Ambassador Fine Cigars

Cigar lovers around Phoenix have known about Ambassador Fine Cigars since 1997, and the word on this place tends to run in the same direction: the humidor is something to behold. People who have walked plenty of humidors call this one the best they've seen, and locals will tell you it's the largest walk-in in the state. It's stocked deep with premium names like Arturo Fuente, Padron, Davidoff, My Father, Tatuaje, Oliva, Rocky Patel, Drew Estate, Camacho, Plasencia, Crowned Heads, and Warped, plus harder-to-find lines like Atabey, El Septimo, Byron, and Avo. If they don't have it, as one longtime aficionado put it, you probably don't need it.

The man behind it all is Vartan, and regulars will point you toward his own Vartan line if you want to try something beyond your everyday smoke. Ask anyone who shops here and they'll tell you Vartan is on site often, keeping the standards high. His team knows their tobacco cold. The tobacconists cut and torch your cigar and will happily help you pair it with a bourbon from the full bar.

Beyond the sticks, you'll find a solid selection of high-end cutters, lighters, tobacco pipes, and just about any accessory you might need. The lounge is the other draw. There's a public seating area broken into a few spaces with comfortable leather chairs, TVs, tables if you want to get some work done, handcrafted espresso, and that full bar. People come here for quiet, upscale conversation rather than a rowdy night, and the ventilation keeps the air clean.

A private membership lounge is available too. We've heard the occasional grumble that the public room is windowless and can feel tight when it's full, but the selection and service keep folks coming back all the same. Snowbirds tell each other to stop in when they're in town, and travelers who visit lounges all over make a point of returning. For a serious cigar shop in Phoenix, Ambassador has earned its strong local reputation.