Elite Event: Cigar Inn

Fun event to start the week. We were welcomed by the owner Gus of Cigar Inn to try out their house stogies, affectionately named after different boroughs of NYC plus a Staten Island one.
Food from Hospada was great, my favorite being the steak tartare. The space had leather furniture, nice rugs, decorative lamps and even flat screen TVs.
Cigars, beer, and wine kept flowing. It was like a scene out of Mad Men.
Big thanks to Ruggy and Cigar Inn for a fun evening!

Now this was a really fun today, a good spread of some food some of us may normally not eat and a good deal of cigars to try out. It was true, that cigar smell was real. I mean very out there, I still had the smell in my undershirt days later. I kept it in an isolated corner of the bathroom. This was such a cool event Ruggy put together. Tried the Staten Island Cigar and the Manhattan. Both were great. Manhattan cigar was probably the thickest one out of other choices. The owner made up feel very welcoming at this smaller event than most. It was prob only 30 or 35 elite and plus ones. I had a great time finally back at a Manhattan event. The polish beer we had was definitely top of the line as well. Thanks for just letting me come through, UnilocalNYC. Great seeing the crew and meeting some new people. Best way to spend a Monday night.

Great event! A breath of (not-​so-​) fresh air to have an event that isn’t focused on drinks and food, though the mini-​bites were awesome — definitely checking out Hospada in the future. The steak tartar and the duck spread were incredible.
I’d always wanted to go to a cigar lounge, so this was a very welcomed event. The borough-​specific cigars and the overall ambiance was great. It was hilarious seeing the 20s to 30s Unilocal Eliters versus the definitely 40s to 60s+ regulars that were tucked in a corner. If anything, it shows how authentic this place is.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the event was fantastic. To be completely honest, although we were given fair warning, the smoke did end up overwhelming me and I left a little early. I’m not sure these lounges were really meant to accommodate 30 – 50 smokers at the same time! But it was well worth the struggle to get the smell of tobacco out of my hair and coat (shame the coat room was full).
Overall great event. Thanks Ruggy and team!

a very unique elite event indeed! i’d never been to a cigar lounge (…or even smoked a cigar) until this event, but it definitely made for a great first experience. the place wasn’t uncomfortably packed, which is always a win, and the staff at the Cigar Inn was incredibly welcoming and tolerant of ignorant cigar newbies like myself (i.e. no judging on the copious re-​lights [apparently i’m inept at smoking cigars]). the nyc borough themed cigars were clever; i tried the Manhattan cigar, which was a nice «introductory» cigar, and it paired well with the booze and food courtesy of Hospada (which I will now definitely have to check out).
overall, this was a great event, and if you’re into cigars, visiting The Cigar Inn is a must. THANKS, RUGGY!

Unilocal cigar events are always so much fun because it makes it really easy to socialize and has an activity other than drinking and eating which makes for a super memorable good time with some of the most fun people in NYC!
Cigar Inn was no different — the staff here is friendly, knowledgeable and very customer service oriented. The food was fantastic and the event itself was super well organized.
It was well worth having to do an apple vinegar hair rinse to get the smell of tobacco out of my hair :).

I have been wanting to go to a cigar lounge, so when my friend told me she got in and I was her +1, I was stoked. I met her out front and when we walked in I noticed there was leather seating in the fron and back and a few tvs around. We walked to the middle where we were greeted by Ruggy, the organizer of this event. Gus, an owner, was by a table of cigars, each type named after a borough. He explained the difference betwee each of the 5 cigars. I selected the Bronx cigar and was very pleased because it was pretty smooth. We then sat on the leather seats and watched football while enjoying our cigars.
Small bites started coming around which consisted of a duck spread, steak tartare, and a pepper brie. My favorite was a pepper brie and soon beer and wine were being served. The serving of wine was pretty liberal and I wasnt complaining lol. The food was a small buffet of mashed potatoes, beef in gravy, sausage, and picles. I enjoyed the mash and beef the most.
Then I walked around the shop and seen that they also sold watches, cuff links, and other cigar related items. I spoke with Gus again and decided to try a different cigar. This time I went with Staten Island bc it was torpedo shape. This one was stronger than the Bronx, so I did not enjoy it as much. It was a great event to meet new people and enjoy food and cigars.

