Anthony's Cigar Emporium

If you take your cigars seriously in Tucson, Anthony's Cigar Emporium is a name you'll hear again and again. Sitting off Grant and Swan in central Tucson, this shop has built one of the strongest reputations in town, and the walk-in humidor is the heart of it. Locals will tell you it's among the best kept in Southern Arizona, fully stocked and well organized, with a lineup that runs from boutique sticks to the mainstream names people already love. On the shelves you'll find Arturo Fuente, Ashton, Padron, Oliva, Davidoff, My Father, Tatuaje, Drew Estate, Plasencia, Curivari, Casa Carrillo and Acid, plus their own well-priced store-label Dominican smokes that people swear taste far better than you'd expect.

Ask anyone who shops here and the name that comes up first is Jacob. Regulars call him one of the finest tobacconists around, the kind who can talk you through flavor, origin, and even the soil a leaf grew in without ever getting pretentious or pushy. He's just as happy steering a first-timer toward a smooth, easy stick as he is trading notes with a seasoned aficionado. Charles gets that same respect around the shop.

The word around Tucson is that whether you know exactly what you want or you're brand new to premium cigars, someone here will make sure you leave with the right one. More than one person has walked out with a recommendation, smoked it that evening, and come back sold. Part of what keeps people coming is that you can light up right in the store. It's the kind of place where you can settle in, catch some TV, and enjoy a good stick in easy company, whether you want conversation or just a quiet hour to yourself.

The atmosphere gets described as welcoming and laid-back, a throwback to the old parlors where everyone was made to feel at home. We've heard the rare grumble about a personality clash behind the counter, but that runs against the grain of what nearly everyone experiences here. For a cigar shop in Tucson that pairs real knowledge with fair prices and a comfortable place to smoke, this one earns its following.