by Renee B.

Oh my g-d, I am in love! I had this place on my radar for quite sometime and finally made it out last night. I loved it the minute I walked in. As stated in other reviews, it definitely feel like there should be some Mafiosos at the table next to you. The drinks are strong, the cigar selection seems right (I am not to knowledgeable in that area), and the crowd is diverse. Yes, smoking and such is bad for you, but there is this sense of sophistication about the whole place that just makes it justifiable.

by Ashley M.

One of 3 places where its legal to smoke in Boston - this cigar bar tucked in the North End, secretly also has hookah.  Large selection of single malts, rum, etc.  and cute 1920's antiquish cigar box decor... its cozy and friendly.

by Krissy N.

This is the best place to legally smoke in Boston.  Once you enter and proceed downstairs, you behold a dimly lit bar room with tables and some couches.  They have cigars and hookahs and mean mean drinks.  The bartender Linda, a pretty blond Italian American, is super friendly and makes the best dirty martini period.  I'm sure the other drinks are stellar as well.  Clientele is a bit on the older scale but the place is very comfy.  They play good music too.

by Ligaya T.

Yep, it's time to talk to you guys about this place. Fondness has been brewing since I last visited, truly. Back in the prohibition days, it was a tufted chair, cognac sipped speakeasy that you'd visit in your three piece suit. Before they had the Sopranos pinball machine and 25 flavors of hookah. But they loved it then, in all its subterranean splendor, and we love it now, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKDAYS. And with a full bar and a smoking license, if you've acknowledged the fact that that you're going to die from something else much sooner, you'll be sure to enjoy. Tip your hat for me, please.

by B K.

It took me about 5 seconds to love this place. I have just been there for my first time yesterday, but after the first hour, I pulled out my wallet and made myself a member. This is one of the finer places in Boston that I've found, and they make you feel like a king.   I walked in and strolled towards the cigar cabinet. The woman working there handed me a menu, which I put down immediately and ordered a Ashton Churchill from the window. She asked me my cut, and then I sat down. I minute later, she arrived, lit my cigar, and took my drink order. The whole time I was there, I relaxed and enjoyed myself. She was perfectly attentive, full of suggestions and stories. She made me feel like a regular. An hour later, I asked a few questions, and she offered information on becoming a member. With little hesitation, I filled the form, and handed her my card.I recommend this place to anyone and everyone. Even if you don't smoke, or smoke cigars, it's still a place that you can relax in. The smoke is by no means overbearing, they offer shisha and the drinks are excellently made. Few places get my Filthy Martini right, but this is one of them.You can find me there at least twice a week. I'm the big guy, sitting at a high table, cursing at the paperwork I'm in the middle of working on; or sharing a hookah (though I still prefer my cigars) with my girl. Wave hello... we'll wave back.

by Christian H.

For those who would patron Stanza to smoke a cigar; a word of caution. Don't let the dark, smoky atmosphere fool you into thinking that this is any place to be caught buying a cigar in Boston, or New England for that matter. Stanza's cigar selection is limited and poorly chosen. Their cigar cases are not properly humidified to correct for the A/C pressure so their cigars do not preserve or age well. A El Rey I selected on one evening was so dry it crunched like a cracker when I gave it a light squeeze. The waitress, was unfazed by this. Topping this all off, Stanzi is expensive. I paid $29.40 for one cigar that was on the lower end of the line and tasted like it needed two more years before it was really ready to be smoked. Of course, any aficinado knows that any cigar that costs over $20 better be cuban or vintage and they offer neither though their entire cigar menu is laden with $20 cigars. On the other hand, Stanza's primary competitor, Cigar Masters offers a much larger selection, has a proper (walk in) humidor and usually a very knowledgeable aficinado waiting to help you make a selection. Cigars at Cigar Masters are more broadly priced and it is easy to find something very good for $10-12. (see my Cigar Master's review)

by Walter G.

the best way i can sum this place up is that the owner had a good vision, but management f-ed it up though pure inattention.i like the decor (excpet for the plasma tvs... why does EVERY bar need tvs?), i like that you can smoke inside, and i like the extensive drink menu. usually that's all you need to get at least 4 stars from me, but a bunch of factors accumulated to make it a relatively poor experience.please review the list and tell me if ANY of the following expectations (NONE OF WHICH WERE MET) are unreasonable. please keep in mind that the place wasn't busy.-receive drink and cigar in under 20min from the time seated-receive a GLASS with the beer bottle-receive requested glass in under 10 min-have someplace to rest the glass that isn't WOBBLY AS SHIT-drink from the glass without having pipes dripping on you-have waitress come over and ask if you'd like anything else occasionally stanza dei sigari is an expensive place. which is FINE. but if you expect customers to come in and drop a lot of money, you should make fucking sure that your service is better than what you get at the brighton cafe (which it isn't. and that's a low hurdle to clear believe me) and that you take a look around the place once in a while and FIX STUFF THAT'S BROKEN. if you're looking for a cigar lounge, hit up cigar masters which is less expensive AND outperforms stanza dei sigari in every category.

by Alex L.

