Whether you agree with Mayor Bloomberg’s 2003 smoking ban or not, now that the haze has cleared, a lot of New Yorkers have cut back on their habit or dropped it altogether. But in this city of Humphrey Bogart romanticism, a decent-sized hardcore bunch won’t let a namby-pamby ban or increased tax stop them from enjoying a smoke with their drink. Whether you’re addicted to your coffin-nail vice, an occasional social smoker, or you want to know which bars to avoid, here’s a list of smoker-friendly NYC bars where you can spark up more than conversation.
Larry Lawrence
295 Grand St. (Roebling & Havermeyer Sts.)
Williamsburg 718.218.7866
This out-of-the-way Williamsburg bar has a discreet entrance that gives the place a secret-society intrigue before you even enter, and that feeling of having discovered a hidden treasure lingers well into the night. The bare-bones brick, wood, metal, and glass décor offer a relaxing vibe, but the bar’s best feature by far is its glass-walled outdoor balcony, which allows you to cackle as you gaze down upon the bar-goers, smoking all the while.
Circa Tabac
32 Watts St. (Thompson St. & 6th Ave.)
SoHo 212.941.1781
Few NYC bars are as dedicated to the art of smoking while drinking as Circa Tabac. Tobacco is as essential to the menu as the creative cocktails and light fare at this jazz era-inspired cigarette lounge. More than 100 varieties of cigarettes and 10 types of cigars round out the smoking selection, and there’s a $5 cutter charge if you bring your own cigars, but why bother when there are so many to try? The smooth sounds of jazz and hip-hop meld with the wafting plumes, which are sometimes overwhelming, despite a state-of-the-art ventilation system. Just try not to think about what your clothes will smell like tomorrow.
Shebeen
202 Mott St. (Spring & Kenmare Sts.)
NoLita 212.625.1105
Shebeen has a lot to offer besides its semi-secret smoking room, but as smoking rooms go, theirs is one of the best. Its ventilation system is top-notch, you can listen to music while you smoke, and although the metallic design leaves you feeling a bit like you’re trapped in a walk-in freezer, sterility is preferable to stinky couches covered in burn holes any day. Besides the badass smoking area, the bar also offers a unique party atmosphere inspired by a type of South African speakeasy known as a shebeen. The crowd here generally knows how to get down, and with DJs spinning hip-hop and other smooth beats five nights a week, there’s plenty of motivation to light up the dance floor.
Karma Lounge
51 1st Ave. (3rd & 4th Sts.)
East Village 212.677.3160
Hookahs are the life of the party at Karma Lounge, but hard-partying patrons can also smoke cigarettes as they expel flavored tobacco into the air. The hookahs are a bit overpriced here ($16 for a single use), but it’s rare to find a good place to smoke them anymore, and the menu offers a variety of shisha flavors to choose from. Pick up your girly martini concoction upstairs, where the bartenders are more attentive and pour stronger drinks, and take it down to the lower level, where the action (and most of the cigarette smoking) takes place. Just watch for the cigarette-holding flailing arms on the dance floor (a hazard many New Yorkers have forgotten about).
Bembe
81 S. 6th St. (@ Berry St.)
Williamsburg 718.387.5389
The ever-so-bohemian Bembe is nearly impossible to find, thanks to its obscure location and easy-to-miss exterior, but once you get inside, you couldn’t ask for a warmer or more accepting atmosphere. The come-as-you-are vibe leads to a diverse multicultural crowd free from the pretentions of too many other Williamsburg scenes, and these folks like their cigarettes. The downstairs dance area is where the smoking and the real partying gets going, but if you need a break from your nicotine-and-adrenaline high, the upstairs lounge offers a breather.
Hudson Bar and Books
636 Hudson St. (@ Horatio St.)
West Village 212.229.2642
If it’s a luxurious cigar bar you’re after, look for the Bar and Books brand and you’ll know you’re in good hands. The 20-year-old chain, now an international company, has two other locations in New York, as well as three in Prague. Relish being pampered by the seriously service-oriented staff while you parse the dizzying cigar list (no lowly cigarettes here except for the ones you bring yourself), and select from the wealth of alcoholic accompaniments. Relaxing here Old New York-style is anything but a drag.
