Chicago Cigar Lounges

[riderpride]

Howdy all.

Some friends and I will be in Chicago from Sept 9th-15th for a conference.  Does anyone know of a good smoking lounge available to non-members? Biggs would be amazing, but the retail lounge likely won't make the cut. 

All options and opinions welcome.

 

Cheers!

[jakebarnes]

You can purchase a day pass for Biggs. It's like $100, but gives you access to the patio and indoor member areas. 

Iwan Ries is also quite good and less steep for a day pass. 

Would definitely love to grab a cigar with you when you're in town. Feel free to PM me. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Also +1 for Iwan Ries.  Also from industry friends they recommend CDM in Countryside, Jack Schwartz (Al's Italian Beef walking distance), Norwood Royal, and Byron lounge in Schaumberg. 

[BoliDan]

I always say I'll get to lounge on conferences but then getting anywhere is a huge pain since they usually get out during rush hour and I end up staying near the convention center. Looks like the closet are Windy City cigars and Iwan Ries. Iwan Ries seems to be a straight shot down the L. Assuming you're at McCormick Place.

[dangarneau]

1 hour ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Also +1 for Iwan Ries.  Also from industry friends they recommend CDM in Countryside, Jack Schwartz (Al's Italian Beef walking distance), Norwood Royal, and Byron lounge in Schaumberg. 

+2 for Iwan Ries. They are an institution. I got my first pipe there when I was 19 and going to UIC...right on Wabash, easy to get to as well.

[hangten]

Iwan Ries and Jack Schwartz if you are downtown.  If you are at the Rosemont Convention Center - I wholly recommend a trip to the Rocky Patel Lounge on Harlem Ave.  RPL is where I go mainly for brick and mortar purchases and I work right next to Jack Schwartz.  I do like the chaps in JS though so I try to pick something up there every other week.

They have some very rare Fuente cigars at the RPL though at a premium.  So if you don't mind spending $90 for a Scorpio or 20th anniversary.  But they do sell openly some Anejo, Opus, Casa Fuente, Hemmingway Maduro and some other hard to find albeit again with a premium.  Also be prepared for the 37% tobacco tax though.

Up Down Tobacco is great in Old Town and if you end up in Skokie - Big Mike's

[riderpride]

On 9/5/2023 at 10:22 AM, jakebarnes said:

You can purchase a day pass for Biggs. It's like $100, but gives you access to the patio and indoor member areas. 

Iwan Ries is also quite good and less steep for a day pass. 

Would definitely love to grab a cigar with you when you're in town. Feel free to PM me. 

Much appreciated! Didn't know about the day fee, so that makes it a little more appealing. Is it full-access?

I'll pm you if/when i convince the peeps.

 

Cheers

[jakebarnes]

51 minutes ago, riderpride said:

Much appreciated! Didn't know about the day fee, so that makes it a little more appealing. Is it full-access?

I'll pm you if/when i convince the peeps.

 

Cheers

Yep! You can use all the areas and patio. It's byob as well. PM me if you need more details and I can give you a rundown.