Cigar Lounge Etiquette for Beginners

Walking into a cigar lounge for the first time can feel intimidating — it doesn’t need to. Here’s what actually matters.

  • Ask before you sit down. Most lounges, including ours, are happy to help you pick a spot and a cigar. Just ask.
  • Cut and light properly — or let us do it. A dull cutter or an open flame too close to the foot of the cigar ruins a good smoke before it starts. If you’re new, ask staff to cut and toast it for you.
  • Don’t inhale. Cigars are meant to be tasted, not inhaled like a cigarette. Draw the smoke into your mouth, taste it, let it go.
  • Volume and phones. Lounges are social spaces, not silent ones — but keep calls and video volume in check out of respect for everyone else relaxing.
  • Take your time. A good cigar runs 45 minutes to over an hour. There’s no rush here — that’s kind of the point.

New to cigars? Stop by Riverside Cigar Shop & Lounge in Jeffersonville — our staff will help you find something you’ll actually enjoy, no judgment, no pressure.