This place was pretty cool.  It was much different than I expected, but I had a good time.  The staff were very nice, a little slow, but attentive.  The drinks were strong and reasonably priced.  The only thing keeping this place from having 5 stars was the hookah.  The hookah was seriously one of the worst I've ever had.  It seems they wash their hoses with salt water because that's what the hose tasted like, then the auto starting coals didn't help the flavor much.  I would definitely come back here for drinks, a cigar, and the ambiance, but never for the hookah.

by Corey F.

I bring everyone here when they're in town.  I don't care if they smoke or not, I enjoy smoking a fat cigar and I really like the style of this place.You can hardly beat big leather couches and nice comfortable chairs after hoofing it through the streets of Boston.  Having a big plasma TV is also a positive.  Best yet, they have a nice selection of bourbons, which is very important to a Kentuckian.  Yay!!! I have more choices than Maker's Mark or Jim Beam.If you're an asthmatic or anti-smoking nazi, then you should probably go elsewhere.

by lothari o.

We've smoked hookah in a number of places across the country, and both felt like our smoke here was too mellow. I don't know enough about hookah to know what went wrong, but I felt like we weren't able to draw out enough smoke. Our server didn't seem to know even as much as we did.Otherwise...I really liked the atmosphere. Bartender did a good job with the mixed drink. It's fairly expensive but not unreasonable. This seems like a great place to hang out and chat or read.

by Daniel K.

A bit over priced and yuppy for my tastes, but its one of the few hookah bars in Boston so it does ok in my book.

by Dirt M.

Awesome. Awesome.  Great selection of scotch and bourbon. Colorful characters abound.  I don't know much about cigars, but they seem to have everything you could want, plus hookah as well.  I need to go to this place more often.

by allison r.

I looooove this place. Let's forget for a moment that it's basement-level(tres cool) below Caffe Vittoria, which has arguably the best cappuccino in the city, and pretend this bar is not situated in the heart of the North End. You will walk into a plush, split-level style space, complete with those thick leather chairs your great grandfather sat in smoking his cigars. Factor in the dim lighting, solid(and stiff) drinks, and the selection of cigars-- okay, I know NOTHING about cigars, but hey, this place seems impressive-- and you've got yourself a good time. And, yes, they do have your basic hookah and will sell you packs of cigarettes to take you back to the early nineties. Maybe I'm biased because I saw Clay Buchholz's no-hitter while puffing an orange creamsicle cigar there, but I'd call this the best smoking bar in Boston.

by Danae B.

I'd heard so much about this place, I really had to drag my ass up to the North End and check it out.I was not disappointed. Walking into Stanza dei Sigari was like walking straight into Prohibition Era Boston. I half expected an Italian mobster to walk up to me and make me give up my table.I was somewhat put off by how the waitress initially ignored my friend and I, even though the place was not at all packed. She also overcharged my friend for her glass of port.I deduct a star for the lacking service and for the brood of generic guys in their early thirties all wearing jeans and polo shirts.

by JeffKate F.

This is the tightest place on earth.Huqqa!  (Hookah, if you please.)  Any flavor works.  All flavors are tight.Martinis.  Bad olives, lots of Grey Goose.  The feeling of being inside a smoker's lung.Tight waitresses and bartenders.  Have a smoke.Leather chairs.  Drink a lot.Amazing pop and soft rock soundtrack.Cringe at the bill.  It is tight.  Again, the tightest place on earth.

by TJ M.

Very cool place...The service is exceptionally friendly and the set up is super old school - place defines the term "grandfathered".The staff recommended 'Double Apple' and "Peaches and ___" for the hookah....  I had both, but it all kind of tasted the same to me as I was a few sidecars deep in the night.

by Kiwi H.

I fell in love with this place the moment I set foot in here. The deep whiff of different smoke aromas seduces me into a lazy calm, and all I want to do is lull away the hours in a soft and creaky leather chair, with a great drink in hand. My companion and I were so excited to see shisha pipes (twenty-five flavours, too!) when we walked in that we literally jumped around squealing like a bunch of tweens catching sight of their favourite boyband. I love the warm, mellow lighting, and the relaxed vibe all around the place that just oozes the feeling of a glossy, somewhat sexy, secret hideaway. The "comfort room" looks like the kind of place I'd want to get to the utmost level of chill in, dozing and just enjoying until they close and kick me out. The different leather chairs and low, dark-wood tables tempt you to sink in and order a cognac, but they have an excellent selection of wines and martinis here that you won't want to miss out on. The old-school leather barbershop chair in one corner, and the cabinets full of knick-knacks just add to it's charm, and the staff is superlatively friendly in a wonderfully laid-back way.The fact that there is barely anywhere in Boston where you can smoke indoors just makes this den all the better - I'd give it 5.5 stars if I could! I truly love this place.

by Todd B.

