Manhattan Cigar Lounge

If you love a good cigar and good company, Manhattan Cigar Lounge in Kinston has both. This is a genuine lounge, the kind of spot where people settle in to watch the game, unwind, and talk cigars with folks who feel the same way. Regulars have caught boxing matches and NBA playoffs across several TVs here, and the music selection gets mentioned almost as often as the cigars. One person who moved away put it plainly: they miss hanging out with the "like-minded cigar maniacs" who fill the place.

The cigar selection is what brings people in, and Nick, who owns the place, is the one they ask for. Word around Kinston is that he knows his stuff and always steers you toward a good stick, if you're a regular or stopping through for the first time. People describe him as down to earth and welcoming, and more than a few first-timers have said they'll be back next time they're in town. Beyond cigars, they carry e-liquid, vape juice, and vapes, and there's cold beer and wine to go with your smoke.

The lounge is a proud Black-owned business, and that means a lot to the people who support it. This one earns close to top marks and sits among the best-regarded spots of its kind in the area, and it does it without a lot of extra frills. As one regular put it, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles to pull in a casual crowd, but people who truly enjoy a cigar keep coming back. It's an easy stop for travelers too, sitting close to Hwy 70 if you're passing through on the way to the beach.

Folks have rolled in from Boston, Virginia, and Goldsboro and left saying the same thing: the atmosphere and the people make it. Come sit down, light one up, and see for yourself.