Club Habana perfect spot for cigars, appetizers, drinks

I love cigars and find that absolutely nothing goes better with a cocktail than a good stogie.

Before Charleston's smoking ban went into effect, anytime I went out in the evening friends would find me with a glass in one hand and a cigar in the other.

To this day, people still ask, temporarily forgetting about the smoking ban, "Hey, Jack, where's your cigar?"

While most of my cigar enjoyment occurs at home these days, there is one place in Charleston where this age-old pastime is not only still legal, but encouraged.

Club Habana is a cigar smoker's dream, where after choosing a smoke in the Tinderbox smoke shop downstairs (cigars are also available in Club Habana after shop hours), customers can walk upstairs to relax on big, plush chairs and elegant couches in an upscale, luxurious setting that fits downtown Charleston to a T.

Club Habana features fine wine, top-shelf bourbon, a superior scotch selection, martini specialties, quality brew and then some.

Appetizers include personal favorites mini beef Wellingtons and bacon-wrapped scallops.

Their "Continental Cheese Board" has always been a big hit.

But while Club Habana has got all the right ingredients for a good cigar bar (quality beverages, food, cigars, and yes, a top-notch smoke filtration system), what has made it a success since 1996 is the environment.

The relaxation factor is second to none for a bar of its kind, and it's a great place for both cigar connoisseurs and non-smokers alike.

Upscale, but by no means exclusive, I've been to Club Habana with friends, family, colleagues and many dates. Men, women, young, old, virtually everyone has loved it.

And I love that there's at least one place left where I can still enjoy a favorite, if increasingly forbidden, pastime.

If you go

What: Club Habana.

Where: 177 Meeting St. (above the Tinderbox).

Phone: 853-5900.

Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Monday through Saturday; 1-2 p.m., Sunday.

Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. weekdays.

Web site: www.clubhabana.com.