Our Miami Cigar Tour Begins and ends on South Beach at the recently renovated National Hotel.  The art deco ultra-hip property has a large upright Humidor in its Press Room where media smokers are held for Miami’s Literati.  Managed by Klaus Peters, The National Hotel has the longest swimming pool on South Beach, 208 feet long, and leads right to the ocean.  The Oval Dining Room is run by Chef Marvin Woods; a specialist in fusion delicacies and, of course, a cigar smoker.
 

   

South Beach is definitely where the action is!  The center of the universe in South Beach is the News Cafe, located right on Ocean Boulevard.  News Cafe is a primo spot, day or night, to watch the pretty models rollerblade past in their thong bikinis.  News Cafe sells cigars in their magazine shop and has a live roller outside on their patio.  Wednesday nights, The Forge, 432 41st St., has cigar nights and is re-opening the Cuba Club with world famous nightclub impresario--Regine.  The Forge has a great wine list, incredible food and impeccable service--owned by bon Vivant Cigar Smoker, Shareef Malnik.  The Forge is red hot and smokin’!  Monday nights you may want to check out the Fat Black Pussy Cat Party at Liquid Nightclub.  Owned by Madonna’s friend, Ingrid, the dance club plays great music and often has celebrities in the house!

Allow me one more indulgence--Joe’s Stone Crab has the best Stone Crabs in the world.  The restaurant is only open for seven months a year--starting October 15th.  There is always a one-hour wait for a table, but it is worth the wait.  The bar sells cigars at a very reasonable price.  In fact, the whole menu is priced so everyone could afford a great meal.
 
 

   

Our Cigar Smoker Award for the most happening retail cigar shoppe goes to Mike’s Cigars, located in Bay Harbor.  Merchandise is displayed in an easy to find manner with a great selection including Mike’s own Licenciados and plenty of Fuente Fuente Opus X.

Miami is home to many cigar makers.  A trip to Miami’s Calle Ocho, (8th Street) will land you at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s El Credito, home of La Gloria Cubana.  Cigars are hand-rolled in the store and are sold by the bundle at a better-than-retail price.  Across the street from the El Credito, which from the outside resembles a pawn shop, you will find the customer friendly Miami-Havana cigar shoppe run by Guillermo Pineiro.  Miami-Havana has their own private label cigar and a comfortable sitting area to enjoy your smoke.  A few blocks down Calle Ocho, you will find the home of World Cigars, Inc. from Nicaragua.  World Cigars, Inc.  makes many of the private label cigars from Nicaragua including the Vegas 5 Cigar.
 

    There is an excellent Spanish restaurant next door to World Cigars, Inc. called Malaga.  The restaurant is cigar friendly and hosts local cigar events.

We did not see any coconuts or any groves in Coconut Grove, however, we did find Havana Ray’s on the Mayfair Walk.  Havana Ray’s makes their own cigars and is our second choice for a retail store with panache.

Miami’s Flagler Street has another half dozen cigar manufacturers including Nick’s Cigar, owned by Nick Perdomo, Jr. The store has an impressive amount of cigar rollers in their retail factory store.  Flagler Street is also the address of Padron Cigars, who is celebrating their 30th Anniversary with a delicious square shaped cigar.  Cigars are only sold by the box at this location.  Just next door to Padron is Havana Sunrise Cigars.  The beautiful courtyard offers a reflective setting to relax with a smoke.

Luis Sanchez’ La Tradicion Cubana Cigars is the only cigar factory in Downtown Miami.  The second floor is filled with cigar memorabilia and loads of authenticity.  This is a destination place, but worth the trip.
 

   

Macabi Cigars owned by the Juan Sosa family, has five stores around Miami with Indy Race car driver Emerson Fitipaldi, as a partner in one of them.  Cu-Avana Cigars, Prestige Cigars, Espinosa  Cigars and Dannemann Cigars all make Miami their home and take part in regularly scheduled events like the Cigar Extravaganza and the Arts Festival on the beach.

Miami is a cigar smoker’s paradise.  Cigars are being smoked everywhere without a hassle.
Just as the waves rush in and out on the shores of Miami Beach, the spanish culture permeates the culture of young and old.

Miami is fast when you want action, and slow when you want to relax.  The sun bathes you with its heat as you kick back with a fine cigar, a cool beverage and a reflection of a palm tree swaying slightly in the tropical breeze.

We wish to thank the Greater Miami Convention Visitors Bureau, and the cigar friendly National Hotel, 1677 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, for their gracious hospitality during our cigar tour of Miami.  For reservations call 800/327-8370.