Puffing in the Postseason: 2008 — pg. three

Alejandro Benes
Posted: September 30, 2008

Tampa Bay
Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar
Tropicana Field offers the "only cigar bar at a major league ballpark." It's a comfy little — 1,500 square feet — lounge where you can puff your favorite cigar and watch the game on the tube. The lounge is located on the upper level of Centerfield Street just across from the Batter's Eye Restaurant. If you want to hit a real party bar, try out Gaspar's Grotto in historic cigar center Ybor City in Tampa. They'll let you smoke cigars inside if it's not packed and they have great rums that tie into its hokey pirate theme.

Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar
Tropicana Field
One Tropicana Drive
St. Petersburg, FL
727-825-3378

Gaspar's Grotto
1805 East 7th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
813-248-5900

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFF CITIES

Chicago (North Side)

Yeah, yeah, the Baby Bears are in again. Great. 100 years. Billy Goat. Lots of fun. The bad news is that since last year, Illinois enacted an anti-smoking law that has reduced this once-great cigar city to a great place to eat and drink and watch baseball. OK, not too bad really, but no more puffing at Ditka's or Gibson's. Chicago, to its credit, still boasts some of the best cigar shops in the nation in which to enjoy a cigar and some of the most knowledgeable tobacconists anywhere. Which one you go to depends on where you are in the city, though Chicago offers the best train service to its ballparks of any of the places in the postseason. One thing, they're not open late. I'm sure you'll be able to find a patio or sidewalk spot outside your favorite bar on Rush Street after the game. My three favorites are:

Jack Schwartz Importer (south and west of the Loop; home of the free matches)
141 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL
312-782-7898

Up Down Cigar (Old Town, closest to Wrigley)
1550 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
800-587-3696

Iwan Ries (Loop)
19 South Wabash Avenue 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL
800-621-1457

Los Angeles

The interior of Ceniza Cigar Lounge.

L.A. and much of Southern California are actually much more cigar-friendly than reputation would indicate. I live here and so, without adieu, my geographically diverse, Dodger Stadium triangulating recommendations, all reviewed at cigaraficionado.com's Cigar Bar Central:

Buena Vista Cigar Club & Lounge
9715 South Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA
310-273-8100

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