Port Royal Cigars

Port Royal Cigars has been part of Toledo since 1968, and that kind of longevity tells you plenty. This is a real cigar shop with a real lounge, the kind of place where you can settle in, light up, and end up in good conversation with a few of the old regulars. One fellow who came through town for work said he stopped by just to smoke his pipe, got to talking with the crowd, and had a great time doing it. The lounge is comfortable enough that some folks bring work along and stay a while.

The selection runs deep on cigars, and they carry tobacco pipes and the accessories to go with them too. Newcomers get looked after here. Dean has a reputation for walking beginners through the world of pipes and tobacco without a hint of impatience, and Benel is known for patiently answering questions from people still finding their way with cigars. Ask anyone who shops here and you'll hear that the staff know their stuff and are happy to point you toward something good.

Prices are fair, and the word around Toledo is that this is one of the better spots in the area for cigars. They keep the doors open late, which makes it easy to swing by after work or wind down an evening. A bachelor party of eight even dropped in unannounced one night and the guy behind the counter opened up the lounge for them, which they said topped off the whole evening. We'll be honest: a couple of people have run into a rough moment at the counter or found a cigar that wasn't kept as fresh as it should have been.

That's the exception, though, not the rule. The steady story here is a knowledgeable crew, a welcoming lounge, and a loyal following built over more than fifty years. For a cigar shop in Toledo with genuine character, Port Royal is worth a visit.