The Bar Scene - New York City

[JohnS]

The Bar Scene

The cigar bars of Manhattan are the most comfortable places in the big city to enjoy your cigars in style

 By CA Editors - From The Cigar Lover's Guide To New York, September/October 2025 

Scott Asbury welcomes a guest to New York City’s Carnegie Club with a Martini and a light for his cigar.

You can light a cigar in many places—a cigar shop, on the golf course, perhaps even your home—but it’s difficult to match the immersive cigar experience found in a cigar bar. A great one will provide not only fine cigars, but an atmosphere conducive to relaxation. Members’ lockers that allow you to store your own stash are welcome amenities. As the name implies, there must be drinks, ideally a selection of cocktails, whiskies and other spirits, wines and perhaps some rarities (a Scotch that counts its age by the decade, the elusive Pappy Van Winkle, the vaunted Yamazaki 18) for the occasional indulgence. New York has some stunning examples, oases that welcome your cigar with open arms, while serving you in style.

If you bring your own cigar (we often do) don’t be put off by the cutting fee—it’s a necessity in this city, which has stringent anti-smoking laws. One of the qualifications for a smoking license is that a certain amount of an establishment’s revenue come from tobacco-related sales. This includes cigar sales proper, locker rentals and the fees charged to those who bring in cigars from outside. They all help to keep these precious resources alive. The existing cigar bars are not allowed to expand, and new ones cannot open thanks to that law. Manhattan has four cigar bars, all of them open to the public. Each is a wonderful spot to linger, smoke and drink—and, in some cases, to enjoy a full meal.

A classic horseshoe bar as well as meals await patrons of Club Macanudo. Don’t let the name fool you, the long-standing cigar bar is open to all. 

Club Macanudo

Everybody’s version of New York eventually vanishes, no matter what era you lived in. That’s the sad, beautiful truth of a city that’s always reinventing itself. Sometimes, we search for remnants of the New York we once knew. This is especially true for cigar smokers, and Club Macanudo may be just the type of time porthole we’re all looking to pass through.

Opened by General Cigar Co. in 1996, Club Macanudo is a remnant of the cigar boom of the ’90s and has changed very little since. The mural in the back showing history’s most prolific cigar luminaries is still on display. The horseshoe bar still cradles three glowing tiers of top-shelf spirits. You can still order an entire meal and smoke cigars before, during and after it’s served. And the ambience, with its leather chairs and dark wood surfaces, is every bit as warm and transporting as it was on opening day.

Despite the name, it’s not a private club, but it certainly looks the part and there is indeed a dress code. While it isn’t quite as strict and buttoned up as it used to be, management still requests “business casual” attire and forbids shorts or flip-flops. You can join a program that gives you access to members-only events, but enrollment is not necessary to walk through the doors. Lockers are also available for $2,500 per year.

As you might suspect, the cigar list is heavy on brands from General, with a special focus on Macanudo and its myriad varieties, including a collection of Macanudo Vintage series cigars, which feature tobacco from banner crop years. Full lines of Punch, Cohiba, CAO, Partagas and La Gloria Cubana are also available, along with plenty of third-party selections such as Padrón, Fuente, Oliva, Plasencia and Rocky Patel, among others.

A place in New York City that allows smoking is rare enough. A place that lets you puff a cigar and eat a full meal while you’re doing it is truly a throwback. What used to be mainstay is now privilege, and Club Macanudo is one of the last places that have preserved this mostly lost accommodation. We’re not referring only to finger foods and light snacks; Club Mac’s menu offers the full range of reliable club food standards: appetizers, salads, soups of the day and entrées that include grilled steaks, roasted chicken, blackened tuna and salmon with polenta.

The spirits list is extensive and the bartenders are adept at classic cocktails, as well as their many signature drinks. First service starts at 4 p.m. and goes until midnight on Monday; 1 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday. (It is closed on Sunday.) You can start your evening at the bar, progress into the dining room and continue the night in the lounge, smoking the entire time—just like the old days. 

— Gregory Mottola

Club Macanudo

26 East 63rd St. (between Madison Ave. and Park Ave.)

(212) 752-7770

 

Owner Lee Ringelheim drew inspiration from the storied Rainbow Room in midtown for Soho Cigar Bar downtown.

