a bit pricey and a little hit-and-miss (I guess it depends on who is working the kitchen). The beer is fantastic but the service is lacking. A nice "landmark" place to meet for a beer or a cocktail, but I would plan to eat at Palomino (located next door (north) which also has more cigar friendly outdoor seating that is a bit less exposed and the food and service are more consistent).
Iron Horse Restaurant : 19 Maiden Lane, San Francisco, CA
415-362-8133 --- Hours: ? --- Retail humidor in smoking room
Maiden Lane is located off Kearny between Post and Geary. The Grand Opening for their upstairs (indoor) smoking room was May 28th, 1998. Banquet room has been converted into a "legal" smoking room and tobacco shop. Contact the Iron Horse for more information. Full review pending.
Judi's Place : 1414 Market St. (between Van Ness and Fell), CA 94102 [MAP]
415-863-JUDI -- Hours: ?? -- Retail humidor?
A comfortable neighborhood bar featuring 4 TV's, darts, pool and most importantly.. they're CIGAR FRIENDLY (owner operated)! More detailed review pending.
MoMo's Restaurant : 760 Second St. (at King), San Francisco, CA
415-227-8660 -- Kitchen Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-10pm, Fri: 11:30am-11pm, Sat: 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-11pm, Sun: 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-10pm. Bar menu available until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday -- Small retail humidor inside.
This is an excellent new (opened August 1998) cigar friendly venue located at the corner of 2nd and King, in the shadow of the new Pacific Bell Ball Park near the Embarcadero. Their outdoor front patio is completely cigar friendly and comfortably heated (propane heaters) at night. The food is awesome (try the "Banana Bread Pudding with bourbon caramel sauce.. to die for!) but, a bit pricey. The service is attentive and friendly. You must check this place out! Reservations recommended.
Murray's Cigar & Cognac Lounge : Inside the Canterbury Hotel
740 Sutter Street (between Jones & Taylor), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-474-6478 -- Cigar Lounge Open: 24 hours a day. --
Retail humidor, but, no more Dunhills.
(Humidor is stocked with George Hamilton Collection, Tamboril, Frank Sinatra, Astral, V.M. Santana, at reasonable "bar prices")
Cigar smoking is allowed in the glassed in cigar lounge only. They serve food in the restaurant and bar which can be brought into the lounge. Nob Hill Cigar Shop is located a stones throw away and offers a better selection of cigars at better prices. This is a fabulous place.. comfy chairs, good ventilation and a cozy relaxed atmosphere, decorated in "early C.A. (Cigar Aficionado Magazine)" located in an upscale Nob Hill Hotel. This is the only indoor, 24 hour, public, cigar lounge in the Bay Area. This is the frequent meeting place of the San Francisco Cigar Society (SFCS) and is definitely worth checking out!
Occidental Grill : 453 Pine Street (@ Montgomery), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-834-0484 -- CLOSED DUE TO A RECENT FIRE. MAY RE-OPEN SOON, STAY TUNED!
Palomino Restaurant : Located on the Embarcadero between Folsom and Harrison, San Francisco, CA
415-512-7400 -- Hours: Sun-Th: 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11:30am-midnight -- Small Retail humidor inside.
This place is very cigar friendly and a notch up from Gordon Biersch (which is just down the street) too. Smoking is allowed on their large outdoor front patio which is kept comfortable at night with propane heaters when necessary. Excellent California/Mediterranean menu (try the gorgonzola criss-cut fries, spit-roasted chicken or a thin crust pizza) and very reasonable prices definitely make this place a "must see" venue on the Embarcadero.
The Peaks Bar :1316 Castro St. (between 24th & 25th Sts.), San Francisco, CA [MAP].
415-826-0100 -- Hours: Weekdays: 8am-2am, Weekends: 6am-2am
Cigar smoking is allowed and encouraged in their enclosed outdoor back garden patio, replete two massive barbecues (which the bartenders will gladly fire up for you and your friends, provided you call at least one hour in advance on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only). You have to supply the meat, chicken or fish, but don't bother bringing your own beer, they have a great selection. This is a great alternative to the row of yuppified bars lining 24th Street in Noe Valley. Also features a pool table and a few dart boards. You can purchase cigars nearby at Greystone Liquor & Cigars, located on the corner of Sastro and 24th.
Unreviewed locations to be checked out and added soon:
Crustacean Restaurant: Located at the corner of Polk and California (glassed 3rd floor outside patio, covered and heated).
Elroy's Restaurant: 301 Folsom (@ Beale St.) in SF. Hosts frequent cigar dinners. Contact Gene Wilks, Elroy's Events Coordinator @ 415-882-7989 for information on their next cigar event.
Harrington's: Located on Front Street near California Street (smoker friendly patio).
