Best Cigar Lounges in Australia Worth Visiting This Year

Cigars
February 9, 2026

Best Cigar Lounges in Australia Worth Visiting This Year

By Frank O'Day

There’s something undeniably civilised about settling into a proper cigar lounge. The leather chairs, the ambient lighting, the unhurried conversations punctuated by clouds of aromatic smoke, it’s a world apart from the hustle outside. But finding a genuine cigar lounge in Australia isn’t as straightforward as it once was, thanks to increasingly strict smoking regulations and the gradual disappearance of dedicated smoking venues.

That said, Australia still has a handful of exceptional cigar lounges where aficionados can properly enjoy a premium smoke. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or curious about entering the world of hand-rolled cigars, these venues offer more than just a place to light up, they provide an experience.

The Challenge of Cigar Lounges in Modern Australia

Before we dive into the venues themselves, it’s worth acknowledging the elephant in the room: Australia’s smoking laws have made operating a traditional cigar lounge increasingly difficult. Indoor smoking bans across most states mean that many establishments have had to get creative with outdoor spaces, ventilation systems, or membership structures to remain viable.

The result? Australia’s cigar lounge scene is smaller than it once was, but what remains tends to be exceptional. These aren’t your average smoke shops with a chair in the corner, they’re carefully curated spaces designed for connoisseurs who appreciate quality tobacco and the ritual surrounding it.

What Makes a Great Cigar Lounge?

Not every place that sells cigars qualifies as a proper lounge. The best venues share several characteristics:

A carefully selected humidor stocked with premium cigars from established brands like Cohiba, Montecristo, Padron, and Davidoff. Staff who actually know their product and can guide you through selections based on your preferences and experience level. Comfortable seating designed for extended sessions, not quick transactions. Proper ventilation or outdoor spaces that comply with regulations while maintaining atmosphere. A respectable drinks selection, because a good cigar deserves a complementary beverage, whether that’s whisky, rum, coffee, or something else entirely.

The venues below tick these boxes and then some.

Sydney’s Premier Cigar Destinations

Puff n Stuff, Potts Point

Address: 71 Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW 2011

Website: www.puffnstuff.com.au

Located in the heart of Potts Point, Puff n Stuff has established itself as Sydney’s go-to destination for serious cigar enthusiasts. The venue operates as a tobacconist with a dedicated members’ lounge, which allows it to navigate the smoking restrictions that have shuttered less adaptable venues.

The humidor here is genuinely impressive, stocked with Cuban cigars alongside premium offerings from Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Whether you’re after a mild Connecticut wrapper for an afternoon smoke or a full-bodied Nicaraguan ligero for the evening, the staff can point you in the right direction.

The lounge itself strikes a balance between comfort and sophistication. Leather seating, dark timber finishes, and properly functioning air filtration create an environment where you can actually enjoy your cigar without feeling like you’re standing in a car park. Members have access to lockers for storing their personal collections, and the venue regularly hosts tasting events featuring different cigar lines paired with spirits.

The Whisky Room, Sydney CBD

Address: Level 1, 93 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Website: www.thewhiskyroom.com.au

While primarily known as one of Sydney’s finest whisky bars, The Whisky Room also caters to cigar enthusiasts with a carefully curated selection and a proper outdoor smoking area. The combination makes sense, there’s a natural affinity between premium whisky and quality cigars, and this venue understands that relationship.

The cigar selection leans toward accessible premium brands rather than rare finds, which actually works in the venue’s favour for most visitors. You’re not paying through the nose for cigars you can’t find elsewhere; instead, you’re getting excellent service and a sophisticated environment in which to enjoy them.

What sets this venue apart is the expertise behind the bar. The staff understand flavour profiles, and they can recommend whisky pairings that genuinely complement your chosen cigar rather than overpower it. A peaty Islay with a medium-bodied Honduran, or perhaps a sherry cask Highland malt with a creamy Dominican, these are the conversations that happen here.

