Cigar Connoisseurs Have a New Place to Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Talk about a breath of fresh air! One look around the ocean view patio, the sparkling blue glass filled fire pits, and the comfy outdoor furniture and it’s clear that this is not your grandfather’s cigar lounge. This al fresco terrace setting has lovely hand-painted murals, and overlooks the resort’s spa pool, allowing for gentle breezes and a much more welcoming atmosphere for those who aren’t indulging in cigars. 

Which is not to say that traditionalists won’t find plenty to appreciate at the new Cohiba Experience at The Bacara, which opened to the public this week. 

As one might imagine, the first permanent Cohiba Cigar Lounge in the U.S. does have a stunning cedar-lined, walk-in humidor, dominated by Cohiba’s famous logo — the most recognizable cigar name in the world, it was once Fidel Castro’s private label brand and in the same kind of luxury category as Dom Pérignon Champagne and Rolls Royce — and an assortment of selections from the storied brand such as the Red Dot (Dominican Republic), Cohiba Blue (Honduras), and the Royale (Nicaragua).