Sometimes, all we need is to be indulged in the finer things in life
Imagine this: A closed space, an intimate ambiance, the smell of tobacco leaves, and a glass of single-malt whisky or scotch. Sounds enticing, doesn’t it? For a select audience, the appeal of the said pairing is irresistible—one of the best, even. Each sip from your glass balances out the sensation and taste of every puff in an environment that takes you back a generation with how it’s set up.
And while the pandemic has taken away some of these, we list down six cigar bars still standing with the finest cigarettes to pair with a single-malt drink and setting complementary to the experience.
Manila Peninsula’s The Bar
Manila Peninsula’s The Bar also doubles as the hotel’s dedicated smoking lounge. It’s inspired by Cuba’s La Antigua Habana bars, complete with leather chairs and checkered floors to ensure a premium experience. With the indefinite closure of Salon de Ning, The Bar is also the lone alcohol-friendly place left in the Makati-based hotel.
1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar
In Discovery Primea is 1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar. They offer local brands such as 1881 along with renowned Cuban counterparts like Montecristo, Partagas, and H. Uppman. While the main option of whisky and scotch is available, 1824 also has other drinks such as brandy, gin, and vodka to be paired with their tobacco offerings.
Riedel Room Cigar Bar at Elbert’s Steak Room
The Riedel Room is part of Elbert’s Steak Room, a popular Salcedo steakhouse. While it offers options no different from its peers, the Riedel Room is arguably the most intimate space here as it is a small venue that can only accommodate around 14-20 people at a time.
Solaire’s Baccarat Room and Bar
Baccarat Room and Bar is one of Solaire’s dedicated cigar bars. Formerly the Cigar Bar and Poker Room, Solaire gives its patrons a sophisticated space inspired by speakeasy bars.
Similar to 1824, they can also pair their cigars with drinks outside of single-malt scotch and whisky. Such examples of these are cognac, rum, and wine. Additionally, baccarat games are also held here, on top of the cigar bar experience.
Okada Lounge
Okada Lounge is the hotel’s take on the cigar bar concept. Mixed in with their plum colored-theme is an interior only deserving to be filled with Manila’s finest. Aside from their Cuban cigar-filled humidor are the choices of alcohol displayed throughout the space.
Their cigar choices include renowned Cuban brands such as Cohiba and Hoyo de Monterrey to name a few. As for liquor, Okada Lounge boasts rare and vintage selections, which include Japanese whiskeys that are valued in the P600,000 range.
Solaire’s Whisky Bar
The Whisky Bar is the more premium option for a cigar and whisky fix within Solaire. It’s located on the VIP floors of the hotel’s Sky Tower and offers an even more intimate ambiance akin to a private room in a mansion paired with hand-rolled cigars and a bevy of sought-after fine spirits.
Featured Image from SOLAIRE RESORT AND CASINO (via Instagram)
