Travel to Germany and Greece

[bensava29]

Hello all-
 
The wife and I are traveling to Germany (Frankfurt, Munich and a few stops in between) and then Athens, Greece. Never been there and would love to stop in to a few great cigar stores/lounges. Would love to hear any suggestions and stops in those towns. Would sincerely appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

Mark
 
 
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[NickoBlanc]

I have literally just come back from Athens this evening! Miamis is absolutely fantastic if you're in the centre. Great selection and lovely, lovely people too! Highly recommended! There is an LCDH but it's quite a way out I believe.

In terms of lounges there is only one I could find in the Hotel Grand Bretagne.

[bensava29]

I have literally just come back from Athens this evening! Miamis is absolutely fantastic if you're in the centre. Great selection and lovely, lovely people too! Highly recommended! There is an LCDH but it's quite a way out I believe.
In terms of lounges there is only one I could find in the Hotel Grand Bretagne.

Brilliant mate! Thank you!


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[NickoBlanc]

You're very welcome!!

[Grateful13]

There were several good shops in Munich when I visited a few years ago, all near the main center. The LCDH of course, plus Max Zechbauer and Pfeifen Huber.  Smoking is or was banned indoors in Bavaria so you typically couldn’t smoke in any.  But all had wide selection and fair prices. 

[Nino]

I can only comment on Frankfurt :

The former LCDH has been converted into "Vabajo" cigar lounge, it is centrally located near the old Opera house. I was not impressed on my visit there a few years ago but it might have changed :

https://www.vabajo.com/

The best cigar lounge in Germany is located at the Hotel Frankfurter Hof, also centrally located : Cigarrum :But it seems to be open only on request :

 

Here is a link to Hotels that have cigar lounges in Germany :

http://www.zigarrenreisen.de/hotels-mit-zigarren-lounges.html

Here is a list of cigar smoking places in Frankfurt :

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=cigar+lounge&find_loc=Frankfurt%2C+Hessen

And another list of smoking places for Frankfurt :

https://www.falstaff.at/rf/lb/csoi/deutschland/hessen/frankfurt-am-main/zigarrenrauchen-erlaubt/

And this is where I take my foreign friends to eat typical Frankfurt food and where you can smoke a cigar as it is open air (covered)

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/from-big-to-small-the-annual-pharmacy-cigar-reunion-2021/

Gemaltes Haus :

http://www.zumgemaltenhaus.de/

Wagner :

https://www.apfelwein-wagner.com/en/

Both places are basically next to each other in Sachsenhausen, a short walk across the Main river from downtown Frankfurt and offer excellent homemade food and homemade cider - Highly recommended !

Across from the Frankfurt Stock exchange ( Börse ) is a Davidoff cigar store which is quite good and another good cigar store is located in the pedestrian area of the "Fressgass" nearby.

 

 

 

 

[bensava29]

There were several good shops in Munich when I visited a few years ago, all near the main center. The LCDH of course, plus Max Zechbauer and Pfeifen Huber.  Smoking is or was banned indoors in Bavaria so you typically couldn’t smoke in any.  But all had wide selection and fair prices. 

Appreciate your time! Unfortunate that it’s banned indoors.


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[bensava29]

I can only comment on Frankfurt :
The former LCDH has been converted into "Vabajo" cigar lounge, it is centrally located near the old Opera house. I was not impressed on my visit there a few years ago but it might have changed :
https://www.vabajo.com/
The best cigar lounge in Germany is located at the Hotel Frankfurter Hof, also centrally located : Cigarrum :But it seems to be open only on request :

 

Here is a link to Hotels that have cigar lounges in Germany :
http://www.zigarrenreisen.de/hotels-mit-zigarren-lounges.html
Here is a list of cigar smoking places in Frankfurt :
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=cigar+lounge&find_loc=Frankfurt%2C+Hessen
And another list of smoking places for Frankfurt :
https://www.falstaff.at/rf/lb/csoi/deutschland/hessen/frankfurt-am-main/zigarrenrauchen-erlaubt/
And this is where I take my foreign friends to eat typical Frankfurt food and where you can smoke a cigar as it is open air (covered)
http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/from-big-to-small-the-annual-pharmacy-cigar-reunion-2021/
Gemaltes Haus :
http://www.zumgemaltenhaus.de/
Wagner :
https://www.apfelwein-wagner.com/en/
Both places are basically next to each other in Sachsenhausen, a short walk across the Main river from downtown Frankfurt and offer excellent homemade food and homemade cider - Highly recommended !
Across from the Frankfurt Stock exchange ( Börse ) is a Davidoff cigar store which is quite good and another good cigar store is located in the pedestrian area of the "Fressgass" nearby.
 
