Cigar Bars and Focus on Chelsea & Fulham
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Cigar Bars
"Happiness is a cigar" - not our words. The words of Collet Dickenson, the Hamlet advertising agency.
Fluid isn't condoning smoking. We know it's not big, it's not clever and it makes you smell funny. But
lately, we've been hopelessly sucked into several fine cigar bar establishments, drawn in by the roar of
the open fire and the chill of winter in our bones. Besides, this bad habit is being banned in bars from
next July so it's our last chance to indulge.
Before we tell you the best places in town to fill your festive lungs, we insist you are briefed on the
basics of the cigar – knowledge is power (and it will stop smoking virgins from an embarrassing choking fit).
History:
Christopher Columbus is credited with the invention of the cigar, but the mighty wanderer merely introduced
wrapped tobacco to Europe. The oldest evidence dates back to 900 AD after a cave painting of a man enjoying
a fat cigar was found at a Mayan Guatemalan archaeological site in Central America.
Cigars are not just for men:
There’s a certain powerful manliness associated with cigars. Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Groucho Marks
and Robert DeNiro have won wars and Oscars with a Havana firmly clamped in their mouth. But the fairer sex
have fought back and Madonna, Gerri Halliwell and Daryl Hannah are just a few famous ladies who advocate
lighting up once in a while.
Advice for the novice:
For the inexperienced cigar smoker, you need to know the ground rules before lighting up. The secret is to
puff and rotate about every 30 to 60 seconds. Do NOT inhale the smoke, just taste it in your mouth and blow
it out. If you smoke a cigar too fast, it will burn hot and ruin the flavor, smoke too slow and it will go
out. Since most hand rolled cigars are made with long filler, you don’t have to flick the ashes until they
are at least ½ to one inch long, depending on the cigar (and any wind conditions, if you are outdoors).
You can smoke a cigar as far down as you wish, depending on the taste.
Other than the taste and draw of the cigar itself, the drink chosen to accompany a cigar is the second most
important factor that will affect your enjoyment of the experience. If comparing different cigars, always
make sure to have the same drink. Many drinks are compatible with mild cigars, but as you move up to medium
and full flavored cigars, it is important to choose a drink that will not be overpowered by the flavor of
the cigar. Coffee drinks, port, scotch, brandy, and most drinks made with Kahlua can accompany any cigar.
Since the dangers of smoking have been brought to light, the cigar bar has become a rather rare breed, but
London does still boast the best of these elusive haunts. The luxurious
No 5 Cavendish Square Cigar Bar is
one wonderfully kept secret that Fluid have been desperate to shout about. This beautiful and intimate bar
nestles between the restaurant and nightclub, attracts a regular crowd of the rich and famous looking to
relax on a stately leather chair and enjoy a wide range of cigars and spirits.
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Another Fluid favourite is the infamous Boisdale (Belgravia, Bishopsgate), which boasts the most comprehensive choice of hand-made
Havana cigars of any worldwide restaurant. Cigars, like wine, improve with age and all Havanas on the list
are identified by their year of manufacture. 17 brands and over 110 different sizes and vintages are
available to satisfy anyone from a novice to a seasoned smoker. Add this to the phenomenal 170 different
types of Scotch malt whiskies available and you’ll be kept enlightened throughout the English winter gloom.
Read More on Boisdale of Belgravia or Read more on Boisdale of Bishopsgate.
For those after a bit more elegance, there is the Churchill Bar,
which boasts its own private entrance from the posh Portman Square. The private retreat style decor is
dedicated to the pleasures of the leaf, and guests can enjoy live music with their cigars any night of the
week.
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Cuba's world renowned reputation for producing the world's finest cigars means that the authentic Cuban
experience that is on offer within Floridita would not be complete without them. Floridita offers an
unparalleled range of the most magnificent Cuban cigars available in London and is proud to exclusively
stock the San Cristobal range.
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Top Venue ideas in Chelsea & Fulham
What have Freddie Mercury, Kylie Minogue and Oscar Wilde all commonly possessed? Well apart from a massive
gay following, they’ve each owned a house in Chelsea – we'll be concentrating on the latter for now.
Rumi - the place where the beautiful fashionistas of Chelsea come to play, and with the array of famous faces gliding through the door it's a 'Heat' reader's dream. Named after the spiritual founder of the Malawi Sufi order, the venue attempts to recreate a sensuous chilled out experience with chilled out music and an adornment of candles and soft hues.
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Nova – A restaurant/bar serving up the finest Portuguese food in London. With its stunning contemporary feel and plethora of cocktails, the venue has become a firm favourite with the locals. For those wanting to carry on the night, it even boasts a discreet nightclub in the basement.
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Tryst – Fulham's finest boutique nightclub, a popular haunt of the notoriously rich. Hidden behind a dark front door, a silver staircase descends into the heart of the club. Alluring cocktails, a seductive sound choice and a somewhat secretive location - this discreet venue is the perfect place for a rendezvous.
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Bondai – An exclusive Japanese-style club on the Fulham road. A chic, underground venue with a tropical fish tank appearing as the background scenery. The champagne sipping clientele even have the option of hiring out a secret room hidden behind the aquarium – the ultimate in privacy for those escaping the glare of the paparazzi.
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Blue Elephant – Walking into the Blue Elephant restaurant dazzles the senses. It is a world of lush plants and trickling fountains. The scent of tropical flowers mingles with the heady aroma of exotic herbs and spices flown in fresh from the Far East.
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Deborah James, November 2006
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