This former English teacher likes circumambulations, so here we go. When my father died in 1994, I inherited $500.00. I took that money and bought a Daniel Marshall humidor! That should give you an indication of my cigar smoking experience . . .
For you cigar aficianados I need not repeat stuff about the elegance and charm of this business. Google Maps photos does a great job of that. Most striking to me, actually shocking, were the low prices of the cigars! You all know that for a good quality cigar special deals, discounts, etc. don't exist unless you are buying a fake cigar or have no idea how to judge quality. If you want the good stuff, you gotta pay the money. That being said, a Chateau was RD$ 300.00. That's amazing! The same at La Leyenda on El Conde, a place which boasts excellent quality house cigars, such as their robusto maduro, that same Chateau costs RD$ 650.00, more than double the price! An Opus X was RD$ 1,500, seemingly a low price for their premier cigar; however, I smoked one in Chicago around 25 years ago, soon after it came out, and I think then I paid about $60.00 USD. I thought it was over-rated, so I have no idea where that particular cigar stands on the quality scale compared to the Hemingway series, for example.
The arrangement of the lounge, with the bar at the center, provided lots of comfortable seating areas for different sizes of groups. I went there in the early afternoon, and I was one of the few. I smoked, drank coffee, and read a book. It started to pick up around 5:30. Since it closes at 12.00 midnight, it's probably best to go there in the evening if you want activity.
The bathroom was spotless. I tried a small meal, lasagna stuffed with spinach. It was excellent and moderately priced. The menu is small but complete: cheeses and meats as appetizers; some salads; some entrees; some desserts.
The low prices indicate to me that this business is not about making money per se but, rather, is a showcase for the Arturo Fuente enterprise, and I think that its appointments, refinement, and low prices, reflect that pride.
For you cigar aficianados I need not repeat stuff about the elegance and charm of this business. Google Maps photos does a great job of that. Most striking to me, actually shocking, were the low prices of the cigars! You all know that for a good quality cigar special deals, discounts, etc. don't exist unless you are buying a fake cigar or have no idea how to judge quality. If you want the good stuff, you gotta pay the money. That being said, a Chateau was RD$ 300.00. That's amazing! The same at La Leyenda on El Conde, a place which boasts excellent quality house cigars, such as their robusto maduro, that same Chateau costs RD$ 650.00, more than double the price! An Opus X was RD$ 1,500, seemingly a low price for their premier cigar; however, I smoked one in Chicago around 25 years ago, soon after it came out, and I think then I paid about $60.00 USD. I thought it was over-rated, so I have no idea where that particular cigar stands on the quality scale compared to the Hemingway series, for example.
The arrangement of the lounge, with the bar at the center, provided lots of comfortable seating areas for different sizes of groups. I went there in the early afternoon, and I was one of the few. I smoked, drank coffee, and read a book. It started to pick up around 5:30. Since it closes at 12.00 midnight, it's probably best to go there in the evening if you want activity.
The bathroom was spotless. I tried a small meal, lasagna stuffed with spinach. It was excellent and moderately priced. The menu is small but complete: cheeses and meats as appetizers; some salads; some entrees; some desserts.
The low prices indicate to me that this business is not about making money per se but, rather, is a showcase for the Arturo Fuente enterprise, and I think that its appointments, refinement, and low prices, reflect that pride.
