| PRO-CIGAR ESTABLISHMENTS |
| EAST BAY CIGAR FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS |
Faultline Brewing Company : 1536 Cypress Street (@ Locust), Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-938-BREW -- Hours: ? --They
have a retail cigar menu. -
Cigar smoking is allowed on the heated outdoor patio only. Opened December 1996, features a varied California Cuisine, meals are a bit pricey (from $12-$25./entree) but very good. They feature a limited, but decent cigar selection (Super-premiums such as Dunhill, AVO, Padron at double+ retail prices). I suggest you bring your own cigars. Cigar smoking is allowed in the heated outdoor patio area only. A carbon copy of the Sunnyvale Location (below).. coming soon to the SF Marina District!
Hooligans Alehouse & Grill : 7294 San Ramon Road (@ Amador Valley Blvd.), Dublin, CA
925-827-9071 -- Hours: ? -- They have a retail cigar menu. -Located directly west of (behind) Soccer World.
Cigar smoking is allowed on the unheated outdoor patio only - They have 5 outdoor tables that each seat 4 people. Their happy hour is from 5 to 7 pm on weekdays. $3.00 microbrew pints, 1/2 price appetizers. They have poor service but great beers and fantastic food. They have a cool (open to the public) motorcycle event there on the 1st Monday of each month at 7 pm. Door prizes, racing videos, etc..
O'Kane's Pub : Located in the
"Marketplace" Center (near the Library) off of Bollinger Canyon Road (east of Hwy 680), San Ramon, CA {MAP}
510-830-1800
This pub is great. Large bar, extensive arcade area.
Reasonably priced food. It has a separate, large, comfortably furnished
cigar lounge. Their smoking room includes a big screen TV, and food service
(reservations required for large groups only). But, make sure you bring
your own stogies, unless you want to pay one and a half to two times retail
prices. And forget about trying to squeeze in during Monday Night Football!
(Review by jharding@pacbell.net)
Editor's Note: They do stock 20 to 25 overpriced
premium cigars in their retail humidor.. including Fuente Reserva #3 @
$25.00, Don Thomas Int'l #1 @ $9.00, Thomas Hinds Green Label Torpedo @
$12.00.. just to give you an idea why you might want to bring your own
sticks (or pick some up at Danville Cigars
beforehand)! They feature a Tuesday Night
Special; 3 shots of premium single malt scotches and a Don Thomas cigar
for $15.00. They also have nightly happy hour specials (M-F, 4:30 to 6:30pm)
ranging from $1.00 peel & eat prawns to .50 cent roast beef sandwitches.
- Macanudo Portofino: $8.00 (ouch!), AF Curlyhead:
Do not stock.
| SF PENINSULA & SOUTH BAY CIGAR FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS |
Back Beat : 777 Lawrence Expressway (@ Homestead Rd.), Santa Clara, CA
Phone: ? --- Hours: Tues-Sun: 5pm-2am. Located in the Lucky's Shopping Center
(Just opened in October 1997) This is a dressy club with a wonderful smoking lounge ("The Jungle Room") that features two large cabinet humidors with a great selection of premium cigars at reasonable prices (for a dance club), a pool table, comfortable chairs and big screen TV (Memberships available with privileges, discounts and rental lockers). They usually have a live band on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and "Swing" music on Sunday nights. They offer a dinner buffet from 5-8 and serve meals and appetizer from 5 to midnight, daily. Be forewarned; Dress nicely (sport coats for men), no jeans, tees or shorts allowed.
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.
Barley & Hopps : 210 South B Street (@ 2nd), San Mateo, CA {MAP}
Bay Meadows Race Track : 2600
S. Delaware (@ Bayshore), San Mateo, CA {MAP}
650-574-7223 --- Seasonal horse races days and evenings,
call for schedule (starts again September 4th, 1998).