Melbourne’s Cigar Scene

Fidel’s Cigar Bar, Melbourne CBD

Address: 52 Commercial Road, Prahran VIC 3181

Website: www.fidelscigarbar.com.au

Fidel’s occupies an interesting space in Melbourne’s hospitality landscape. It’s part cigar bar, part late-night venue, and fully committed to creating an atmosphere that honours classic cigar culture while remaining distinctly Melbourne in character.

The venue operates under special licensing that allows indoor cigar smoking, making it a rare find in Australia’s heavily regulated environment. The interior evokes pre-revolution Havana, complete with vintage Cuban posters, dark wood panelling, and the kind of worn-in leather seating that looks better with age.

The cigar selection covers the expected Cuban classics alongside some excellent New World options. Staff are knowledgeable without being pretentious, which matters when you’re navigating a humidor full of options at different price points. They also stock Cuban coffee, proper rum, and a cocktail list that doesn’t rely on the same tired classics you’ll find everywhere else.

Fidel’s attracts a mixed crowd: serious cigar aficionados, curious first-timers, and late-night revellers who stumble in and discover something unexpected. That diversity actually adds to the appeal. There’s no stuffiness here, just good tobacco and good times.

Baranow Cigar Lounge, Melbourne CBD

Address: 365 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Website: www.baranow.com.au

Located on Little Collins Street, Baranow takes a more refined approach than Fidel’s. This is a members’ lounge in the traditional sense, with an emphasis on exclusivity and quality over volume.

The humidor is meticulously maintained, stocked with premium cigars that rotate based on availability and seasonal preferences. The ventilation system is exceptional, which matters enormously in an enclosed space where multiple people are smoking simultaneously. Poor ventilation can ruin even the finest cigar, but Baranow has invested in the infrastructure needed to create a genuinely pleasant environment.

Membership provides access to private lockers, advance notice of special releases and events, and a level of personalised service that’s difficult to replicate in more public venues. The lounge hosts regular whisky and cigar pairing evenings, often featuring representatives from distilleries or cigar brands who can provide insight into their products.

This isn’t a casual drop-in venue, and that’s by design. If you’re serious about cigars and want a reliable space where you can enjoy them properly, the membership investment makes sense.

Brisbane and Beyond

James Squire Brewhouse, Brisbane

Address: Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Website: www.jamessquire.com.au

While not a dedicated cigar lounge, James Squire Brewhouse in Brisbane deserves mention for its surprisingly good cigar selection and outdoor smoking area. The venue works with local tobacconists to stock a rotating selection of premium cigars, creating an unexpected option for enthusiasts in Queensland’s capital.

The beer-and-cigar combination might raise eyebrows among purists, but craft beer can actually pair beautifully with certain cigars. A rich porter alongside a maduro wrapper, or a hoppy IPA cutting through the oils of a stronger ligero, these combinations work when done thoughtfully.

The Reality in Other Australian Cities

Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Hobart have limited options for dedicated cigar lounges, primarily due to smaller markets and restrictive smoking regulations. Some tobacco retailers in these cities maintain small seating areas or outdoor spaces where customers can smoke purchases on-site, but these rarely qualify as true lounges.

Your best bet in these locations is often to purchase from a reputable tobacconist and find your own comfortable outdoor space, or to explore private cigar clubs that operate on a members-only basis.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

If you’re new to cigar lounges, a few practical considerations will help you make the most of the experience.

First, budget accordingly. Quality cigars aren’t cheap, particularly in Australia where taxation pushes prices well above international norms. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $100 or more for a single cigar, depending on size, origin, and rarity. Most lounges don’t have a separate sitting fee, but some require you to purchase drinks or become a member.

Second, don’t feel pressured to choose the most expensive option. A well-made Nicaraguan or Dominican cigar at a moderate price point will provide more enjoyment than an expensive Cuban that doesn’t match your taste preferences. Talk to the staff, explain your experience level and flavour preferences, and trust their recommendations.

