City of San Francisco
Alfred Dunhill of San Francisco : 250 Post Street, San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-781-3368 --- Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-6pm, Sun: 12pm-6pm
The store is located just off Union Square between Stockton/Grant
in the old "Gump's Building". It is a very high-end men's clothing store
that has a great humidor room in the back. They have overstuffed leather
chairs and an excellent selection of premium cigars.
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.00, They do not carry any Arturo Fuente cigars.
Ashbury Tobacco Center : 1524 Haight Street (@ Ashbury), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-552-5556 --- Hours: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm, 7 days a week.
While it does have a separate "head shop" in back (for
the "space cadet crowd"), the whole front room is exclusively cigars, humidors, rolling tobacco and the like. Their two floor-to-ceiling wall humidors are well stocked with excellent premium cigars at "standard SF prices". (Review by: Bernie Adalem)
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.99, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Beverages, & More: [Click here to see the review ]
San Francisco: 201 Bayshore Bl. (2 blocks north of Goodman Lumber) {MAP}
/ 415-648-1233
California Tobacco Center : 1501 Polk St. (@ California),
San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-885-5479 or 1-800-59-CIGARS --- Hours: 9am-10pm, 7 days a week.
This place has some of the best prices on cigars in the city and the owner, Nick, is knowledgeable and quite helpful. They feature a wide variety of premium cigars. They also stock a large selection of smoker's accessories (lighters, ashtrays, cutters, etc.). They have a small smoking area with comfortable chairs near the street side window. The atmosphere is quite welcoming, a nice change from the attitude of elitism I find in many other SF tobacco/cigar shops. Check it out for yourself! (Review by: SFHEMLOCK@aol.com)
- Macanudo Portofino: $ 7.49, AF Curlyhead: $2.19.
Cigarettes Cheaper (3 Locations in SF) :
Golden Gate Sundries : 905 California St (@ Powell),
SF, CA 94104 {MAP}
415-397-3199 --- Hours: 7 am-10:30 pm, 7/week, 365/days
a year.
One cabinet humidor filled with many different premium
brands at premium prices.
- Macanudo Portofino: $9.95 -yikes!, AF Curlyhead:
Do not stock.
Grant's Tobacconists : 562 Market St. (between
Montgomery/Sansome), SF, CA {MAP}
415-981-1000 --- Hours: M-F 9-5:30, Sat 10-5:30, Closed
Sunday.
Nice and knowledgeable. Very wide selection. Oriented
towards the executive cigar smoker but not snooty. Saturdays are the best
times to shop here. There are fewer customers and a low key and helpful
staff.
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.90, AF Curlyhead: $2.70
Greystone Wine & Liquor :
4100 24th (@ Castro Street) in Noe Valley, SF, CA
415-824-9646 --- Hours: Daily 10:30am-11pm, daily (365 days a year).
The owner, Gary Speer, was very helpful and will answer any questions you have about cigars. He's been in business at this location for over 20 years and if you go there, you'll see why. He has a great selection of fine wines and a good selection of premium cigars. He carries Dunhill, Macanudo, Hoyo de Monterrey, Ashton, and many other fine brands. The cigars are pretty reasonably priced and the storage conditions are excellent (especially for a liquor store).
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.25, AF Curlyhead: $3.00
Hennesey's Liquors : Two Locations in San Francisco
The Humidor (#1) : 2201 Union St. (@ Fillmore, on the
southwest corner), SF, CA {MAP}
415-563-5181 --- Hours: Sun-Thur 10-10, Fri-Sat 10-12
midnight.
This is the best use of a former "San Francisco Musicbox
Store" that I have ever seen! This is a new shop (opened in October
1996) in the fashionable "Cow Hollow/Union Street" area. This is a great
place to stroll along with a cigar. There are lots of outdoor patio cafes, bars and street-side seating areas to dine and drink while enjoying your smokes. The shop is equipped with six 7 foot tall cabinet humidors that are well maintained and very well stocked (AF's from 6.90 to 14.00, Dunhill's, Avo's, Macanudo's, Moore and Bode and many more). The prices are a bit steep though (give 'em a break, it's a high rent area). They have a good selection of tabletop humidors and other smokers accessories also. The staff seemed very attentive and helpful. They offer "sampler packs" (in the humidor along the back wall) containing a variety of 3 to 8 premium and super premium cigars in clear zip-lock bags for $19 to $30 a bag.
