Ash & Ale Lounge

If you love a good cigar, Ash & Ale Lounge in Palm Coast has quickly become the kind of place people settle into for the afternoon and don't want to leave. Tucked into the European Village surrounded by restaurants and local shops, it draws a mix of longtime regulars and vacationers who wander in and end up staying far longer than they planned. Ask anyone who spends time here and they'll tell you the atmosphere is the real draw: leather couches in the middle, a couple of easy chairs in the corner that everyone agrees are the best seats in the house, tall bar tables, and plenty of rattan and cafe seating out on the covered patio with a view across the courtyard. The cigar selection is what keeps serious smokers coming back.

Cigars line the walls, and there's a walk-in humidor holding both legacy names and boutique sticks. The shelves run deep with brands like Padron, Cohiba, Oliva, Tatuaje, Camacho, Drew Estate, Partagas, Aganorsa Leaf, Southern Draw, New World, Nat Sherman, La Galera, Nub, CAO, and Acid, among many more. Newcomers and connoisseurs alike get pointed toward the right smoke, and the other folks in the room are usually happy to share a suggestion too. Ken owns the place, and the word around Palm Coast is that the whole crew, his daughter included and a manager known as "Monkey," treats people like family from the moment they walk in.

One regular summed it up nicely: customers are like family and very inviting. Since the newer ownership took over, they've added weekly local music and organized monthly events for members and guests. There's a solid drink lineup too, with red and white wine, beer, seltzers, port, and a few non-alcoholic options, and folks rave about a smooth Circus Cabernet. Ventilation stays good even with a room full of people enjoying cigars.

People have traveled from as far as Texas and made plans to come back, which tells you plenty about the place.