Aaaaand therrre OFF! There aren't many things you can do (with your clothes on) that are more enjoyable than going to the horse
races. And the only thing that can make that better is winning BIG and
having a good cigar to celebrate! Bay Meadows Race Track has a lot of outdoor
(sheltered and unsheltered) cigar friendly seating. Many of the grand stands are equipped
with propane heaters too! Day or night, this is a great place to enjoy
a cigar. They have a -VERY LIMITED- selection of sticks in the gift shop
near the northwest entrance doors. Mostly "off-brand" premiums from upstart
makers. You're best bet is to bring your own or stop off at Millbrae
Liquor Land, Humboldt Tobacco Co. or
the San Mateo Tinder Box store and find a better
selection at much better prices.. you'll thank me! And whatever you do,
don't bet the #5 horse in the 7th race.. a really unlucky combination!
:-(
Faultline Brewing Company :1235
Oakmead Pkwy. (off Lawrence Expy.), Sunnyvale, CA 94086
408-736-BREW -- Hours: ?
- Cigar smoking is allowed on the heated outdoor patio only -- They
have a retail cigar menu. -
"I had a very enjoyable time at "Faultline Brewery" on a recent Winter evening. The varied menu had a great deal to select from and the beer was excellent. They feature a limited, but decent cigar selection (Super-premiums such as Dunhill, AVO, Padron at double+ retail prices). I suggest you bring your own cigars. Cigar smoking is allowed in the heated outdoor patio area only. Meals are a bit pricey (from $12-$25./entree). A very enjoyable place!" (Review by: C.Jason Mancebo)
Havana Hideaway at The Studio : 3 1/2 N. Santa
Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030 {MAP}
408-399-1867 --- Lounge hours: 10am-10pm, Mon-Thur, 10am-12am Fri-Sat.
WARNING: Los Gatos has the most restrictive smoking
ordinances in the Bay Area! Isn't it ironic that a virtual "Cigar
Heaven" is located in the heart of "Anti-Smoking" Los Gatos?
-- Editor
"This is the best cigar experience I have ever had! There is an
indoor lounge for smoking with 1 couch and 3 big, cushy, chairs. They feature a wide selection of premium cigars in a 10' wide x 8' tall wall humidor. Prices are moderately high but you won't mind paying a bit extra for the atmosphere and ambiance. They have a TV, music and WebTV! They also have humidified rental lockers. For about $35 per month, you can rent a little storage space to keep your cigars, fine cognac or other "tools for relaxation". You just have to check this place out!" (Review
by: Matthew Stovall)
The Old Pro's : 2865 El Camino Real (between Page
Mill Rd. & Pepper Ave.), Palo Alto, CA {MAP}
Phone #: ? --- Open: 11am-midnight, daily.
"Located 1 block south of Page Mill/Oregon Expwy. Best to park on side streets of the El Camino. Cool sports bar with good food and large selection of beers on-tap and a decent wine list too. They don't currently sell cigars there, but might in the near future. They allow cigar smoking in the back room at all times. The smoking room has 6 tables and 3 big TV's. This place is loaded with cool sports memorabilia and has a really friendly staff. Check it out!" (Review by: Kurt
Liittschwager)
Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant : 1875 S. Bascom
Ave., Campbell, CA
Located in the Pruneridge Mall, near the theatre.
408-377-0707 --- Open for lunch and dinner daily.
This place is great.. great atmosphere, great food, great beers, and a fantastic cigar-friendly patio! They feature a small retail humidor near the entrance with a few off-brand (and over priced) sticks and a sign that states that cigar smoking is always welcome on the patio.. I suggest you bring your own cigars, or try the small men's store/barber
shop located about 50 feet from the restaurant entrance. They have a large double-wide cabinet humidor that appears to be well stocked (review and listing pending). This place is not to be missed! Try the "Fire Chief's Ale" and the Salmon Fish & Chips or a Monte Cristo sandwich! Mmmmmm...
A.P. Stumps Restaurant : 163 W. Santa Clara, San Jose, CA
408-292-9928 -- Hours: ?? -- They have a retail humidor on site.
You can e-mail them at dine@apstumps.com. They have a massive outdoor patio out back. One half covered, mostly heated. They feature a
good selection of cigars on premises. Ask for Manager Mark Shuler, a cigar lover, for seating.
(Info provided by S. Bown).
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.