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.90 (ouch!), AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
The Humidor (#2) : 2050 Chestnut St. (@ Mallorca, on the
northwest corner), SF, CA
415-561-0491 --- Hours: Mon-Thur 10-9, Fri-Sat 10-11, Sun 10-7
This is a real gem! Located on the corner of Chestnut and Mallorca across from the Wells Fargo Bank (parking at the bank is $6.00) but there is street parking, if you can find it.
This store has a nice large selection featuring Padron, H. Upmann, Macanudo, Avo, etc. Overall a nice selection. Store employs a very knowledgeable staff. Try and visit when Richard Wang is working, he is one of the most informative cigar and pipe lovers I have ever met. Friendly and courteous, The Humidor has a wide range of smoking accessories and a pleasant atmosphere. (Review by: Nicholas Theodore)
- Macanudo Portofino: $6.50, AF Curlyhead: $2.50
Jim Mate Pipe & Tobacco Shop : 575 Geary St. (Between Taylor/Jones), SF, CA {MAP}
415-775-6634 --- Hours: Mon-Sat: 9-5:30, Closed Sundays.
Not the greatest selection of cigars, but this is an old smoker's standby with an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable owner.
Its also a very genuine place, not at all stuck up. Lots of smoking accessories
and a good pipe selection as well.
- Macanudo Portofino: Out-of-Stock, AF Curlyhead:
Out-of-Stock.
Michaelis Wine & Spirits : 2189 Union St. (@ Fillmore, northeast corner), SF, CA 94123
415-921-5700 --- Hours: Mon-Wed: 11-12, Thur-Sat: 11-2, Sun: 11-10.
{MAP}
Impressive selection, prices and storage for a liquor store. They have five 3 1/2 foot tall cabinet style humidors. Selections include Partagas/Macanudo, H.Upmann, various Don Thomas choices including Astral's and Hamilton's. They had Hoyo de Monterrey, Mi Cubano, and many more. Located diagonally across the street from "The Humidor" smoke shop (listed above) in the "Cow Hollow/Union Street" area.
- Macanudo Portofino: $ 6.99, AF Curlyhead: Not-in-Stock.
Mr. Liquor : 250 Taraval Street (between 12th/Funston Avenues.), SF, CA {MAP}
415-731-6222 --- Hours: Mon-Sat: 8-6:30, Sun: 10:30-5:30.
This is not really a "smoke shop" per se, but they carry some very good cigars (including some Arturo Fuente, Partagas and others)
in a large stand-alone humidor. They feature an excellent selection of premium wines and spirits. (Review by: SZANO@aol.com)
- Macanudo Portofino: Out-of Stock, AF Curlyhead: Out-of-Stock.
Neiman Marcus, Men's Floor : 150 Stockon Street, San Francisco, CA
415-392-3900 --- Hours: 10-8 M-F, 11-7 Sat, 11-6 Sun.
Word is they stopped selling cigars here in September-October 1998. They still feature a selection of high-end (and high priced) humidors. You're best bet is to go over to the nearby Nob Hill Cigars for your smokes!
Nob Hill Cigar Shop : 699 Sutter Street (@ Taylor), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-928-5799 -- Hours: M-Th: 10-9, Fri-Sat: 10-11, Sun: 12 noon-6.
An extremely pretty shop. Nob Hill Cigars has a perfect location... it's close to Murray's Cigar and Cognac Lounge.. but, not too close to Union Square to attract a massive amount of tourists. The walls of the main room are set up with wall-inset humidors which contain a good selection of cigars. At my last visit, I noted selections from Padron, Mi Cubana and a few others that are not easily found in San Francisco. Though their selection rivals that of Grant's, their prices are a bit higher (blame it on premium rent space). The staff is well versed and pleasant to deal with. All in all, a very nice cigar shop.
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.35, AF Curlyhead: $2.15.
Sherlock's
Haven : 275 Battery St. (@ Sacramento), San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-362-1405 -- Hours: M-F: 9-7, Sat: 12noon-6, Sun: 12-5.