When I saw Unilocal was having an event at Cigar Inn, I knew I had to RSVP. I had visited this location in the past and had a great time so I was excited to see what they would offer for the Unilocal Elite crew. This event did not disappoint. The second were stepped inside, we saw Unilocalers mingling with the usuals and the entire staff helping people pick and light the cigar they wanted. I had tried their Bronx cigar in the past so I decided to give the Queens a go. It was smooth, light, and flavorful. There was also a bar setup serving beer and wine. Passed food made its way around. And a few hot dishes were served, as well. This event was far from crowded, which made it extra nice and gave us a chance to mingle with everyone.
Great job, Ruggy! I love events like these.

The cigar events are usually my favorite! Less crowded. No hassle getting a nibble to eat. No one body slamming you for a glass of wine or beer. The lingering smell of smoke that stays in your hair for two weeks. God, I love it. Deep inhale. The Cigar Inn is a beautiful establishment. Plush leather chairs in both the front and back rooms. Pretty spacious. Locker cabinets for regulars’ fancy bottle collections to store for a nightcap or two with a fine cigar. Also, the owner recognized us from last year’s event at Cigar Inn’s other location in Midtown and was super friendly. My favorite of the cigars may actually be Queens. Sorry Brooklyn. I like how dense the taste is for Brooklyn but its like the never ending cigar of all cigars. Tasted the Staten Island finally. It’s not too bad. Kind of a healthy in between of Manhattan and Queens being less harsh but still pretty bold.
Hospoda bohemian beer hall (which when Steph and I were walking by commented on how we wished we had picked that as our spot to meet up prior since we were super early) catered some fantastic bites! Beef steak tartar on a delicious brioche, duck spread, and brie on crostinis for appetizers going around. A buffet of beef goulash, homemade pork sausage, mashed potatoes, pickles, a horseradish tangy coleslaw, and bread to sop it all up with. Great and very chill relaxing event.

This was a great event. I was totally psyched when I saw this event and found out I got in.
The minute I walked up to the shop I noticed the big Indian sculpture welcoming me, I enter and I right away I noticed the comfy couches and the many TVs. I walked to the back where I was warmly greeted by Ruggy and right after by Gus who explain the difference between the 5 boroughs cigars. I went with the Bronx one which was super smooth. Then I headed to sit and enjoy my cigar.
The shop is super cozy, plenty of TVs to watch the game. Soon food starting to come around and I got to try the duck spread, steak tartare and the pepper brie. All three were delicious but my favorite was the brie.
Soon they were offering beer and wine. I went with the red wine and they were very generous with their servings which is also a plus.
As I was walking around the shop and noticing all the cool things this shop has to offer I noticed the food was now open, I finished my cigar and made my way there. Mash potatoes, beef with gravy, sausage and pickles. Everything was good and I ate mine quickly since I wanted to try the Staten Island cigar next.
I went back to Gus who lighted up the Staten Island for me, I enjoyed but not as much as the Bronx since it was stronger.
It was awesome to enjoy some great cigars and meeting new Unilocalers. Thank you to Ruggy, Gus and to all of the Cigar Inn employees for such a pleasant evening.

Thank you Unilocal!Thank you Ruggy!
I knew we were in for a great evening when we were met with funky beats AND fingerless gloves (they’re important) upon entering the Cigar Inn. The night gets progressively better as we light up our cigars (Queens style please!), snag some of the beef tartare, and start making friends.
The Cigar Inn is a beautiful store with big leather chairs and adorable old men roaming around. It was great talking to some of the non-​yelpers there about cigars, actually learned a thing or two!
Catering provided by Hospoda, this great Czech spot nearby. The staff from there was super great and really contributed to the success of the event. Mashed potatoes, pickles, beef and bangers in my mouth. Mmmmm.
Big ups to Nacer for teaching us how to smoke a cigar, to Xavier S. & Ruwan J. for providing the entertainment, and to Kerry P. for inviting me to my first elite event.

