Up in smoke: cigar lounge round-up

Many describe Harrods as an Aladdin’s cave, a place filled with luxury treasures and one-of-a-kind buys across a whopping one million square feet of shopping space. The central Egyptian Escalator, with its ancient wonder-inspired décor, only adds to the theatrical experience of wandering its seven floors. One of Harrods’ many hidden gems is La Casa Del Habano from Cuban cigar merchant James J Fox, located on the lower ground floor, just past the wine shop and Louis XIII concession. This state-of-the-art humidor features a cutting-edge Airkel air filtration system and comfy seating, from which you can enjoy fine Cuban and new world cigars and complimentary snacks. Booking is on a first come, first served basis, reservations aren’t required and it closes around half an hour before the store does (9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 6pm on Sunday).

Knightsbridge is home to many five-star hotels, and part of the five-star experience is undoubtedly a world-class cigar lounge. A little-known fact is that The Wellesley hotel at the top of Brompton Road is the proud owner of Europe’s largest walk-in hotel humidor. Sometimes referred to as ‘the Louis Vuitton of humidors’, it showcases around £1.5m worth of premium cigars, including Cuban favourites Montecristo, Cohiba, and limited-edition Bolívars. Need some advice? Renowned cigar sommelier Giuseppe Ruo, who manages the humidor and dedicated cigar sommelier team at the hotel, will guide you in the right direction and recommend tipples to pair with your choice. The Cigar Lounge & Terrace at The Wellesley is also famous for its bespoke artwork, which includes a map of Cuba etched into the humidor’s marble floor and portraits of famous cigar aficionados Winston Churchill and Fidel Castro made from tobacco leaves.

Just a few minutes up the road, The Lanesborough hotel is home to – in its own words – Knightsbridge’s best-kept secret: The Garden Room cigar terrace. In this covered nook, guests can smoke at their leisure or take part in a monthly Cigar Masterclass with a dedicated cigar sommelier, which includes a one-hour session and an Old Fashioned cocktail. It doesn’t even matter if the weather takes a turn, The Garden Room is open all-year round and will shield you from the cold with a fireplace, heaters and blankets. All the cigars hail from Cuba and are housed in two humidors, including a limited-edition Cohiba 50th Anniversary Humidor – clad in golden tobacco leaves – which houses the £10,000-a-pop 50th Anniversary Cohiba cigar.

One of the newer five-star arrivals in Knightsbridge is The Bulgari Hotel which, with its ultra-modern design, was considered quite the disruptor when it opened its doors in 2012. Here, you will find an outpost of internationally renowned Cuban cigar retailer Edward Sahakian, who has been in the industry for over four decades. The eponymous Cigar Shop and Sampling Lounge at Bulgari Hotel London sells a range of rare Havana cigars sourced from Sahakian’s own personal collection, which includes coveted names such as Montecristo, Davidoff London and Por Larrañaga, Cuba’s oldest cigar brand still in existence.

Speaking of Havanas, the Park Tower Knightsbridge hotel features an outpost of Havana Cigar Exchange, a specialist in premium Habanos, limited-edition and rare vintage cigars. The original Havana Cigar Exchange lounge is located at nearby Saint James’s Street, but here you can browse the shop and enjoy your purchase on the hotel’s heated outdoor terrace with a glass of whisky (choosing from over 100 distilleries) while listening to live music from The Hyde Bar. Believe it or not, you can also smoke in select rooms at the Park Tower hotel, located on the 3rd and 10th floor, which feature a state-of-the-art filtration system.

If you’re searching for cigars to add to your personal collection or to purchase as a present, why not pop into Sautter Cigars, tucked away on Raphael Street. The flagship branch of Sautter opened in nearby Mayfair nearly 50 years ago, so you know you’re in safe and experienced hands. As well as stocking a wide range of Cuban cigars – with brands including Bolívar, Vegueros and Juan Lopez – Sautter also sells a variety of new world cigars and accessories. Speaking of which, any cigar aficionado will know that it’s not just about what you smoke but the lifestyle. Inside the cavernous walls of luxury department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols, shoppers will find a range of niche and luxurious cigar accessories, such as cutters, sculptural glass and porcelain ashtrays, lighters and even calfskin leather holders by Brunello Cucinelli.