Holt's Cigar Company

Holt's Cigar Company is about as good as it gets for cigar lovers in Philadelphia, and the word around town backs that up. This is a full experience, not just a shop. There's a huge, well-stocked humidor sitting right next to a spacious bar and smoking lounge, and people who come in for one cigar tend to lose track of time and stay for hours. Locals will tell you the ventilation is something special.

More than one regular has walked out after a long session barely smelling of smoke, which anyone who frequents cigar lounges knows is rare. The humidor is where Holt's really shines. You'll find Ashton, Arturo Fuente, Oliva, Padrón, My Father, Perdomo, Davidoff, Montecristo, Drew Estate, Rocky Patel, AJ Fernandez, San Cristobal, La Aroma de Cuba and Nub, among others. That's a serious lineup, and folks who shop here swear by the selection and the fair pricing, which surprises people given how upscale the place feels.

If you're not sure what to pick or how to pair it, the team knows their sticks cold. Ask anyone who spends time here and names come up again and again: Mazz, Fach, Minass behind the bar, Lilly, and Anthony Faccia. Warm, knowledgeable, and happy to talk cigars for as long as you want. The newer location has people talking.

It's a stunning building with a comfortable, upscale lounge, big screens throughout, plenty of seating, and a bar that keeps things going late while the humidor closes earlier in the evening. One heads-up we've heard: the humidor shuts before the bar does, so grab what you want before it closes so you're not caught short. Beyond that, this is a place people come back to and travel for, whether they're local or passing through Philly. If you want a first-class cigar shop and lounge in Philadelphia with real hospitality and a serious humidor, Holt's is one of the best around.