 

 

 

Excellent suggestions! Thank you very much!


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[oneizzzz]

I'm in Athens right now and I've been shopping!! 

I've gone to Miamis, The Cigar, Habanero Salon de Tabaco, and the LCDH in Kifisia.  I think there may be 2-3 other shops in town worth checking out too, but I haven't been to them yet.

Miamis had a very bountiful stock - definitely worth going - but the guys weren't very friendly to me.  I was in towards the end of the day though.

Habenero didn't have much, but it's in a cool part of town with some fun late night bars.

The LCDH is well stocked.  Tons of La Trova.  I picked up a gorgeous box each of Especial, La Trova, and Short de Punch.  All from 2020.  It's out of the way, but worth going.  Take the green line all the way to Kifisia and then it's a pleasant walk.  Kifisia is a nice neighborhood and it was a fun trip.  Walk on the sidestreets as they're more beautiful.  I noticed 50 cabs of party shorts there from 2015.  Didn't pick up a box as I'm basically out if money!!!! Lol.  The guy who works there was nice and helped me pick out some great boxes.  Just learn the Greek for please and thank you!

I'd highly recommend The Cigar!!!  It was my favorite shop by far.  The humidor is smaller, but they have a good stock upstairs and I loved chatting with guys there.  They're friendly, young, and enthusiastic.  They were happy to pull out boxes from their stock, open them, and help me choose.  I snagged a beautiful box of BBF and Topes there - both from 2020.

Good luck!!! I've been amazed by how much stock there is here.  I didn't expect Athens to have much stock, since it is a relatively poor city.  According to the guys at The Cigar, Greece has been hit last my many collectors who travel through Europe, perhaps because it doesn't have a wealthy reputation.  I'm not sure.  Others probably know more about this.

Crazy story:  I asked the guys at The Cigar if they had Fundadores or Especial.  They said they had some Fundies from 2007 and some Especial from 2004 a month ago until someone came in and bought them.  Here's the crazy part though: apparently in Greece the government won't allow shops to increase the price of tobacco.  So instead of paying the market price for 14/17 year old Fundadores or Especial, the buyer got them for the 2007/2004 prices.  Probably a few hundred euro.  Lucky!!! Crazy....

 

[Bijan]

Thanks to @bensava29 for the original post and @oneizzzz for the follow up response. I'm in Athens now but can't work in a visit to the LCDH even though it's relatively close to the people I'm visiting. I'm staying pretty close to the Agora and didn't realize there are decent shops within walking distance. I'll probably hit up el habanero and Miami's tomorrow and maybe the cigar too if I wake up early enough and feel up to it.

 

[Nino]

22 minutes ago, oneizzzz said:

Crazy story:  I asked the guys at The Cigar if they had Fundadores or Especial.  They said they had some Fundies from 2007 and some Especial from 2004 a month ago until someone came in and bought them.  Here's the crazy part though: apparently in Greece the government won't allow shops to increase the price of tobacco.  So instead of paying the market price for 14/17 year old Fundadores or Especial, the buyer got them for the 2007/2004 prices.  Probably a few hundred euro.  Lucky!!! Crazy....

Not crazy at all ... many countries do this. Germany has the same system - once a price has been established on the tax seal that is the official price even in 10 or 20 years time. I find it sensible and am happy about it.

[bensava29]