 

Soho Cigar Bar

With a décor that could coexist in a 1930s movie, Soho Cigar Bar is the sort of space that makes you want to put down your Tommy gun and do the jitterbug—or, better yet, light a cigar. And it’s no coincidence. Owner Lee Ringelheim drew inspiration from the famed Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center for Soho’s art deco elements.

Located in a trendy area replete with art galleries, late-night hotspots and fashionable boutiques, the patronage at Soho is a bit more varied than one would expect at a cigar bar. “We have a little bit of a younger vibe, more chill,” says Ringelheim. “Thirty percent of our clientele are women.”

The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Soho’s large windows allow in plenty of natural light during the day and small electric candles on the tables emit a soft glow in the evening. If you come alone, but don’t wish to smoke by yourself, you can chat with patrons and the staff at the bar. If part of a group, you might choose a table or leather-upholstered booth. Pictures of The Rat Pack hang prominently on the walls, but serve as more than just decoration: they slide away to reveal flatscreen TVs that allow patrons to watch the game with their favorite smoke.

On each table is a metal-jacketed menu the size of a small hardcover and, like any good book, it is worth perusing. Inside is everything you need from cocktails to mocktails to an extensive list of spirits and flights, and, of course, cigar pairings. The whisky selection is itself particularly impressive, ranging from single-malt Scotches to Japanese and high-end American options. In addition to Soho’s house cigars, such makers as Altadis, Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, General Cigar and My Father are on the menu as well as a selection of aged Padróns that range from four to 10 years. The cigars are either categorized by strength or have a short description to help make an informed selection.

Soho opened in 1998, when it was known as Circa Tabac. Newcomers can opt for what is known as “Bartender’s Choice.” The knowledgeable and helpful staff choose from a rotating list for a personalized cigar and drink pairing. Do you want a cigar that is light and sweet or something rich and savory? A mixed drink or straight? Roll the dice and try something new.

For those in need of some sustenance, Soho offers small-plate appetizers, flatbread pizzas and desserts, which are all reasonably priced—$20 and under. If you choose to smoke a cigar from outside, Soho charges a $15 cutting fee, however it is waived if you spend $30 or more—easily done if you want to grab a couple of the cocktails or small bites.

Soho keeps late hours, so that Churchill you lit at 10 p.m. won’t have to go to waste. Doors open at 5 p.m. every day, with closings at 1 a.m. on Sunday, 2 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.

— Thomas Pappalardo

Soho Cigar Bar

32 Watts St. (between Sixth Ave. and Thompson St.)

(212) 941-1781 

New York’s oldest cigar bar is decked out like a library in a mansion, but don’t fret: there’ll be no test.

 

Hudson Bar & Books

The City That Never Sleeps also never stops evolving, often mercilessly making way for new generations. Cigar bars in New York City, especially in this restrictive climate, have not been spared from the unrelenting momentum of change. But there is one spot, located near the Meatpacking District in New York’s famed West Village, that has resolutely remained Old New York. Hudson Bar & Books, established in 1991, is the city’s oldest cigar bar and its most tenacious protector of cigar culture.

There once were two more Bar & Books in New York City, but only Hudson, the first location, has survived here. The owner, Raju S. Mirchandani, also has active Bar & Books locations overseas in Prague and Warsaw.

The original cracked, mosaic floors are no more, but little else has changed since its opening. The interior has aged like a fine, vintage cigar, with a tin-stamped ceiling, dim lights and chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling bookcases and walls adorned with monkey-print wallpaper and eclectic artwork. Nowadays, it’s a place where time simply stops, leaving you, your cigar and a jazzy, anachronistic atmosphere.

A handful of tables out front serves those who crave fresh air and space. Inside, the Old New York spirit is alive and well, with intimate table settings and little elbow room. Most smokers sit at the grand, copper-topped bar. Towards the back, you’ll find the most sought-after space, an elevated surface, guarded by wooden railings, with a comfortable U-shaped couch. Between the bar and this back area, a small opening leads to more seating and a gorgeous piano. A couple of TVs are nestled throughout Hudson, but a visit here is best left to conversation or contemplation.

