Cigar lounge etiquette
The unwritten rules of a good cigar lounge, from where to put your ash to how to treat the regulars' chairs.
A cigar lounge runs on a simple idea: everyone came here to slow down. Most of the etiquette follows from that. None of it is complicated, and nobody expects a first-timer to know it all. Here’s what the regulars notice.
Buy from the house
A lounge is a shop first. The chairs, the ventilation and the humidor are paid for by the cigars sold across the counter. Most lounges either don’t allow outside cigars or charge a fee for them, so ask before you light one you brought from elsewhere. If you’re unsure, the easiest courtesy is to buy something while you’re here.
Mind the ash
- Use an ashtray, and keep one close. Ash on the leather chairs or the carpet is the fastest way to earn a look.
- Don’t flick your cigar like a cigarette. Roll or tap it gently against the edge of the ashtray when the ash is ready to drop.
Let your cigar die with dignity
When you’re finished, rest the cigar in the ashtray and let it go out on its own. Grinding it out makes a far worse smell for the people around you, and it’s the clearest sign of someone who doesn’t know cigars.
Respect the space
- Chairs: some regulars have a usual seat. If someone’s coat or drink is on a chair, it’s taken.
- Volume: conversation, laughter and the game on TV are all part of a good lounge. Speakerphone calls and videos at full volume are not.
- Phones: step outside for long calls.
Strike up a conversation
The best part of a lounge is the people. Asking someone what they’re smoking is almost always welcome, and you’ll get honest recommendations. Just read the room: if someone’s reading or working, let them be.
Offering and accepting cigars
Offering a cigar to someone you’ve been talking with is a generous gesture, and accepting one graciously is part of the culture. Cutting someone else’s cigar or lighting it for them is a courtesy, but ask first.
In The Paddock
Members’ rooms have a few extra expectations. Bring guests only as your membership allows, keep your locker tidy, and introduce your guests to the regulars. See The Paddock for membership details.
When in doubt
Ask the staff. They’ve seen every situation, and they’d rather you ask than guess.