Their new location is BIGGER AND BETTER! It is located Between Sacramento/California Streets. Mr. Marty Pulvers is the proprietor. He writes regularly for the "Cigar Monthly" magazine. Marty knows his stuff backwards and forwards, and is friendly and totally unpretentious (Marty is so good that it's best to call and see if he's going to be in the store before going there). The new shop has a large walk-in humidor with a wide variety of super premiums. They are the only authorized Davidoff dealer in SF. They also stock the hard-to-get Moore & Bode Cigars as well as Paul Garmirian Cigars (yum!). They have one of the best collections of quality personal humidors ranging in price from $95 to $8500. This is undoubtedly one of the top three cigar shops in the SF Bay Area (but it hasn't gone to their heads).
- Macanudo Portofino: $7.20 AF Curlyhead $2.50.
Vendetta Men's Accessories : 12 Tillman Place, San Francisco, CA {MAP}
415-397-7755 --- Attached to Fumo
Blu Smoking Club
Tillman Place is located off of Grant between Sutter
and Post.
Club 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). Overall,
this is a good place to spend your lunch hour if you can afford the membership.
(Review by zachgeo@slip.net)
A D Tobacco : 1343 Polk St., San Francisco, CA
415-771-5650
B & A Convenience Store : 235 Montgomery St.,
San Francisco, CA
415-391-4906
Broadway Cigars & Liquors : 550 Broadway, San
Francisco, CA
415-397-1310
Castro Smoke House : 409 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA
415-552-7411
Fourth Street Smoke Shop : 654 4th Street, San Francisco, CA
415-495-0366
Geary Street Smoke Shop : 599 Geary St. (@ Jones) , San Francisco, CA
415-673-0154
Ho Ho Smoke Shop : 26 Geary St. (@ Grant), San Francisco, CA< BR>415-362-3940
International Smoke & News : 4059 18th Street, San Francisco, CA
415-863-7427
Jim's Smoke Shop : 600 20th Street, San Francisco, CA
415-626-6750
Market & Van Ness Smoke Shop : 1486 Market Street, SF, CA
415-626-5590
Marquard's Smoke Shop : 167 Powell St. (@ O'Farrell), San Francisco, CA
415-986-4147
Mason Smoke & Tobacco Shop : 37 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA
415-351-2419
Michael's Pit Stop : 1001 Page St., San Francisco,
CA
415-864-6811
Mini Smoke : 417 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA
415-771-5111
N & A Tobacco : 1343 Polk Street, San Francisco,
CA 94109
415-771-5650
Peter's Smoke Shop : 1054 Market Street, San Francisco,
CA
415-431-9510
Roniel's Discount Smoke Shop : 1061 Market Street, SF, CA
Rosebowl Florist & Wine Shop : 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA
415-474-1114 --- Hours: 10am-6pm, daily.
Sammy's Snacks : 213 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
415-398-7889
Sid's Pipe Dreams : 531 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA
415-552-0698
Smoke on Polk : 644 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA
415-776-6626
The Smoke Screen : 1181 Polk Street, San Francisco,
CA
415-441-3066
Mission Smoke Shop : 2063 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA - "Head Shop"
Montgomery Plaza Smoke Shop : 456 Montgomery Street,
SF, CA 415-296-7916
The name is quite misleading as it really isn't a "smoke
shop" at all. This is more of a deli, with newspapers, candy, soda, coffee
and a small, bad selection of wine. Their selection of "cigars" is strictly
the "drug store" variety: Garcia y Vega, White Owl, Swisher's etc.. All
in packages on an unhumidified shelf. They have no selection of premium
cigars at all. You are warned.. (Review by:
Shawn Evans)
Pipe Dreams : 1376 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA - "Head Shop"
Rialto Smoke Shop : 114 New
Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA
415-543-2613 --- Unfortunately, this is
not really a smoke shop - a big selection of magazines, a few cold
drinks, and an unhumidified shelf with a few boxes of drugstore cigars
behind the counter. Not a premium cigar in sight! (Review
by Rich Koch)
The Store on the Corner : 121 New Montgomery St.,
SF, CA
415-781-3348 --- This place
has a fair sized humidor right by the door - but it had no hygrometer and
didn't appear to be operational. Inside, there were two empty
cigar boxes - one Macanudo and one Partagas - they looked like they'd
been empty for quite some time along with a small selection of cheap drugstore
cigars gathering dust. Too bad, not a premium cigar to be found!
(Review by: Rich
Koch)
Underground Smoke Shop : 994 Market Street, SF, CA - "Head Shop"
Happy smoke trails,
- Mark Howard aka Cigarman@thePentagon.com