I'm in Athens right now and I've been shopping!! 
I've gone to Miamis, The Cigar, Habanero Salon de Tabaco, and the LCDH in Kifisia.  I think there may be 2-3 other shops in town worth checking out too, but I haven't been to them yet.
Miamis had a very bountiful stock - definitely worth going - but the guys weren't very friendly to me.  I was in towards the end of the day though.
Habenero didn't have much, but it's in a cool part of town with some fun late night bars.
The LCDH is well stocked.  Tons of La Trova.  I picked up a gorgeous box each of Especial, La Trova, and Short de Punch.  All from 2020.  It's out of the way, but worth going.  Take the green line all the way to Kifisia and then it's a pleasant walk.  Kifisia is a nice neighborhood and it was a fun trip.  Walk on the sidestreets as they're more beautiful.  I noticed 50 cabs of party shorts there from 2015.  Didn't pick up a box as I'm basically out if money!!!! Lol.  The guy who works there was nice and helped me pick out some great boxes.  Just learn the Greek for please and thank you!
I'd highly recommend The Cigar!!!  It was my favorite shop by far.  The humidor is smaller, but they have a good stock upstairs and I loved chatting with guys there.  They're friendly, young, and enthusiastic.  They were happy to pull out boxes from their stock, open them, and help me choose.  I snagged a beautiful box of BBF and Topes there - both from 2020.
Good luck!!! I've been amazed by how much stock there is here.  I didn't expect Athens to have much stock, since it is a relatively poor city.  According to the guys at The Cigar, Greece has been hit last my many collectors who travel through Europe, perhaps because it doesn't have a wealthy reputation.  I'm not sure.  Others probably know more about this.
Crazy story:  I asked the guys at The Cigar if they had Fundadores or Especial.  They said they had some Fundies from 2007 and some Especial from 2004 a month ago until someone came in and bought them.  Here's the crazy part though: apparently in Greece the government won't allow shops to increase the price of tobacco.  So instead of paying the market price for 14/17 year old Fundadores or Especial, the buyer got them for the 2007/2004 prices.  Probably a few hundred euro.  Lucky!!! Crazy....
 

Thank you Sir! Great info!


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[NickoBlanc]

6 hours ago, oneizzzz said:

I'm in Athens right now and I've been shopping!! 

I've gone to Miamis, The Cigar, Habanero Salon de Tabaco, and the LCDH in Kifisia.  I think there may be 2-3 other shops in town worth checking out too, but I haven't been to them yet.

Miamis had a very bountiful stock - definitely worth going - but the guys weren't very friendly to me.  I was in towards the end of the day though.

Habenero didn't have much, but it's in a cool part of town with some fun late night bars.

The LCDH is well stocked.  Tons of La Trova.  I picked up a gorgeous box each of Especial, La Trova, and Short de Punch.  All from 2020.  It's out of the way, but worth going.  Take the green line all the way to Kifisia and then it's a pleasant walk.  Kifisia is a nice neighborhood and it was a fun trip.  Walk on the sidestreets as they're more beautiful.  I noticed 50 cabs of party shorts there from 2015.  Didn't pick up a box as I'm basically out if money!!!! Lol.  The guy who works there was nice and helped me pick out some great boxes.  Just learn the Greek for please and thank you!

I'd highly recommend The Cigar!!!  It was my favorite shop by far.  The humidor is smaller, but they have a good stock upstairs and I loved chatting with guys there.  They're friendly, young, and enthusiastic.  They were happy to pull out boxes from their stock, open them, and help me choose.  I snagged a beautiful box of BBF and Topes there - both from 2020.

Good luck!!! I've been amazed by how much stock there is here.  I didn't expect Athens to have much stock, since it is a relatively poor city.  According to the guys at The Cigar, Greece has been hit last my many collectors who travel through Europe, perhaps because it doesn't have a wealthy reputation.  I'm not sure.  Others probably know more about this.

Crazy story:  I asked the guys at The Cigar if they had Fundadores or Especial.  They said they had some Fundies from 2007 and some Especial from 2004 a month ago until someone came in and bought them.  Here's the crazy part though: apparently in Greece the government won't allow shops to increase the price of tobacco.  So instead of paying the market price for 14/17 year old Fundadores or Especial, the buyer got them for the 2007/2004 prices.  Probably a few hundred euro.  Lucky!!! Crazy....

 

Don't suppose you were the guy that went in around 8pm last Thursday??! There was a guy in there when I went in the first time that looked kinda like you! 

[Bijan]

Went to habanero, the cigar and Miamis. All were nice and friendly. Habaneros mainly sold singles not sure they had boxes. The cigar had the humidor on the second floor and I don't know if you can go up and take a look. Miami's has a walk in where you can see and look through a lot of the boxes. I was looking for a specific code and they looked through a bunch of boxes for me, even peeling off the health warnings with a box cutter to help check underneath. Probably going back tomorrow to grab a couple of boxes. They also had the 2015 party short 50 cabs, at least 3 of them.

I visited the cigar and Miamis first thing in the morning and I think Miami's was already starting to be busy. I visited habanero late at night they were supposed to close at 10:30 but I went at either 11 or 11:30pm and they were still open. They're close to a shisha bar too (the only one I've noticed so far).

