Can anyone recommend a good place to buy cigars in Madrid? I thought I'd try the tobacco counter at the Corte Ingles first, but does anyone know of any specialist shops?

[ 12-12-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

Hi James! Have you been to Spain before? In the cities at least, you'll find a tobacoo shop on nearly every block (almost as many as there are bars!). They're called "ESTANCOS" and there you can buy cigarettes, cigars, lighters, postcards, and stamps among other things. They keep all tobacco products behind the counter so you'll have to know what you want or hope to see them before asking for that particular kind.

I have bought some Don Julian cigars ( www.donjulian.com - Spanish cigars) at the El Corte Inglés (basement level), but prefer to buy cigars at the smaller shops. You can, of course, buy the famed CUBAN cigars in Spain too, like "Monte Cristo #4 or #5", but they're pretty expensive. The box of 5 is about, what, $25?? Still, if I have the extra cash, this is what I'd buy while there. (By the way, folks, MadridMan doesn't smoke ANYTHING but cigars and only about one every 6 months -- except when in Spain and I might have 2 or 3 during the visit)

Saludos, MadridMan

As a frequent cigar smoker... I would recommend that you stick with Corte Ingles .. I have wasted hours in Madrid, Sevilla and Granada checking out "cigar saloons" and most of the small tobacco shops (with the yellow/brown signs) have few if any cigars... C/I prices are fair and the selection is very good. if you do happen to find a decent cigar shop please let me know about it(jllawson1@msn.com) Cuban cigars are available in many places--hoping a turist will be in to buy soon ... try the cigar from the Canary Islands they are GREAT!!

Thanks both. Think I'll stick to El Corte Ingles then. I live in London (England) so no problem getting Cuban cigars here but they're much more expensive than in Spain.

I prefer the smaller shops, giving my money to them rather than the big department stores. I have yet to find an estanco which did not have a good selection of cigars as many Spaniards do smoke them (usually older Spaniards).

Those Cuban cigars are a real treat and, being a tourist, love having the ability to buy them in Spain as they're still illegal in the USA. Hmph! I bought a box of the cuban Monte Cristos for a Spanish friend and he nearly dropped dead with excitement, always saying I spent too much and on and on. Few Spaniards can afford them -- not to say *I* can afford them, but like to treat myself from time to time.

And the cigar from the Canary Islands is, I believe, those Don Julians I mention above. I'm not convinced they're totally of Canary tobacco, but just being a Spanish company makes them more special to me.

Can't say I've ever found a tobacco shop in Madrid which was not an estanco, but any of the Madrileños here know of some, please tell us!

Saludos, MadridMan

Alcala de Henares is a little ways out; but if your travel/tourism takes you out that way: I found a tobacconist in the old Jewish quarter of Alcala who had the best prices I found on Havanas in the Madrid area.
Sorry, I can't be more specific except to say it was on a very narrow cobblestone street (no vehicles except maybe for AM deliveries) in the Judería. Something else I discovered there: Many of the shops have a mirrored peephole in the door to allow the shopkeeper to see who's at the door from the upstairs balcony (without parting the curtains and looking down)

[ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: Eddie ]

If you are flying back into London, I suggest you wait until you reach the airport, they have a great selection and you can get all the usual brands that you can at home. I have brought back for a friend a box of 50 Henri Wintermans for 4200pts. this works out at £17 a fraction of the cost compared to english prices.

It's sad, I have a couple cousins that live in Havana, and they have offered to send me Cuban Cigars, but they won't allow them here anymore, isn't that a drag? And to buy them in Cuba itself is very cheap, I know, I have been there once visiting, but I ain't planning on visiting there for a while.

Hi ChicaGuay! Are you surprised??! Cuban cigars haven't been allowed in the USA for dozens and dozens of years! Guess you'll just have to go to Spain and pick some up. On my Iberia Airlines flight back to the US recently, you could buy them duty free in-flight, but I wondered bout the consequences upon landing in the USA so I didn't buy any. You can easily buy them anywhere in Spain though.

Hey MadridMan:
The cigars they were selling on your Iberia flight back to the USA may have been MonteCristo's but they were Dominican, not Cuban. The Duty Free people know that Cuban cigars are a 'no no' for entry to the U.S.