Third, take your time. A proper cigar isn’t something you rush through between appointments. Depending on the size, you’re looking at anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Bring something to read, come with friends for conversation, or simply sit with your thoughts. The ritual is part of the appeal.

Pairing Your Cigar

Most serious cigar lounges offer drinks specifically chosen to complement their tobacco selection. The classic pairing is whisky, particularly bourbon, rye, or single malt Scotch. The wood, spice, and sweetness in these spirits play beautifully with cigar smoke.

Rum is another traditional choice, especially with Cuban cigars. The molasses notes in aged rum echo the sweetness in many cigar wrappers, creating a harmonious experience. Dark rum works particularly well with full-bodied cigars, while lighter aged rums suit milder smokes.

Coffee is an underrated companion, particularly for morning or afternoon cigars. The bitter notes in espresso contrast nicely with the sweetness in many tobacco leaves, and the ritual of coffee and cigar together has deep cultural roots in cigar-producing regions.

Some enthusiasts swear by cognac, port, or even craft beer. The key is finding combinations where neither the drink nor the cigar overpowers the other. Experimentation is part of the pleasure.

The Etiquette of Cigar Lounges

Cigar lounges operate with certain unwritten rules that regular patrons observe. You don’t need to know all of them walking in, but a few basics will help you fit in.

Don’t inhale cigar smoke into your lungs as you would with a cigarette. Cigars are meant to be tasted, not inhaled. Draw the smoke into your mouth, savour the flavours, then exhale.

Ash your cigar over the ashtray, but don’t tap it aggressively. A well-made cigar will hold a long ash, and there’s an art to letting it develop before gently depositing it.

Don’t stub out a cigar like a cigarette. Simply let it go out naturally when you’re finished. Stubbing releases unpleasant flavours and shows disrespect for the tobacco.

Keep conversation at a reasonable volume. These are typically intimate spaces, and shouting across the room disrupts the atmosphere.

Don’t touch other people’s cigars or assume you can share a lighter without asking. Cigar enthusiasts can be particular about their tools and their tobacco.

The Future of Cigar Lounges in Australia

The Australian cigar lounge scene faces ongoing challenges. Increasing taxation on tobacco products, tightening smoking regulations, and changing social attitudes toward smoking all create pressure on these venues.

However, the venues that survive tend to do so by offering something genuinely special, not just a place to smoke, but an experience that can’t be replicated at home or in public spaces. The combination of expert curation, comfortable environment, and community of fellow enthusiasts creates value that keeps people coming back despite the costs and inconveniences.

Membership models appear to be the future for many premium venues, allowing them to maintain quality while navigating regulatory requirements. Some lounges are also diversifying their offerings, hosting events around spirits, coffee, or even food to create multiple revenue streams beyond cigar sales.

Is a Cigar Lounge Visit Worth It?

For anyone with even a passing interest in premium cigars, visiting a proper lounge at least once is worthwhile. The guidance from knowledgeable staff alone justifies the trip, particularly if you’re still learning what you like. The atmosphere provides context that enhances the experience in ways that smoking alone in your backyard simply can’t match.

These venues represent a tradition that stretches back centuries, and while they’ve adapted to modern Australian regulations and sensibilities, they still offer a connection to that heritage. In a world of increasingly homogenised experiences, there’s value in spaces that maintain distinct character and unapologetic focus on a specific craft.

Whether you become a regular or simply enjoy an occasional visit, Australia’s remaining cigar lounges offer something increasingly rare: permission to slow down, sit comfortably, and enjoy a genuinely analog pleasure without apology or interruption.

The cigar lounges mentioned here represent the best of what’s currently available across Australia. They’re not perfect, and they’re certainly not cheap, but they understand what makes a quality cigar experience and deliver it consistently. That’s worth celebrating, and worth visiting, while they’re still around to enjoy.