Inside Monte-Carlo’s Luxe New Cigar Club
Cigar aficionados, your new favorite cigar club at the French Riviera is here.
The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club is opening its doors on May 28 in Monaco after undergoing many months of renovations. Housed in the esteemed Casino de Monte-Carlo, the new, ultra-exclusive spot is aiming to become one of the finest cigar clubs in the world.
To do just that, the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer—a leading luxuryLuxuryA lifestyle defined by exceptional quality, craftsmanship, exclusivity, and sophistication, encompassing the finest products, services, and experiences that represent the highest standards of refinement and excellence.Go to Luxury Glossary hospitality powerhouse in the area—decided to partner with Dominique London, a leading cigars and spirts company, to bring the project to life. The collaboration allows the Cigar Club to house no fewer than 35,000 cigars, making it the ultimate stogie haven for its members (if you happen to be staying in one of the Diamond Suites at the Société’s Monte-Carlo hotels, you can also gain access to the trove).
The smokes here include the crème de la crème of long-filler cigar brands from places like Cuba, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Peru. Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Davidoff, Montecristo, Rocky Patel, Romeo y Julieta, and Trinidad are a few of the notable brands on offer. The location’s walk-in humidor, meanwhile, is the work of Société DeArt.
If you’re in the mood for a tipple, the Cigar Club has a wide array for you to choose from, too. The cigar sommeliers are on call to choose the ultimate drink pairing for your favorite smoke based on your own preferences, whether that be cognac, whiskey, rum or Champagne. Special spirits include the Inconica Havana Club line, which serves up three Cuban rums for you to choose: Havana Club Selección de Maestros, Havana Club Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años, and Havana Club Máximo Extra Añejo. Wine, meanwhile, will come directly from the cellars at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. Tea and coffee will also be served. And for some nibbles, you can expect club sandwiches, finger foods, and even chocolate to pair with your cigar.
The decor is no slouch, either. The just-over 2,150-square-foot space is the brainchild of Moinard Béraille architecture firm. A stone-and-wood clad greets guests in the reception area. Inside, moody, tobacco-hued tones set the stage for the smoking lounge. You’ll you’ll also get pops of reds, blues, and pinks, meant to evoke both the streets of Havana and old towns dotting the Côte d’Azur. Patinated leather armchairs dot the space, the perfect perch for chatting with your fellow members—or you can choose to head to the bar, with its long, onyx countertop and collection of spirits on display. If you prefer to smoke outside, can also enjoy the Cigar Club’s airy terrace, which shows off stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Avenue de Monte-Carlo.
“The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club will be the fruition of our ongoing quest for elegance and refinement, a mission we hold above all: to offer a world of discovery, experience, wonder, and Joie de Vivre on the Riviera,” Dominique Gyselinck, founder of Dominique London, said in a statement.
The new club is also housed in the former office of François Blanc, founder of the Société des Bains de Mer. The exec once said of the locale, “Here, we give dreams, pleasures, and beauty”—a trifecta that members will be hoping to find at the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.