Xhale Lounge

If you smoke cigars in Philadelphia, ask around and Xhale Lounge comes up fast. It has earned a strong reputation in the city, and once you spend an hour here it's easy to understand why. This is a proper cigar lounge, laid-back and clean, the kind of place where the owner greets you at the door and remembers what you like. Regulars will tell you it feels like home from the first visit, whether you've been smoking cigars for years or you're buying your very first one.

The selection punches well above the size of the room. On the shelves you'll find serious names: Padrón, La Flor Dominicana, Cohiba, Camacho, Liga Privada, and My Father. There's range here too, from everyday smokes to premium sticks, so the price point is never a barrier to walking out with something good. People who shop here swear by the recommendations.

More than one regular has found a new favorite simply by trusting the owner, who knows his products cold and takes the time to point first-timers in the right direction rather than just ringing up a sale. The lounge side is a big part of the draw. The furniture is comfortable and new, the atmosphere runs jovial, and Thursdays around here mean cigars and dominoes with a room full of friendly faces. Ask anyone who spends time here and they'll mention how the old-timers welcome newcomers like family.

One first-timer summed it up well after being treated "like a brother." That mix of a diverse, easygoing crowd and a knowledgeable owner is what keeps folks coming back. It's a smaller spot, but that only adds to the warmth. For a relaxing place to enjoy a good cigar in Philadelphia, this is one people happily go out of their way for.