[Ardan]

The LCDH is in N.Erithrea which is actually a bit further than Kifisia.  Yes out of the way but worth it in my opinion.  This is their website Casa del Habanos.  Other stores carry Cubans as other posters have noted, but this is the only authorized Habanos store in all of Greece.  I have not been there in 3  years or so but since then they have also opened a lounge on premise.  There selection is usually good although not sure how it is now given the supply chain issues.  Prices, much higher than what you can get here at FoH but in line with other places in Europe primarily because of the taxes imposed on these types of products.  The owner is the real gem, very knowledgeable about the cigars he caries and will give you good advice on what to get based on event type, drink and food pairing.  When I first started getting into cigars this is where I would get everything from.  I still remember being there around the time when the first Montecristo Open had come out.  I knew nothing about cigars at that time really but he was going through taste notes and that I should rest them for at least 6 months before I smoked them.  I was annoyed because I wanted to smoke it right away   You can also always try your chances with various kiosks in Athens.  Some of them are known to have good selections but I am always suspicious of sourcing and how they are kept.  In fact my first cuban, a La Flor De Cano was such a buy.  I was so impressed with that smoke at the time that I have been a fan of that brand ever since.  

[Bijan]

8 hours ago, Ardan said:

Other stores carry Cubans as other posters have noted, but this is the only authorized Habanos store in all of Greece.

Here is a list of stores from the Greek distributor or sub distributor:

https://www.pfh.gr/en/sale-points

Seems Miamis is a habanos specialist store.

 

I ended up getting Siglo V and Sir Winstons from Miamis. Taxes were what they are but I've been looking for both of those for a while.

[bensava29]

3 hours ago, Bijan said:

Here is a list of stores from the Greek distributor or sub distributor:
https://www.pfh.gr/en/sale-points
Seems Miamis is a habanos specialist store.
 
I ended up getting Siglo V and Sir Winstons from Miamis. Taxes were what they are but I've been looking for both of those for a while.

Thank you!

9 hours ago, Ardan said:

The LCDH is in N.Erithrea which is actually a bit further than Kifisia.  Yes out of the way but worth it in my opinion.  This is their website Casa del Habanos.  Other stores carry Cubans as other posters have noted, but this is the only authorized Habanos store in all of Greece.  I have not been there in 3  years or so but since then they have also opened a lounge on premise.  There selection is usually good although not sure how it is now given the supply chain issues.  Prices, much higher than what you can get here at FoH but in line with other places in Europe primarily because of the taxes imposed on these types of products.  The owner is the real gem, very knowledgeable about the cigars he caries and will give you good advice on what to get based on event type, drink and food pairing.  When I first started getting into cigars this is where I would get everything from.  I still remember being there around the time when the first Montecristo Open had come out.  I knew nothing about cigars at that time really but he was going through taste notes and that I should rest them for at least 6 months before I smoked them.  I was annoyed because I wanted to smoke it right away   You can also always try your chances with various kiosks in Athens.  Some of them are known to have good selections but I am always suspicious of sourcing and how they are kept.  In fact my first cuban, a La Flor De Cano was such a buy.  I was so impressed with that smoke at the time that I have been a fan of that brand ever since.  

Thank you!

11 hours ago, Bijan said:

Went to habanero, the cigar and Miamis. All were nice and friendly. Habaneros mainly sold singles not sure they had boxes. The cigar had the humidor on the second floor and I don't know if you can go up and take a look. Miami's has a walk in where you can see and look through a lot of the boxes. I was looking for a specific code and they looked through a bunch of boxes for me, even peeling off the health warnings with a box cutter to help check underneath. Probably going back tomorrow to grab a couple of boxes. They also had the 2015 party short 50 cabs, at least 3 of them.
I visited the cigar and Miamis first thing in the morning and I think Miami's was already starting to be busy. I visited habanero late at night they were supposed to close at 10:30 but I went at either 11 or 11:30pm and they were still open. They're close to a shisha bar too (the only one I've noticed so far).

Thank you!

[oneizzzz]

On 9/29/2021 at 3:21 AM, NickoBlanc said:

Don't suppose you were the guy that went in around 8pm last Thursday??! There was a guy in there when I went in the first time that looked kinda like you! 

Don't think so! But cool that so many foh members are in Athens.  We're everywhere.......

[oneizzzz]

Update:  Rizos is worth going to as well. Similar to The Cigar.  Small shop with great stock, very friendly/helpful.

Skip the Cigar Store Athens-Sikar.