First Time at a Cigar Bar? What to Expect | Smoke Rings Hazleton

First Time at a Cigar Bar? Here’s What to Expect

A lot of people drive past Smoke Rings for months before they come in. Not because they’re not interested, but because they don’t know how it works and they don’t want to look like they don’t belong.

So let’s take that off the table.

You don’t need to know anything

This is the big one. Nobody’s quizzing you at the door. The cigar world has a reputation for being snobby, and some places earn it. We don’t run it that way.

Tell the guy behind the bar you’ve never done this and you want something easy. That’s it. You’ll get a recommendation, and you’ll get help with the cut and the light if you want it. Everybody here started with a first cigar.

How it actually works

1. Come in and grab a seat. Lounge chairs, bar, or the patio. Wherever looks good.

2. Pick a cigar from the humidor. It’s a walk-in room, so you go in and look. Ask for help. If you want something mild, say so.

3. Order a drink. We’ve got a full bar: beer, liquor, specialty cocktails. Bourbon’s the classic pairing, but drink what you like.

4. Sit down and take your time. That’s the whole thing. A cigar takes about an hour. You’re not supposed to rush it.

The questions we actually get asked

What does it cost? Depends on the cigar. There’s a wide range in the humidor. Tell your bartender a number and they’ll point you at it. You don’t have to spend big to have a good night.

Can I bring my own cigar? Most cigar bars, including ours, want you buying from the humidor. That’s part of how a cigar bar operates legally in Pennsylvania.

What do I wear? Whatever you want. We’re in Hazleton, not Manhattan. People come in from work, from the gym, from a date. One thing worth knowing: cigar smoke stays in your clothes. Wear something you can throw in the wash.

Do I inhale? No. Cigar smoke is for tasting, not inhaling. Draw it into your mouth, taste it, let it go.

Is it just guys? No, and that’s changed a lot. More women and more younger people are coming out to lounges than a few years ago, and that’s true here too. We run ladies’ nights for exactly that reason.

Can I come alone? Plenty of people do. Sit at the bar and you’ll end up in a conversation. That’s kind of the point of the place.

What the room is like

Three thousand square feet. A full bar, a walk-in humidor, leather lounge chairs and an outdoor patio. The look is modern with industrial details, which fits a town built on hard work. It’s a place to slow down.

We run poker nights, ladies’ nights, live music and seasonal events, so if you’d rather come in on a night when something’s happening, check our events page.

Just come in

Honestly, the only hard part is the first time. After that it’s just a chair, a drink and an hour you’re not rushing.

Smoke Rings Cigar Bar, Hazleton, PA. 21+, bring your ID.