Good Cigar Stores in Toronto, Ontario

I've heard good things about The Smoking Cigar.

Have you rborrell ever bought a cigar from them before? If yes was it good? Did you notice anything weird?

Is Freddy friendly? I'm guessing yes since you know him by name, but post it anyway.

One thing I like about The Smoking Cigar is that they list their prices. Wish some of the other Toronto Cigar stores did that. Good to know some of their stock as well.

Will definately check it out one of these days.
 
Cigar Lover 101 said:
I've heard good things about The Smoking Cigar.

Have you rborrell ever bought a cigar from them before? If yes was it good? Did you notice anything weird?

Is Freddy friendly? I'm guessing yes since you know him by name, but post it anyway.

One thing I like about The Smoking Cigar is that they list their prices. Wish some of the other Toronto Cigar stores did that. Good to know some of their stock as well.

Will definately check it out one of these days.
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I have bought a few things from The Smoking Cigar. I first had one of their house brands on a golf course (they were in the registration gift bag). I have not bought any Cubans there but they have the full selection. What they don't list on the web site are the non-Cuban brands they stock. I have not had a problem with anything I bought there.

Freddy is a super guy. He is very helpful and and he responds to email requests as well. He has offered to take an email order from me to have it ready for pickup if I wanted. If you go there, ask for him and tell him that Bruce from Aurora sent you. I don't know he he would remember me but he has my email address which is my user name here @ sympatico. ca.
 
Here's another cigar shop I popped into today.

I actually don't remember the exact name but it's located on Bloor St. near Bathurst. It's a convience store located pretty much right beside the Second Cup coffee shop.

Open Monday to Sunday 10 AM to Midnight.

So, first impressions. Well I didn't expect much from a convience store, but that's not why I'm writing this review. I reviewed this one because if you are desperate for a cigar and you are in the area, and it's late at night (after 9 PM) then come here.

The place mostly sells magazine's. The prices are very expensive. The cigars are stored in a glass case, most are tubo's and some single's are still wrapped in cellophane. The cigars looked okay, and seem to move as some of the boxes were almost empty. Once I buy one from here I'll let you know if it was good.

So here are the exact prices and stock that interested me.

H. Upmann Petit Corona - $5.99
Romeo Y Julieta #1 Tubo - $16.99
Romeo Y Julieta #2 Tubo - $14.00
Romeo Y Julieta #3 Tubo - $12.00

They also had a Hoyo Tubo and a Partagas Tubo (don't remember the exact one) a few Montecristo's but I'm not into them that much.

Okay, again the prices are expensive, but if you're in the area late at night and want one of the above smokes, at least you know where to pick one up. I frequent that area quite a bit so it might come in handy if I'm ever stuck and really want a smoke and don't mind paying a few bucks more for one. Might as well call this place 'Last Resort Convience Store".

Hope this helps.
 
rborrell said:
There are also two stores called Cigars For You. One is on the north side of Steeles between Yonge and Bathurst. The other is on Carlingview near the airport. In a strip plaza near the strip joint.
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Been to this place and wrote up my experience when I did...

"The second shoppe was called "Cigars for You" at 330 Steeles W in Thornhill. The place was really nice and had an awesome walk-in humidor. The sales guy was an older asian man who was very helpfull. He asked me what kind of cigars I like and my price range. He spent plenty of time with me explaining the strengths of each kind of cig he had for sale and what he smokes. He also pointed out that he got some CAO cigars that he did not like and that he would be sending back (they were in a nice black box, if you know what these are please chime in). Anyhow I wasn't planning on buying anything until he mentioned one of his daily fav smoke is a Punch and the Quintero. Since I didnt know much about the Quintero I bought the punch (it was a coronita size I think for $5.95 Canadian)."
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Update:

So I decided to pick up a cigar at the convience store place on Bloor St. near the Second Cup. The store is called International Press something.

Let me save you some cash. The cigar I bought was very dry. I already had a feeling it wasn't going to be that good, but I thought I'd give it a chance. Only cost me six bucks plus tax so I didn't lose much.

I've never bought a cigar at a convience store before that was good, with the exception of Cheers Smoke Shop.

Take my advice, be warry of convience store cigars, although it kinda goes without saying.

I really got to start buying my own boxes and stop buying singles from stores for so many reasons.

Anyway, hope this review helps out the CS Toronto community.
 
Great Reviews guys. I'm just getting into the Cigar scene and it's nice to know about all the shops in Toronto.

I need some cigars for graduation and then up to wasaga for the long weekend what do you guys recommend that i buy? also which store in toronto is best for singles?
 
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Ez_V said:
Great Reviews guys. I'm just getting into the Cigar scene and it's nice to know about all the shops in Toronto.

I need some cigars for graduation and then up to wasaga for the long weekend what do you guys recommend that i buy? also which store in toronto is best for singles?
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Honestly for a Newbie, go to Smokin' Cigar on Bayview. Freddy will help you out.
 
If you guys are heading north, check out Cigar Bodega in Unionville. It's north of Hwy. 7 about 5 min. east of Hwy. 404.
The selection is top shelf and the owner, Sarah is great. Prices are on par with what you'll pay in other shops (how much can they really discount with out taxes?) but she has everything.
There's always a brand of the month on special (last time I was in she had Grand Habanos on with a buy-three-get-one-free deal).
A cabinet up front has a bunch of budget smokes for about $10 or less and the walk-in in the back has a good selection of premiums. The original house brand was tasty, though I found the draw a little loose. To celebrate her 10th anniversary, she has launched a new blend I'm hoping to try out.
All the vitals are on the website:
http://www.cigarbodega.com/
 
rborrell said:
Honestly for a Newbie, go to Smokin' Cigar on Bayview. Freddy will help you out.
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+1.

