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Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge – Paramus, NJ

December 17, 2023 Accessories

8 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles (or Cigars) yet?!?

Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar (Paramus) is located at 184 NJ-17 North, Paramus, NJ 07652. Montecristo has 23 locations across America and there are two in New Jersey and one in NYC.

If you are coming from NYC (driving) it would be a royal pain in the ass to get there. However, since there are less and less cigar lounges to smoke, drink, and watch tv in NYC these days it might be worth the trip if you have friends in NJ.

There is a front and back entrance to the building. The front door takes you directly into the lounge and bar area. The back door, where there is extra parking, takes you into the massive walk around humidor. The selection in the humidor is vast and the prices seem very fair to me. The staff is very nice, friendly, helpful, and not pushy.

The bar/lounge area in a good size and is clean and well maintained. There is full liquor and beer available, but no food from what I saw. The lounge is a little on the darker side which is good for the tv’s. The smoke eaters and ventilation work well and it is not too smokey when busy and there is no outdoor seating. There was signage for upcoming events such as whisky and cigar nights. I would image during football season this place gets busy on a cold and rainy day.

My only criticism is the majority of the seating is high-tops table with tall chairs. That is not comfortable sitting and smoking for a few hours. It appears from photos online they used to have leather chairs and coffee table but have revised the layout probably to maximize seating for customers.

Nice place to have a cigar and drink if it is convenient for you to get to. I recommend it.

If you like it, drink it (or smoke it)! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary: Manners & Deportment in a Cigar Lounge

April 26, 2023 Accessories

Opinions Vary: Manners & Deportment in a Cigar Lounge

There are unwritten rules in this world that some people know by nature and common sense. There are others rule that need to be stated and taught. Many years ago, I was living in South Florida and I was a member of a cigar lounge and I learned the rules over time so I wanted to share them with you. One of the rules I learned in the bathroom where a sign stated: “Don’t talk about yourself. We will do that when you leave.”

That a good life rule for anyone in a social situation.

If you have not been in a cigar lounge, or you go occasionally, these are the rules you should follow:

Be nice.
Don’t talk about yourself unless asked. You are a stranger or a new guy and the regulars don’t give a shit about you.
Ask if the seat is available before you sit. Don’t just plop your ass down like you are owed a seat because you bought a cigar.
Take note of the pecking order. Don’t sit with regulars until invited or offered.
If you want to start a conversation, ask the person what they are smoking and what they think of it. Don’t ask “what do you do”, it’s not a date.
Don’t ask for the tv to be changed unless you are a regular. It’s a dick move. Watch what everyone is watching.
Don’t name drop or brag. It is fucking pathetic, and it immediately lets people know you are full of shit.
Don’t break balls unless you know the person well.
Dress somewhat nicely. It’s not a construction site or your home.
Bring your own booze if allowed. Offer it to the regulars to speed up the process of becoming a regular.
Don’t talk about politics, religion or sex. Of course, you always end of up talking about it, so keep it light.
If you are allowed to carry a weapon, unload it BEFORE putting it on the coffee table.
If it is Members Only Lounge, ask if there is a purchase price to go in. Most lounges will let you in for a cigar if you spend $25 or more on cigars.
Have somewhere else to go afterwards. Don’t make the lounge your second home. Get in, relax, get out.

Everyone and every lounge is different. But good manners and deportment cost nothing!

If you like it, drink it (or smoke it!) – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Davidoff of Geneva – Downtown NYC

April 20, 2023 Accessories

UPDATE: Lounge is now private. You need to be a member to enter. Hudson River has a nice view and benches, smoke there!

Davidoff of Geneva (Downtown) is a cigar store and lounge located at 225 Liberty Street (Brookfield Place) which is considered the “Downtown” area New York City. Davidoff is a Swiss premium brand of cigars, cigarettes and smoker’s accessories. It was founded in 1936 by Zino Davidoff who ran a tobacco specialist shop in Geneva, Switzerland.

The the store is small and the humidor is a walk in type and has nice selection of quality cigars and a large selection of Davidoff cigars. I am not certain if they carry the entire line of Davidoff’s, but at the prices that are listed, it appears they carry the good ones. The store sells high end accessories such as lighters, cutters, and humidors and the staff is very professional and knowledgable.

Store & Humidor

The lounge is small and caters mainly to the financial people that work downtown. Each time I have visited the lounge after work the televisions have the financial news running and most visitors keep to themselves or their phones and tablets. The smoke eaters are good and I have not suffered any red eyes or headaches when enjoying a stick. The bathroom is in the hallway directly across from the store front in Brookfield Place so it a very short walk if nature calls. I do not know the rules on drinking in the lounge, however, I have seen people having a water of coffee on occasions. The lounge is not a loud, backslapping, shit talking, leaving drinking type of spot. It has a more subdued vibe, however, I only go afterwork from 4pm-6pm. I am not sure how it is on the weekend or during football season.

Davidoff NYC has three locations in New York. They are on Madison Avenue, 6^th Avenue, and Downtown. I have only been to the downtown location as it is near my office. Downtown had an advantage over the others being located in Brookfield Place on Hudson River you can opt to smoke outside on a bench by the river if the weather is nice.

Prices range from $8 to $40+ per single cigar and higher for boxes/accessories. It’s my regular spot to buy and smoke cigars in NYC.

If you like it, drink it (or smoke it)! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge – Paramus, NJ

Opinions Vary: Manners & Deportment in a Cigar Lounge

Davidoff of Geneva – Downtown NYC

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