I'm currently looking to compile a good list of cigar bars / cigar friendly locations around the Zurich area, mostly for the use of a group of cigar smokers from my office that head out into town together on a regular basis.
Please note - I know that there is a large anti smoking lobby on EF, I am not looking to cause trouble or get into discussion regarding smoking bans etc. If you are not a cigar smoker or have nothing of benefit to add, please save your comments for the appropriate threads.
So far I know of:
Davidoff ship - runs on a monthly basis and sails up and down the lake for a few hours serving a small selection of food and Davidoff cigars (Taking along your own cigars is fine). Runway 34 - Never been so I'm interested in comments. Davidoff Lounge in Dietikon - Again, ive never been so i'm interested in comments. Rex bar HardOne Bohemia
Thankfully the whole cigar-bar thing isn't much of an issue, yet. I am interested in checking out the Davidoff cruise ship , although I suspect it will be filled with, well, the type of people one sees on that kind of outing.
As for a place to smoke a cigar in the city, here is my personal, all too short list.
Rive Gauche : While this goes for just about any of the (sleazy) hotel bars in the city, you can certainly enjoy a cigar at the Baur au Lac house bar. The atmosphere is pretty typical and depending when you go (i.e. Saturday night) there may be a few too many, er, Ladies in attendance. Normally though it is a pretty typical 5 star hotel bar with a few decent tables, a nice bar menu and good cocktails.
Widder Bar : often good jazz, the best selection of Scotch available south of Edinburgh (if not Inverness), and a nice atmosphere to kick back and relax.
Dolder : I didn't have a cigar with me on my one and only trip here, but I imagine it would be a great place to light up. This coming week even.
Weisses Roessli : this isn't a bar, but is (as mentioned elsewhere) one of my favorite restaurants in Zurich. The owner has a nice selection of cigars in his humidor and has no problem with guests lighting up after dinner. The food and wine list are both exceptional, the music is a great combination of the best and worst from the last 50 years, and the art is museum quality.
I have been to the runway as we had a look at the venue for a corporate event. It is a "hangar-like" building with an old plane planted in the middle. The restaurant is on the floor around the plane, a bar is on the wing. The smokers lounge is actually the only thing IN the plane and looked very comfortable. I do not smoke myself, so I cannot comment on the selection they had, but the place itself is worth to have a look at...
I'll give the Runway thing part marks for trying, as the picture illustrates, the place can look very cool. But go have a closer look at the website ; strikes me as a typical " some guy had a great idea and didn't execute very well theme night " that we see too much of in Europe.
That's not a cigar bar, it's a theme park.
And it's too far out of the way for us city-folk...
Yeah, it's an odd place. Should have enjoyed it , but it was just odd. Although the staff working there remained "in character" it felt like the staff were not sure how seriously to take their concept. The idea of "checking-in" being taken to destinations within the retaurant and being given boarding card was all a bit theme park but with the fun extracted.
The aircraft, though impressive, overshadows many of the restaurant tables, making the place feel a little gloomy.
The food and service was fine, but because of my colleagues I didnt get chance to check out the cigar bar at all. I'm not sure I would recommend a trip up there (not easy to get to by public transport as its a hike away from the airport) unless simply curious.
Avo had a nice collection. The place was quiet and cozy. They serve beverages as well. But it felt like a coffee shop, with cigars.
I use to go to Hamilton's and a few others in BH when I was learning cigars. I went with friends for the scene. I don't know if there is a cigar scene here.
My thing is a nice selection, a luxurious chair, a fine drink and a deep conversation. I'm sure you could pop into just about any 4 or 5 star hotel with a companion and have a cigar in the lobby. I've done that at some of the nicer hotels in Luzern. They have nice lobbies and beautiful views. Try the National or The Palace in Luzern.
How about having a nice cigar out in the forest on a not so windy day? I'm not sure what you are expecting from a cigar lounge. All I know is the ones here make me miss the ones back home.
Ever try a Hukah pipe? That's also nice way to chill out.
Just for the record, the Havanna Bar in Luzern is GREAT. I'm a non-smoker and don't like cigars but it's such a seriously cool bar that I'd hate anyone on this forum to avoid it due to thinking it was "smokers only"...
I have a friend visiting Zurich in the next few weeks and she wants to get some Cubans. Any tips from you kind people as to the best stores for good Cuban smokes?
In the area of Bahnoffstrasse you have Durr at the top near the train station there is also a shop at Paradeplatz and one between behind Paradeplatz in the direction of the river (hard to explain where).
There is also Casa Del Habano just along the tramline from Paradeplatz towards Enge.
For the largest selection of single cigars (e.g. you don't have to buy an entire box) try Don Cigaro at RedBox just past Bahnoff Tiefenbrunnen in the direction of Meilen.
Thanks for this. I'm a cigar smoker and apart from my terrace there is only one place I know in Lugano - which is Cigar Must in case anyone comes down south.
However I do visit Zurich 3 or 4 times a year so this is a very useful guide. Thanks again.