Casa de Montecristo

Casa de Montecristo has earned a strong reputation among Tampa's cigar crowd, and once you spend an afternoon in the lounge it's easy to understand why. The humidor stocks the names serious smokers come looking for: Montecristo, Padron, Oliva, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Davidoff, Rocky Patel, Perdomo, Romeo y Julieta and Drew Estate among them, along with the smoking accessories to go with a good cigar. Locals in SoHo and South Tampa will tell you this is one of the better lounges in the area, with a full bar and a genuinely welcoming feel for regulars and first-timers alike.

The people behind the counter are a big part of the draw. Ask anyone who shops here and a few names come up again and again. Regulars ask for Figs, who's known for solid recommendations and a joke or two along the way, and pointed one visitor toward the Oliva V Melanio.

Mike gets mentioned plenty as well, both for helping folks find a new cigar and for looking after the details, like the sun shades added to the front patio to fight off that Florida sun. Comfortable leather chairs, a relaxed atmosphere, and live music round out the experience, though the one-man guitarist splits opinion depending on your taste in songs. We'll be honest, this is a working cigar lounge, so expect smoke in the air, and there was a stretch when the word around Tampa was that the ventilation and A/C could get overwhelming on a packed or hot day.

To their credit, the team, and manager Jeff in particular, listened and put real work into improving the air handling, which patrons noticed and appreciated. A handful of folks have found the prices a touch steep, but the quality of the humidor and the hospitality keep the place a favorite. If you're after a laid-back cigar lounge in Tampa with a proper bar and knowledgeable tobacconists, Casa de Montecristo is worth a stop.