The Holding Company: Near Harrington's (smoking allowed after 10:30 pm in the bar).
Irish Bank: I need an address for this location! (outdoor, uncovered, unheated seating)
Local Bar: California near 5th Ave. in Richmond District (Indoor and outdoor smoker's seating).
London Pub: I need an address for this location! (Small owner operated deli, smoking allowed indoors).
Shanghai 1930/Guanxi Lounge: 133 Steuart St., (between Folsom & Howard), SF (415)896-5600 (Members Only cigar lounge).
I have it on good authority that the North Beach Restaurant (1512 Stockton St., between Green and Union, SF (415)392-1700) has a downstairs smoking club with good cigars, average prices, and excellent atmosphere.
Do you know of any other locations that should be added? E-mail me!
Please take the time to add or update a listing or send me a note via e-mail.
All contributions and comments are appreciated.
| SEMI-CIGAR FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS |
Some of these places were very "cigar friendly" prior to the new Anti-Smoking law of 1998. They now many have inconsistent policies and/or limit cigar smoking to unheated patios with poor or nonexistent service. This list is in alphabetical order.
The Cathedral Hill Hotel Lobby Bar : 1101 Van Ness Avenue (@ Geary St.), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
Phone? -- Hours: ?? -- Small retail humidor in the bar.
The bar located on the left side of the lobby entrance has a small unheated (and unlighted) outdoor patio with about 7 two person tables and one round patio table that seats 6 to 8. That's it, take it or leave it. No service outside (not that the service in the bar is any better), so you'll have to go inside and waive your arms a lot to get the bartender's attention. They do have reasonable cigar prices in their small humidor. They have cigar menus (even though you may have to ask around a bit).. sometimes they're even on the tables outside! What this place needs is better lighting outside, heaters on the patio and better service (a waiter would be nice). I don't think that is too much to ask, do you?
Enrico's :504 Broadway St. (@ Kearny in North Beach), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-982-6223 - Open: 11:30 AM-1 AM Sun-Thurs., 11:30 AM to 2 AM Fri/Sat. - No cigar sales.
Smoking is generally allowed on their covered/heated outdoor patio after dinner hours (after 9:30 PM weekdays, after 10:30 PM on Friday/Saturday nights). You may be able to smoke earlier.. if no one on the patio complains, in which case you may be moved or asked to put out your cigar. They are said to be more friendly toward cigarettes. More detailed review pending.
Jelly's Dance Cafe : Pier 50, 295 China Basin Way (near Mission Rock @ 3rd), San Francisco, CA
415-495-3099 --- Hours: Brunch-Lunch/ Wed-Fri: 11am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun: 10am-3pm, Evenings/ Fridays Only 9pm-2pm.
Formerly Olive Oyl's Restaurant, now a Cuban/Salsa bar/cafe. They allow cigar smoking on their waterfront (outdoor, unheated) back deck with a beautiful view of the bay. Ample free parking is a plus! Full review pending.
Waterfront Restaurant : Located at Pier 7 (Embarcadero @ Broadway), SF
415-391-2696 -- Hours: ?? -- They feature a small retail humidor in the bar.
I wouldn't call this place "cigar friendly".. more like "cigar tolerant". I'm honestly surprised they even sell cigars here! They do allow smoking in their waterfront outdoor patio. But when I was there with a group of 5 on 10-22-98, we were relegated to the windy southern patio with no heaters and sporadic service. We asked for a heater several times but were flatly refused. If their food is anything like their hospitality and service.. I wouldn't eat there. In fact, we didn't. We left and went to Palomino, a mile south on the Embarcadero (listing above).
| NORTH BAY CIGAR FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS |
Marin Joe's : 1585 Casa Buena Drive, Corte Madera, CA [MAP]
415-924-1500 -- Hours: ?? -- No retail Humidor
Located on the frontage road along the west side of Hwy. 101, just south of the Paradise Dr. exit in Corte Madera. They feature a cigar friendly outdoor patio. Full review pending.
Pacific Blues Cafe : 6525 Washington Street @ Vintage 1870, Yountville, CA
(707)944-4455 -- Hours: ?
They encourage smoking on their porch and feature a standard pub menu. Live band on Saturday nights. |
If a cigar shop or "cigar friendly" bar/restaurant or lounge
you frequent in the City of San Francisco is not listed here, please let
me know by e-mail, or submit a listing (partial or complete) or review and I will add it as soon as possible.
Happy smoke trails,
- Mark Howard aka Cigarman@thePentagon.com
For another
look at downtown San Francisco cigar bars/lounges and cigar friendly restaurants, check out
Scott Gilliland
and Rick Bolen's "San Francisco Cigars" web page.
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