We began in Costa Mesa at the liquor store Hi Time. Most Orange County wine aficionados are familiar with this 50 year-old store’s 24,000 square feet of retail space, featuring over 10,000 different wines. And much to our delight, we discovered their competitive pricing on over 400 different brands and sizes of cigars in their humidor! All in all, it’s a destination worth visiting.
Hi Times is located at 250 Ogle Street, Costa Mesa, CA – 714-901-2324
Next we moved inland a little bit to Siglo Cigar Lounge in Newport Beach. Saeed (sigh-eed), the owner, has a sign posted next to the humidor that says “Hours: the party starts when you arrive, and ends when you leave!” Aside from an excellent cigar selection, beautiful accessories and a cozy lounge, the shop is located conveniently next to a Togo’s and a Shari’s.
Overall, I was a little disappointed by how dusty everything was, but we still had a great time.
Siglo Cigar Lounge is located at 1000 Bristol Street North, Newport Beach, CA – 949-553-1891
Heading south on PCH lead us into the jewel that is Laguna Beach. On our way through, we decided to stop somewhere new- Cubana Cigars. Cubana has a fantastic location on the second floor of a strip mall with a patio and view of the ocean, but the lounge in non-existent and the selection is disappointing. Unless this is a quick stop on a warm day, this is not a destination place.
Cubana Cigars is located at 1400 South Coast Highway, Suite 101, Laguna Beach, CA – 949-715-9400
Our next destination? Mr. Bones. Mr. Bones is the kind of shop that you wouldn’t know of if you didn’t stumble across it. The store is located a few steps below the level of the sidewalk, giving the whole shop a very intimate feel.
The humidor is small- the two of us struggled to change places and browse- but full of cigars. Large couches and strategically placed TVs would make it a fun place to hang out with a friend or two, but that would be a capacity crowd. We didn’t stick around.
Mr. Bones is located at 325 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach, CA – 949-494-8665
We then headed up the 133 Freeway to Cigar Oasis. And believe me, it felt like an oasis! Located around the corner in a poorly designed strip mall, we had to call one of our friends who’s a regular to find the place!
Once we were there, we were rewarded with an excellent house blend cigar and a spacious lounge featuring a projector playing ESPN on what must have been a 10’ square portion of the wall! With well designed lockers and a combination snack/soda machine, this is a shop that we’ll visit again.
Cigar Oasis is located at 26841 Aliso Creek Road, Suite B, Aliso Viejo, CA – 949-831-3038
Our last stop was that old standby, Maxamars in Orange. The owner, Amare, is the number one Davidoff and Graycliff retailers in California. With one of the largest humidors of any shop in California, Maxamar’s is a great place to stock up and sample new sticks. With two barber’s chairs in the main lounge and a poker table with a projection-screen TV and Xbox in the back, it’s a great place to meet new friends.
Maxamar’s is located at 3744 East Chapman Ave, Suite E, Orange, CA 92869.
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Mr. Bones has changed names. It is now called Lloyd’s Fine Cigars & Tobacco. It has totally been remodeled and reconfigured. The sitting area can accommodate 4 people and a smaller sitting area for 2. It has a big screen TV and is extremely comfortable. It also has bench sitting outside the door on the sidewalk.
The humidor, which was moved. has a good selection. The only caveat was the person working when I went didn’t smoke cigars so his knowledge was limited and he smoked cigarettes inside the store which gave it a funky smell.