Dropped by as I was in the area. Picked up a nice humi and some accessories. Freddy is a great guy; very friendly and patient with my questions.

I spent a good ten or fifteen minutes just browsing the store. Freddy greeted me but left me alone to wander; never felt pressured. But, when I decided what I wanted, he was great about educating me about each of my purchases.

The store is a little out of my way, but a he'll get my business from here on out...
 
I've heard different stories about Canadian smoking laws, so let me ask...in which of these places would I actually be able to sit down and light up?

Some of my friends keep taking trips north to ride the streetcars in Toronto...one of these years I may have to go along....
 
A trip just to ride our streetcars?!?! uh, ok? Just kidding. Some of the older ones are really cool. Check this link out: http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/pcc_historic_charters.htm

It's a charter tour of Toronto on an "antique" streetcar. I saw it last year. It looks pretty cool.

As for smoking laws, it goes city-by-city. Toronto is pretty strict now. Basically, no smoking in enclosed public places. Not in bars, not in restaurants and not at sports events.

It is ok to smoke on an open patio IF it does not have a roof. But, get this: if it has a permanent (or permanently affixed but retractable) awning, no smoking. A table umbrella is ok, but no awning.

I think Vancouver is pretty much the same (if not worse). Montreal and Quebec are more relaxed. In fact, the further east, the more "welcome" BOTL/SOTL are welcome....
 
Bythehour said:
As for smoking laws, it goes city-by-city. Toronto is pretty strict now. Basically, no smoking in enclosed public places. Not in bars, not in restaurants and not at sports events.
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So this includes tobaconnists? :tg

I think Vancouver is pretty much the same (if not worse). Montreal and Quebec are more relaxed. In fact, the further east, the more "welcome" BOTL/SOTL are welcome....
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Ah vraiment? I may have to brush up on my French!
 
M1903A1 said:
So this includes tobaconnists? :tg



Ah vraiment? I may have to brush up on my French!
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Mais oui. Tobacconists and even private clubs.

It gets worse. I understand that in another year, tobacco products cannot be displayed in plain sight at retail establishments. Tobacconists may be exempt from this rule if they register with the city as a specialty shop. However, convenience stores or newstands (like Relay or LMPI) will not be able to display cigars, etc.

Geez, I'm getting depressed thinking about all this crap...time to spark up a stick....
 
Here's an updated review of La Casa Del Habano in Toronto.

La Casa Del Habano

Even though I've been in here tons of times to pick up sulfur free matches, today was the first time I actually walked into the humidor.

The staff was knowledgeable and I didn't feel too pretencious when asking to see the box dates. I noticed a few cigars had a few white spots on them, but only in a few boxes.

Today I was lucky enough to pick up a La Gloria Cubana Sabrosos for $25.00 Canadian that had a May 2002 box date. I can't wait to try it later today.:dr

Overall not as bad as I originally thought, but some of the staff are way too corporate. One guy was cool and then this other salesman who worked there suddenly jumped at us when I went to purchase it asking me for I.D.

I find this funny as I'm 26 years old and don't look that young, but I showed it anyway. Then he says:

"Yeah, it's okay. You can sell it to him, he's 30." Obvisiously he can't do math or he didn't read my I.D. correctly. Then when he put my cigar in my Havana Pocket Humidor, he actually said to me:

"You actually use that thing?" which I responded with that "I love it and use it all the time." It's not made of leather but at least it's got a sponge unlike their three finger cigar cases that look cool but does not have a sponge.

As a heplful CS Member, anyone from Toronto who wants a La Gloria Cubana Sabrosos from 2002, they have about ten or so left.

Most of the other cigars they have there have a box date of 2006 or 2007 which kinda sucks.

Bottom line is I would definately go back here again, even if some of the staff is a bit weird as it's the only cigar store I've been to in Toronto that I've seen that carries La Gloria Cubana. Actually they only carry La Gloria Cubana Sabrosos and the No.2 for anyone interested in La Gloria Cigars.

Hope this helps.
 
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This past weekend I stopped into the Cigar Bordega store in Unionville. Not a bad little shop. The guy there was friendly and helpful. I picked up a couple of their house sticks and some Don Tomas Maduros.
 
rborrell said:
This past weekend I stopped into the Cigar Bordega store in Unionville. Not a bad little shop. The guy there was friendly and helpful. I picked up a couple of their house sticks and some Don Tomas Maduros.
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Did you get the new anniversary house blend? Hoping to try them next time I'm in.
 
Great thread and lots of info.
I'm headed to Oakville, Ontario the week of August 20th for some training and it looks like Toronto is pretty darn close. I'll probably get that way 2 or 3 times for a smoke at the LCdH.
 
Here's a place a fellow BOTL clued me into. He lives downtown so it's close to him.

http://www.correnticigars.com/

They actually make cigars there. he tells me that you can watch them rolled. They are downtown on Kinf between Spadina and Bathurst.

Sean, Oakville is about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto - I visit clients in Oakville/Burlington a couple of times a week. If schedules work, perhaps you can hook up with some Canuck BOTL.
 
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