DINING OUT IN N.Y.C. - SMOKERS WELCOME
 
 

Many have asked for lists of places where the owners are still allowing you to smoke.  We began to compile such a list BEFORE the state decided to supercede the city ban.  The state ban does not allow for smoking  rooms.  Any place in NYC that had set aside such a room or was constructing one is no longer useful.  Therefore, we do not  have any such list and are not privy to any inside information about owners who will disobey the law anyway.  For any owner to state that publicly would be suicidal -- inviting the health police to come and fine them.  Depend on word of mouth to know where you might still be able to enjoy a cigarette indoors.

We ask people not to send us names of places that are defying the law.  We will not pass out any such information since we do not know who is really asking.  Anti-smokers could easily parade themselves around as allies and then use this information against the owners.  We will accept the names of places that fall within any legal exemptions.  Currently, those will only be cigar bars and places with outdoor accommodations (hardly inviting 8 months out of the year).
 
 

We know of De La Concha Tobacconist, located at 1390 Avenue of the Americas and Club Macanudo, located at 26 E. 63rd St., NYC.

Visit Cigar Aficionado Magazine for a list of cigar and cigarette friendly places left in New York City.

Read "Smoke Shops Offer Refuge":  In New York City, displaced smokers find a lone oasis in the lounges of tobacco retailers.

Circa Tabac, located at 32 Watts St., NYC (212-941-1781) has also informed us that they will continue to operate as a cigarette lounge.
Circa Tabac, New York City’s first and only cigarette lounge, will be exempt from the smoking ban.   On
March 30, 2003, when the citywide ban goes into effect, Circa Tabac will join the six cigar bars as the only cigarette bar that will be exempt from the law.  Circa opened in SoHo in December of 1998 as a European style smoking lounge that sells over 150 types of domestic and international cigarettes and offers a full bar, wine list, and light lounge menu.

Circa Tabac is a tribute to 1920’s and 30’s New York - a heyday of luxury when people could enjoy a cocktail, good conversation and a smoke.  Reminiscent of the never-never land of Manhattan glamour, Circa evokes the climate of a Prohibition era speakeasy.  In an atmosphere that has been described as “Casablanca elegance,” people can enjoy the Art Deco feel of a traditional smoking lounge with velvet lounge chairs, palm motif carpet and curtains, circular booths and a stainless steel inlaid mahogany bar.

Patrons can order from the epicurean appetizer menu, which has been designed to provide diners with an eclectic array of choices, including from shrimp shu mai, artichoke hearts stuffed with goat cheese, and crab cakes finished with a chile cilantro aioli.  Desserts and coffees are also offered along with classic and Champagne cocktails, a carefully selected wine list, and an extensive collection of cognac, scotch, and port.

The owners, Lee Ringelheim and Brian Michels, have managed to combine the sophistication of New York nightlife with the friendliness and familiarity of the SoHo neighborhood, drawing smokers and non-smokers alike.  Circa Tabac has always had a state of the art smoke filtration system, including a photocatalytic converter that neutralizes the smoke and removes the volatile organic compounds that create the odors.

Circa Tabac can accommodate up to 130 people and is open everyday of the week from 5:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m.  The kitchen is open daily until closing.  For more information, contact Lee Ringelheim at (917) 570-7192.
 

Karma Lounge, East Village, New York City.
Smoking Permitted.
www.karmaNYC.com

What:  lounge, music, food, smoking.
Where:  51 First Avenue  (between 3rd & 4th Streets) , NY, NY 10003
When:  7 days, 8am till 2am (4am weekends)
Contact:  (212) 677-3160
karmanyc@karmanyc.com

Subways:  F to 2nd Ave; 6 to Bleeker St.; N, R to 8th St.

Karma is open 7days a week, during which we host various ‘Theme’ nights. We are a sensual, candlelit hookah lounge.  The velvet décor, subtle fragrance of incense and deep resonant music are a delight to the senses.  The Ambient beats played early in the evening compliment our Happy Hour (everyday 3PM-8PM), and are sure to rejuvenate the soul.   For the body, we offer a light array of Indian and Cafe food that is served all night…every night!  Later in the evening the music on the main floor coincides with the ‘Theme’ of the given night, which ranges from House > Hip Hop > Reggae and Latin flavors.   There are private booths and comfortable couches available for some R&R.  Once you’ve relaxed your mind with one of our specialty cocktails, had a taste of India, and put your feet up, you mustn’t forget that Karma is currently the number one place for a ‘puff of the stuff’ (Hookah stuff, that is.)  And YES you can smoke here even after the city wide smoking ban since we are exempt as a Tobacco Bar from the smoking law. We have a variety of flavored tobacco that is served in beautiful brass hookahs.  If you wanna get down…just follow the signs… to our basement, where a mix of Hip Hop and Reggae is played. Karma is a true mix of East Village diversity in a no attitude space where everyone is welcome.
 