Smokin’ like a boss! Right in my wheelhouse on the UES too!
Another great out of the box (the cigar box!) event set up by Ruggy and Unilocal.I have been a fan of the Cigar Inn for a while now and was ecstatic to hear that an Elite event was happening up here. This is Cigar Inn’s newest location and much larger than the old one on 1^st ave a few streets down they moved from.
If you’re a cigar smoker this is man cave to enjoy! Comfy leather chairs, huge walk in humidor housing a ton of cigars, all types of men’s cigar accessories and merchandise, flat screens showing all major sports, waitress service if you want a cold non-​alcoholic drink, lockers to rent for your booze, and awesome owners that make you feel like family. It’s a super cool and cozy spot to saunter into and enjoy a quality smoke. Kick back and relish in some down time with a tasty stogie.
This is a manly man place. A spot that welcomes men of all types, but also the ladies too.
This event featured some great cigars all all named after the boroughs of NYC. Some a lighter smoke with others a more deep rich leathery taste. To help keep our mouths wet we were treated with drink and food from the awesome Hospada down the street. Pilsner Urquell on tap, and a selection of wines. Delish food such as steak tartare, duck spread on toast points, and a brie cheese on toast was passed around. Not only that but some hot dishes such as a mouth watering beef goulash, mashed potatoes, and lamb sausages we on hand.
Overall, just a relaxing event in a wonderful cigar shop location. The crowd was just right as it was not overcrowded and easy to mingle among old and new Unilocal Elites. So easy to chat and have conversations. Even some regulars of the shop were here and offered some friendly cigar tips. The owners were on hand and as always they and their staff were gracious hosts. The crew from Hospada hooked us up with great food and drinks. I love these different types of events to check out new things. Nice job Ruggy!
Here’s to more events up in my hood!

Up In Smoke? naaaah, this ain’t no Cheech ‘n’ Chong blunt joint. nor is it Tony Montana’s Mansion from Scarface full of the machismo of ‘caine, machine guns, and Cuban accents.
the Cigar Inn is your «in» to the wonders o’ gentlemanly tobacky.
small storefront with a cigar store Indian outside. understated cool signage. brightly lit and has a covered entrance for those inclement weather days. nice touch.
got +1ed in by the X-​Man, aka Xavier S. all praise goes to him for my antics. all blame goes to him for my shenanigans. checked in by MC Ruggy who walked us through the night: cigars, beer, wine, eats, and repeat.
despite seeming a bit small from the exterior. the store stretches way back. it’s actually a fairly large space. you walk into a sitting area with fireplaces, plush old school leather chairs and other seating. there’s a flat-​screen there for your sports entertainment needs. as you push into the store. you see the cigar lockers on the left and a long display of various displays covering cigar related merch, pipes, classic single razors and accessories, cufflinks, and other sophisticated gentlemanly effects. they also have a ton branded swag: t-​shirts, hoodies, etc. when you want to rep this fine cigar joint’s brand identity. past retail, there’s another fairly large sitting area with a TV, chairs galore and banquettes, etc.
in the back of the store there was a treasure trove of fine cigars.
they had a coat-​check, so your nice coats and jackets didn’t soak in the cigar exhales. SO AWESOME & THOUGHTFUL!
Gus Sakih, the owner, walked folks through the cigar choices, had Unilocalers select their puff of choice, trimmed the tip, and patiently lit you up and give you pointers on how to light & smoke. it’s not just having a lighter and inhaling. art and enjoyment. some skill.
however, each cigar at this event was sectioned out from different boroughs… the bronx and brooklyn cigars were superthick, while the manhattan, queens, and staten island ones were on the thinner side (this is where i could make a tasteless joke but i won’t.) the choices were all the same tobacco blend/​strain. i betrayed my manhattan roots and grabbed a Brooklyn stogie! yeah i know imma POSER. man was it smooooooth smoke. i’m not even close to being seasoned on the world of cigars, so my depth of commentary like my reviews is preschool. however i am willing to learn! teach me, gods of tobacco!
DRANKS:
PILSNER on a mobile draft station. so good. beer on wheels – brilliant. and pairs well with the cigars on hand.
Variety of Reds. I didn’t partake of too much, but bottles were getting kicked quick, So the sauce was working insobriety well.
EATS:
steak tartare on toasted carbs YUM X 2 definite MOUTH LAPDANCE
duck spread on toasted carbs YUM X 2
adding to the savory was sausage, gerkins, mashed taters, and some other stuff. filled up on way too much of the steak tartare, but based on how tanked and cigar-​high folks were getting… the faux «munchies» were in effect and the hot food got crushed accordingly. so yeah, the eats were top-​notch.
atmosphere: smoky. hazy. soft light. feels very den-​ny. wood. carpet. smells like forest-​y heaven obvi. fine quality cigars and that earthy burning scent of wood. din/​den of laughter, spirited conversation. the regulars here are sedentary parts of the store’s charm. dapper dressed old men regaling one another with stories of when i was a kid or expounding on how our generation is isn’t worth spit in a bucket. LOL. i imagine this is what a men’s parlor was times long gone, but femmes are totally welcome at the Cigar Inn. of course, playful banter and sarcasm laced the evening together between the regulars and Unilocalers (but the cigars and booze did the heavy lifting!).
staff who worked the booze and food. supernice. really helpful. service and smiles in sync.
Ruggy is the man. he and his team are alchemists of manhattan entertainment experiences. the core ingredient of all great Unilocal events are the people. lots of new people who were super chill to hang with and trade insanity with Morgan, Kerry, Chris D., Elyssa, and the list goes on! though this was a smallish event. personalities ran LARGE.
PRO TIP: if you are going to venture into cigars and are prone to dry eyes. buy rewet eyedrops. the smoke in here is part of Cigar Inn’s charm, but it can get hazy.
PRO TIP: definitely check your coat or have it stored elsewhere bc it will soak in the smoke. unless you like manhattan drycleaning prices. ugh.
PRO TIP: careful where you swing your cigar as i almost set someone on fire. it sorta wasn’t my fault because who really soaks their clothes in lighter fluid before coming to a cigar shop. oh wait, that was his cologne. my baaaad, so yeah fire hazards. be wary.
my mic on FUEGO, so lemme drop it and stamp it out. but first i’ll light this fine SEEEEGARRRR and puff myself away… i out.