The cigar menu is decent, although not extensive. It’s anchored by big brands, mostly non-Cubans that share the names of popular Cuban lines, such as Partagas, Montecristo, Hoyo de Monterrey and Punch. The Rocky Patel Grand Reserve Sixty notably stands out. Each smoke is priced at about double its typical retail value. If you visit often or plan on having multiple cigars, bring your own smoke and pay the $12 cutting fee. You can forgo the fee by becoming a member, but availability is limited. For specifics, you’ll have to inquire in person.

The bartenders are experienced and talented, making innovative cocktails that are worth exploring. The spirits selection, particularly Scotch whisky, is also quite impressive. Small plates are available, but you’re better off grabbing a bite in the neighborhood, with its world-class restaurants on virtually every block.

It’s wise to make a reservation if you’re visiting during prime evening hours. Otherwise, walk-ins are available, especially single parties. Expect a diverse crowd of frequent regulars, cigar-loving tourists and even novice smokers. Like a true New York establishment, Hudson comes alive late at night. It opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and closes at 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday, it opens at 3 p.m., with a closing time of 3 a.m. for the first two weekend days compared with 2 a.m. for Sunday.

— Garrett Rutledge

Hudson Bar & Books

636 Hudson St. (off Horatio St.)

(212) 229-2642

The Carnegie Club

The measure of a good cigar bar is that magical combination of space and service. We want luxurious accommodations, but nothing so fussy that you worry about accidentally dropping your ash. The staff should be welcoming, accommodating and knowledgeable, and the cocktail and spirits game needs to be on point to pair with what you’re going to smoke. The Carnegie Club ticks all of these boxes and more.

Don’t let the word “club” in the name scare you. Carnegie is open to all, no membership required. However, when you reach its location on Manhattan’s west side, a few steps from Carnegie Hall, you will have to yank open the door. No, really pull on the damn thing, as the powerful ventilation system inside will fight you. You’ll be greeted by a room that’s comfortably dark, with the look of a library from 100 years ago. A haven for cigar lovers since February 1997, it’s lined with walls of books stacked in ornate cases. Leather chairs with brass rivets, 25-foot-tall ceilings and stately wallpaper give it the feel of an old mansion. Carnegie isn’t terribly large, but its layout makes it intriguing. There’s a mezzanine if you’re looking for privacy, larger couches for crowds, smaller seating areas if you’re here with just a buddy or perhaps your spouse and a glorious L-shaped bar if you’re in the mood to be social.

“This place means so much to so many people,” says general manager Scott Asbury, who started working here as a bartender in 2008. “We have so many regulars. It’s special.”

The cigar menu has a number of good choices: several Padróns, Olivas, cigars from the Davidoff and General Cigar families, Rocky Patel, My Father, Plasencia, Ferio Tego and La Palina. There is also a house cigar rolled by Oliva. If you bring your own (and are not a locker member) you will need to pay a modest $15 cutting fee. Lockers go for $1,000 to $1,500 per year, depending on size, but all are currently spoken for.

The cocktails are especially well done here with an inviting (and extensive) whisky list, including rarities from Kentucky and Japan. There have always been light bites, but now you can also order a complete dinner from the Greek restaurant next door.

As it can get busy here, reservations help. They are a must if you wish to go on Saturday nights, when Carnegie is transformed into a Las Vegas nightclub with a hit Sinatra show (see page 48) that’s been drawing in crowds for more than 20 years. Sundays and Mondays tend to be the quietest days of the week. Doors open at 2 p.m. every day, with closings at midnight on Sunday and Monday, 1 a.m. on Tuesday through Thursday and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

— David Savona

The Carnegie Club

156 West 56th St. (between Sixth Ave. and Seventh Ave.)

(212) 957-9676

Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/the-bar-scene

[SigmundChurchill]

All 4 are great in their own way.

[Cestis4]

Millions of people live there yet only four cigar bars...incredible and terrible at the same time. Don’t forget you can smoke on the roof of the Peninsula hotel at their bar.

[BrightonCorgi]

I've had some great times at The Carnegie Club.