Velvet Cigar Lounge, East Village, NY, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn
http://www.velvetcigars.com/index.html
Complete with a state-of-the-art ventilation system and comfortable furniture, the Velvet Cigar Lounge is an ideal place for conducting business, enjoying a romantic evening for two, or catching up with friends. Velvet Cigar Lounge consistently offers a welcoming atmosphere, a courteous, attentive staff and a connoisseur's assortment of chocolate, drink and cigars.

East Village Address
80 East 7th Street
Between 1st and 2nd Avenues
New York, NY 10003
Tel: 212-553-5582
Email: info@velvetcigars.com

Hours of Operation:
Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
4:00pm - 2:00am
Saturday 12:00pm - 2:00am
Sunday 12:00pm-12am

Williamsburg Address
Conveniently located next to the infamous Peter Luger's at 174 Broadway.
 

Davidoff Columbus Circle Reopens Smoking Lounge
(as reported by Cigar Aficionado Magazine)

Cigar smokers on New York City's west side now have a smoking haven. Davidoff of Geneva, Columbus Circle, located inside the upscale Time Warner Center, has reopened the doors to the smoking lounge nestled in the back of the cigar shop. The lounge had been closed for months due to inefficient ventilation, but since the store's new manager took over in May, Davidoff's customers can light up on the premises.

The lounge is partitioned from the rest of the store by glass doors in order to contain the smoke, and is replete with plush leather chairs, a high, sculpted table and a flat-panel television. Large black-and-white, silver-framed photos of the late Zino Davidoff adorn the lime-green walls, creating a modern-looking color contrast. Soft lighting and mellow music also add to the ambience.

"This is an oasis away from the craziness that exists in the middle of a huge corporate center in midtown Manhattan. Your outside business and problems stay outside," said Herklots. In keeping with this idea, cell phone calls are prohibited within the lounge.

[T]he shop's walk-in humidor is stocked mostly with Davidoff products, with minor differences in third-party stock, most notably Fuente cigars. Exclusive Davidoff, Fonseca and La Aurora blends once offered only at Madison Avenue are now available at Columbus Circle as well.

Lounge use requires a $10 minimum purchase. The hours are Monday to Saturday, 12 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
 

Roof Bars: Drinking In the Skyline
(As compiled by Seth Kugel of the NY Times, May 21, 2006)

"Manhattan's rooftop bar season unofficially kicked off, with more than 25 high-altitude places in the city where the air is fresh (except for the cigarettes), the views are (often) stunning, and the drinks are (almost always) served in lightweight plastic, presumably to save pedestrians far below from potential injury, if not cranberry juice stains."

Twenty-Seven Rooftops

A60 at the 60 Thompson Hotel, 60 Thompson Street between Spring and Broome Streets; 212-431-0400; www.thompsonhotels.com. Hotel guests and members only.

Ava Lounge, 210 West 55th Street; 212-956-7020; www.avaloungenyc.com.

BED New York, 530 West 27th Street; 212-594-4109; www.bedny.com. Serves dinner and Sunday brunch.

Boogaloo, 168 Marcy Street between Broadway and South Fifth Street, Brooklyn; 718-599-8900. Rooftop is accessible through a rocket-ship-like tube and open Thursday through Saturday.

Bookmarks, the Rooftop Lounge at the Library Hotel, 299 Madison Avenue at 41st Street; 212-204-5498.

Broadway Bar and Terrace, 226 West 52nd Street; 646-459-5820.

Buster's Garage, 180 West Broadway between Leonard and Worth Streets; 212-226-6811; www.bustersgarage.com.

Cabanas at the Maritime Hotel, 88 Ninth Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets; 212-835-5537; www.themaritimehotel.com.

The Delancey, 168 Delancey Street between Attorney and Clinton Streets; 212-254-9920; www.thedelancey.com. View of the Williamsburg Bridge.