Props to Ruggy, this was a fantastic event!! SO I’ll be the first to admit… this was my first time ever trying a cigar and this was the perfect to event to pop my cherry. The cigar inn was a lot bigger than I thought and loved that even the regular patrons were there hanging out during the event — made it all the more enjoyable. The snacks, which were made from Hospoda across the street were divine. That steak tartare was BOMB! Overall great atmosphere and event. Thanks Ruggy!

Many thanks to Ruggy and Cigar Inn, owner, Gus, for this fantastic evening! I am a long time Cigar Inn 53^rd St. patron and this was my maiden voyage to 73^rd. This event was of the classic Unilocal style — delicious Hungarian food, fun, classy event (cigars), booze flowing, friendly crowd and gracious host, Rugster! Ruggy was walking around to ensure everyone’s cigars were lit and we were mingling but the set up was conducive to only having a great time.
I can’t recommend this location of Cigar Inn enough. The set up is open and welcoming with ample seating and attentive service. They have personal lockers for rent, like at their 53^rd St. location. Go to both, often. Leave your asthma inhaler and judgements at the door. Great event! Thanks so much!

I don’t smoke cigars but when I do, it’s at a Unilocal event. Actually, to be honest, I don’t smoke cigars — at all.
I was invited as a plus one by Ingrid S. and Stephy P. and as a Unilocal Manhattan Elite, I knew it was my duty to attend. The location is great and what made me feel pretty good. This location is nestled in what is the only part of Manhattan’s Upper East Side that isn’t (too) snobby and is quite easy to find.
The entrance gives you the impression this space is quite small when it fact, it’s rather large and narrow. Thorough the space you see a variety of different items for sale besides cigars Think shaving tools, cream, cuff links, ties and Happy Socks with lockers for you to store your own expensive, fancy-​pants spirits. The owners truly care about your experience here and are open to hearing your opinions and thoughts on the venue — pretty rare.
As we sat in the back, we nommed on wonderful steak tartare, duck spread (?), and generous glasses of white and red wine. There was beer too of course along with cigars that represented each borough. Staten Island seemed scary but my friends enjoyed the smooth, subtle taste and I held onto a Manhattan. The smell was really very good. Looking up from our noms, we watched some football and basket ball and realized we sat in what reminded us of some Puerto Rican gangster mansion. Not a bad thing! Why? Because like all large mansions they have their own personal fill in the blank which in this case is a fairly large humidifier room with a plethora of cigars on display.
All in all, nice spot. To those that I know who enjoy a nice cigar, I’ll be sure to point them in this direction.