Crescent City Cigar Shop – 730 Orleans St

Crescent City Cigar Shop hits all the right notes for a classic tobacconist/cigar shop.  Even before you walk in you are greeted by the traditional cigar store Indian.  Once inside you are welcomed by the warm aroma of tobacco, a half dozen leather club chairs, a substantial humidor, and the smile of owner Armando Ortiz.

One thing you will discover immediately is that Armando knows cigars.  His well-stocked humidor has the labels we all love and look for:  Arturo Fuente Opus X, Montecristo, Ashton, Romeo y Julieta, selections from Drew Estate.  But, he also makes a great effort to stock a nice selection of boutique brands such as Black Label Trading (one of my personal favorites), Elogio, and Viaje.

In addition to cigars, Crescent City Cigars offers pipe tobacco and all the necessary accessories for the pipe or cigar smoker (thankfully, since I forgot my lighter one day!).

If you are a newbie, Armando is your perfect Yoda.  If you are visiting, grab a cigar and a seat, and chat a bit with Armando and a few of the colorful locals who are likely hanging out and enjoying a smoke.  If you are a local or an experienced smoker, well, you will feel right at home.

Crescent City Cigar Shop is centrally located in the French Quarter immediately behind St Louis Cathedral, between Royal and Bourbon Streets.

New Orleans Cigar Factory – 415 Decatur St

It is a captivating experience to watch a master cigar roller engaged in his craft.  Fortunately, you don’t have to travel to Cuba or Central America to witness this.  Stroll over to New Orleans Cigar Factory on Decatur Street and feast your eyes.

Five master rollers, each with a minimum of 25 years experience, create the Cigar Factory in-house blends right before your eyes.  Once rolled, the cigars are bundled for aging on-site before they are made available for purchase.

Most of their cigars use a Nicaraguan filler with either a Connecticut, Brazilian, or Cameroon wrapper.  The Cigar Factory Social Club with the Brazilian Maduro wrapper is a consistent favorite due to the flavorful complexity of the Brazilian and Nicaraguan filler and the natural sweetness of the Brazilian wrapper.  Or, opt for the Plantation Reserve with its mild Connecticut wrapper.  Both are sure to please.

You will have a hard time finding a better selection of whiskies, bourbons, scotches, tequilas, and cognacs on top of their strong offering of beers and wines.  And if that weren’t enough, Cuban Crafters hits the perfect note by keeping the vibe upbeat but relaxed at the same time.

The front room is great for pulling up a chair at the bar, enjoying a cigar and scotch, and catching a game on one of the TVs. Or, you can opt for something more intimate, or secretive, in the back room with its numerous leather club chairs.  Both rooms are very well-ventilated, so non-smokers will not feel that they are overwhelmed.