The Cigar Pairing Parlor

The Cigar Pairing Parlor sits off 48th and Tieton in Yakima, and locals will tell you it earned a reputation fast. Close to a perfect score across the board, it's become one of the most talked-about cigar spots in the Valley, and the word around town is that word won't stay quiet much longer. The heart of it is the humidor, and people who shop here swear by the selection. It's deep.

You'll find the big names folks look for, Padron, Arturo Fuente, My Father, Oliva, Rocky Patel, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Perdomo, Liga Privada, plus Cuban-style lines like Cuban Legends and Casa de Garcia, and quieter finds such as Aladino, Espinosa, Sin Compromiso and Muestra de Saka. Pipe smokers are looked after too, with tobaccos from Mac Baren, Peter Stokkebye, Sutliff, Orlik and Peterson, and pipes from Dr. Grabow and Medico. Beyond the smokes there are lighters, cool tin signs, and those car air fresheners and candles people keep mentioning for how nice they smell.

What really sets the mood here is the people. If you're new to cigars and a little nervous about it, that's exactly the crowd this place takes care of. We've heard about groups coming in knowing next to nothing and leaving as regulars, guided by Heather in the Cigar Parlor, who's patient and encouraging, and Josh out front, who has a knack for making everyone feel like a guest. One first-timer bought his first cigar, then tried the golf simulator on a whim and got a full lesson from the owner on how to swing.

That's the kind of place it is. Inside stays smoke-free per Washington state rules, so the shaded patio is where you light up and enjoy your cigar outdoors. There's a restaurant and bar too, with big, affordable portions and a menu that runs from Elk Chili to a Fry Bread BLT, plus the golf simulators for a round with out-of-town family. Prices at the humidor are fair, the remodel is beautiful, and the whole thing feels like a genuinely unique spot in Yakima worth swinging by.