Aromas Cigar, Wine Martini Bar

Aromas Cigar, Wine Martini Bar is one of the more talked-about cigar spots in Jacksonville, Florida, and the word around town is that it's a lively night out as much as a place to grab a good smoke. The humidor is stocked with premium names, so if you know your sticks you'll find plenty to like. Opus X, Diamond Crown, Ashton, Arturo Fuente, Graycliff, and Romeo y Julieta all turn up here, and the selection runs both plentiful and, as one out-of-town visitor put it, "nicely priced." People who come in for cigars tend to leave with more than a couple.

Here's the honest part locals will tell you: this place leans more toward lounge-and-nightlife than a quiet cigar den. On DJ nights the music runs loud, the patio fills up, and it turns into a real scene, karaoke, drinks, and a crowd of regulars who clearly treat it as their spot. One couple visiting from Charlotte stumbled in on a Monday and couldn't find a single thing they didn't love, right down to the generous pours.

If that energy is what you're after, you'll have a great time. If you're picturing a hushed room to nurse a cigar and a martini in peace, come early, before the DJ sets start, and you'll get the calmer version of the room. We'll be straight with you: opinions are a little split here.

Some folks find the vibe electric, others wish it stayed quieter, and there's the odd grumble about the door and the crowd on busy nights. What isn't in question is the cigar lineup and the fact that they're open daily and open late, so it's an easy stop when other lounges have called it a night. Come for the smokes, stay for the atmosphere, and pick your night depending on the mood you're in.