The Eagle, 554 West 28th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue; 646-473-1866; www.eaglenyc.com. Gay leather and Levi's scene; barbecue Sundays from 5 p.m.

Heights Bar and Grill, 2867 Broadway between 111th and 112th Streets; 212-866-7035; www.heightsnyc.com. Near Columbia University.

Jade Terrace at the China Club, 268 West 47th Street; 212-398-3800; www.chinaclubnyc.com.

Latitude, 783 Eighth Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets; 212-245-3034; www.latitudebarnyc.com.

Local West, 1 Penn Plaza at Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street; 212-629-7070; www.localcafenyc.com. Across the street from Madison Square Garden.

Me Bar at La Quinta Inn, 17 West 32nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; 212-290-2460. Great Empire State Building view.

Metro Grill Roof Garden at the Hotel Metro, 45 West 35th between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; 212-279-3535; www.hotelmetronyc.com. Closed weekends.

The Roof Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street; 212-879-5500; www.metmuseum.org.

The Park, 118 Tenth Avenue between 17th and 18th Ave; 212-352-3313, www.theparknyc.com. Rooftop penthouse with hot tub complements the 4,000-square-foot ground-floor garden.

Pen-Top Bar at the Peninsula Hotel, 700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street; 212-956-2888; www.newyork.peninsula.com.

Plunge at the Gansevoort Hotel, 18 Ninth Avenue at West 13th Street; 212-206-6700; www.hotelgansevoort.com.

Rare View at the Shelburne Murray Hill Hotel, 303 Lexington Avenue at 37th Street; 212-481-1999; www.affinia.com.

Red Sky, 47 East 29th Street between Park and Madison Avenues; 212-447-1820; www.redskynyc.com. Third-floor roof deck.

Sky Terrace at the Hudson Hotel, 356 West 58th Street; 212-554-6000; www.hudsonhotel.com. For hotel guests only.

Sushi Samba 7, 87 Seventh Avenue South at Barrow Street; 212-691-7885; www.sushisamba.com.

The Terrace at Sutton Place Bar and Restaurant, 1015 Second Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets; 212-207-3777; www.suttonplacenyc.com.

13, 35 East 13th Street at University Place; 212-979-6677; www.bar13.com.

Top of the Tower at the Beekman Tower Hotel, 3 Mitchell Place at 49th Street and First Avenue; 212-980-4796; www.affinia.com. Old-school top-floor bar has two small outdoor areas.

230 Fifth, 230 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street; 212-725-4300.
 
 

 Orbit
2257 First Ave. (at 116th St.)
New York, NY 10029
212-348-7818
Orbit has become a neighborhood presence uptown with an eclectic offering
of dishes at very reasonable prices. On the menu are the standard continental
favorites-- steak, roasted pork chops, pastas -- as well as some new twists on these old
favorites. The pastas are made fresh daily and the rotating raviolis are made in-house.
The duck rolls and the stacked veggie platter appetizers have become so popular
that they are now considered Orbit's signature dishes. Friendly, knowledgeable service
can be expected, and the wine list and full bar are great amenities.
They are open for lunch and dinner daily, with a spectacular brunch on the weekends.
The bar stays open well into the night, often till last call.
Thursday nights are your chance to sing along at karaoke night
"Smoking is allowed and welcomed..."
 
 

Cigar Life
Lists cigar friendly bars and restaurants in all of New York State.


ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON SMOKE-FREE ESTABLISHMENTS

Smoking Ban will Send Profits "Up in Smoke" - This letter to the editor by Dave Pickrell, the founder of Smokers Fighting Discrimination, outlines the manipulation used in studies that claim restaurants are not financially harmed.  It is an eye-opener.
State code sends signal on smoking in bars:  Owners can be sued for unfair business practices
By Matthew T. Hall, Union-Tribune, February 24, 2001
If smoking bans in bars do not cause financial harm then someone had better explain why bar owners who heed the law and do not allow smoking in their bars are suing the bars that do not comply with the restrictions, claiming that these bars are stealing their customers. Actions speak louder than the manipulated financial analysis the anti-smokers hold up as "gospel."

"The Level Playing Field"

It never hurts to tweak the Antis as well with the fact that when they seek
to "level the playing field" by forcing an entire region to go smokebanned
that they're blatantly admitting that such banning is so unpopular that even
a small town can't hope to draw enough customers from all the smoky bars
around it if they enforce the ban: the level playing field argument is a
tacit admission that "the people" do NOT want these bans!
 

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