Sticks Lounge

Tucked into the lower level of the Watermark Country Club, beneath Cork Restaurant, Sticks Lounge has quickly become one of the most well-regarded cigar spots in Grand Rapids since opening in 2024. Here's the first thing locals want you to know: even though it sits inside a country club, you do not need a membership to walk in. It is open to the public, and the welcome is genuine. The walk-in humidor is the heart of the place. It is not the largest collection in town, and folks here are upfront about that, but what they carry is thoughtfully chosen: popular, well-known blends and premium brands, all priced at or around typical MSRP.

We've heard the crew is adding another display case soon, so the selection is growing. Ask anyone who shops here and Jeff's name comes up again and again. People swear by his recommendations, the kind where he asks what you usually smoke and lands on something you end up loving. The guys working the lounge are easygoing and knowledgeable, the sort you can talk with while you settle in. The atmosphere is where Sticks really shines.

Overstuffed leather furniture, comfy club chairs, high tops and low tops scattered along the windows, low lighting against black ceilings and modern parquet floors. Sinatra-era music plays, and there's a small outdoor area with a gas fire pit for warmer evenings. Ventilation is good, so the room stays comfortable. You can pair your cigar with custom cocktails, a long bourbon list, beer and wine, plus a full lunch and dinner menu ordered from the restaurant upstairs. Regulars mention Sanaz behind the bar, who has a way of making an evening.

The word around Grand Rapids is simple: this is a lesser-known option worth finding. One regular put it best after a visit: "Don't change a thing."