Before Entering
For 95% of beginners, the first visit to a cigar lounge comes with uncertainty about "what to do" and "what not to do."
This is the "Beginner's Etiquette Guide" accumulated over 5 years by W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge, so that on your first visit, you can feel like a regular customer.
Before Entering
Dress Code
A cigar dining bar is not a nightclub, but it is also not a place to show up casually in shorts and flip-flops.
Safe attire:
- Men: shirt + long trousers + leather shoes (or casual shoes)
- Women: dress, shirt + long trousers, smart casual
- Avoid: T-shirt, shorts, flip-flops, sportswear
The atmosphere of W Cigar Bar is "gentlemen's club + private clubhouse" -- dressing appropriately is not only polite, but also a sign of respect for other guests.
Reservation or Walk-in
Reservations are strongly recommended. Seating in cigar lounges is limited, especially on weekend evenings, when it is often full.
Reservation methods for W Cigar Bar:
- Book directly via the Google Maps link for the Da'an main store
- Reserve through the official LINE account
- Contact directly by phone
After Entering
Step 1: Choose a Seat
Cigar lounges usually have several types of seating areas:
- Bar counter area: suitable for solo guests, suitable for interacting with the staff/Cigar Prince
- Sofa area: best for small gatherings of 2-4 people, the most comfortable
- VIP private room: business, privacy, reservation required
Beginners are advised to sit at the bar counter -- Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai is usually at the bar and can be consulted at any time.
Step 2: Order a Cigar
Do not know how to order? Simply say, "I am a beginner. Please recommend a mild cigar within a budget of NT$1,000."
The staff will recommend based on your needs. Do not feel embarrassed to ask -- this is the core service of a cigar dining bar.
Good questions to ask:
- "What is the production region of this cigar?"
- "How is the strength?"
- "What drink should it be paired with?"
- "I am a beginner. What ring gauge is recommended for a first cigar?"
Step 3: Order a Drink
The drinks menu at a cigar lounge is usually extensive: whisky (single malt, bourbon, blended), cognac, sherry, wine, champagne, and cocktails.
Do not know how to pair? Tell the staff your cigar choice + budget, and ask for a recommendation.
W Cigar Bar has 200+ drinks available, and the Cigar Prince personally recommends the best pairing for each guest.
While Smoking a Cigar
5 Things Not to Do
1. Do not crush the cigar into the ashtray to extinguish it
A cigar is not like a cigarette -- just let it go out naturally. Crushing it out will make the cigar produce bitterness and affect the next puff (if you have not finished it).
2. Do not use a Zippo lighter with fuel vapor to light a cigar
The fuel vapor from a Zippo will contaminate the cigar's flavor. Use:
- Cedar spill (the most traditional)
- Torch jet lighter (the most commonly used) -- the LUBINSKI Italian accessories official website cigarclub.tw has a complete selection
- Sulfur-free matches
3. Do not talk while blowing out large mouthfuls of smoke
Cigar smoke can drift into other people's faces -- put the cigar down when speaking, and gently release the smoke from the corner of your mouth or through your nose.
4. Do not speak too loudly on your phone
The atmosphere of a cigar lounge is "quiet and slow" -- speaking loudly on the phone disrupts the ambience. If you need to take a call, please step outside the lounge or go to a private room.
5. Do not spend half the time taking photos and checking in
You can take photos, but do not overdo it. A cigar is a 60-90 minute ritual -- immersive experience > social media display.
5 Things to Do
- Smoke slowly -- one puff every 60-90 seconds, do not rush
- Observe the ash -- the ash of a good cigar can hold for more than 2 cm
- Smell the nasal aftertaste -- the core of cigar appreciation
- Chat with people around you -- cigars are a "social accelerant"
- Enjoy the moment -- do not watch the time, do not be in a hurry
When Settling the Bill
Tipping Culture
Cigar lounges in Taiwan do not have a mandatory tipping culture, but if the staff/Cigar Prince has provided especially good service (recommended a cigar you were satisfied with, taught you how to cut it, accompanied you in conversation about cigar culture), giving a NT$100-300 tip is a gentlemanly gesture.
Membership
W Cigar Bar Da'an main store has VIP cigar lockers -- 33 private cellaring lockers (24-hour aging, dedicated maintenance). Members can store cigars they have purchased in the lounge and take out their own cigars to smoke on each visit.
VIP member benefits:
- Private cigar locker storage (33 VIP cigar lockers at the Da'an main store, 24-hour aging, dedicated maintenance)
- Professional environment for cigar collection aging (humidity 70%, temperature 18°C constant year-round)
- Priority consultation with the Cigar Prince
- Priority for limited-item trial smoking
- Member-exclusive time slots at the Da'an main store
For details, please ask Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai or the staff.
Conclusion
A cigar lounge is not a place that is "out of reach"; it is a "gentleman's living room."
On your first visit, bring curiosity, let go of assumptions, and ask honestly -- you will discover that cigar lounges are among the warmest places in Taipei.
W Cigar Bar Gentlemen's Cigar Lounge · Taipei Da'an District · Purchased through four major official channels · General distributor of LUBINSKI cigar accessories · Founding store of the Capadura cigar brand.
Reservation: Da'an Main Store. Accessories reference: cigarclub.tw.
Warning: Smoking is harmful to health. Quit-smoking hotline: 0800-636363.