"Yay! I'm a fan" Indeed! This place is sweet! Nestled downstairs in the N. End it makes for a worthwhile yet kind of off-the-beaten track thing to do when you have friends in from out of town and you don't just want to do the same old (insert Italian restaurant here) and Mike's Pastry type evening. Obviously everything is kinda pricey but these days your paying for the privilege to smoke stogs inside. The only down side is the music which was indeed all eighties music. Other than that though it was quite a treat.

by Korri Leigh C.

Attention all Yelpers: I'm severely biased: I work here.That being said, this place rocks.  The Stanza is one of the only Cigar Bars in the city, and the ONLY one with a full liquor license.  We have a wide array of cigars, tons of yummy drinks,and my favorite: Huqqas!I don't smoke, but I definitely enjoy a delicious Mango/Peach flavored Huqqa from time to time (ok who am I kidding I share one every shift I work)This bar has great personality - all the bartenders are hot, again, I'm biased :) - and you'll run into a gamut of interesting characters here: old North End mobsters, Boston 'power players', assorted celebrities (Mike O'Malley, former Patriot and Giant Steve DeOssie, Dan Akroid, etc).If you don't mind the place getting a teensy bit smokey I definitely recommend coming down to the Stanza for a drink and or a smoke, just ask for Korri and I'll be sure to pour you a strong one :)

by Ed M.

Decent cigar bar on busy Hanover Street.  Been here multiple times and service was consistently mediocre and the ventilation could be better.  Prices are pretty high for everything there and if busy you can feel pretty damn cramped.HOWEVER, the sign outside is awesome (giant cigar), this place used to be a speakeasy, there is an awesome TV and some nice chairs/couches to sit in.  Another review said it, it is hard to not feel like a gangster in here.

by Jeffrey K.

I've gone here a few times, most recently with a friend after a wonderful dinner at Monica's.First off, you have to like to smoke to go here.  If you don't like a smoke filled chamber that you'll leave smelling like cigar factory, don't go.  Its not for you.Beyond that, the service here is great.  There's a fine selection of spirits and cigars but plan on spending a pretty penny.  For two cigars and four drinks, I spent over $100 with tip.  Those were some of the lower end purchases available too.My favorite thing about this place is the cushy chairs.  You can lounge back with a cigar and spirit and have a great conversation that lasts into the night .  My friend and I lost a good two hours there thinking it was 11 when it was 1 in the morning!

by Christine C.

I love Stanza.  I love the atmosphere, I love the drinks, I love the hookah!  It's a great place to go with a small group for a few hours on a weeknight or a Sunday afternoon recovery session.  A really fun place to watch a game as an alternative to a sports bar.  You can show up there in jeans and a t-shirt or dressed to the nines and feel comfortable.  My cousin and I like to get dressed up super glam (true glam, not skanky mod glam) and go there for some drinks and to share a hookah.  I wish I didn't live so far away now...

by Megan B.

What to do when Mike's is closed? Have cigars and big glasses of cabernet for dessert instead! After dinner at Pomodoro last Tuesday, Dad and I were sort of half-happy to save the calories when we realized that Mike's had closed while we lingered over dinner. However, we definitely wanted to chat more (he's not in town all that often, living 3000 miles away), and the fact that he savors a good cigar every now and then made this little hangout just right.I'm not a cigar smoker myself, but I enjoy the smell, and I found the atmosphere here to be very cool in a sophisticated, private club sort of way (yet lacking pretension). Notably, both the average age of the patrons and the male-female ratio (admittedly very high to begin with) plummeted as the night wore on.The cigar was (reportedly) quite good, albeit larger than he expected, and the cabs by the glass were also very nice. The main problem was really, really poor service. The waitress was very apologetic, but it wasn't her fault. They were critically understaffed. It was bad enough that I would consider elbowing through the large men at the bar next time, rather than wait around for table service. Stanza dei Sigari still gets 3 stars because of the unique atmosphere, which could probably lure me back the next time I'm strolling down Hanover St. after dinner.

by B. W.

Now, I know everyone seems to love this place, and it sounds like if you loove cigars and expensive, esoteric liquors, this is the place to go.  However, if you wandered in because they are the only place that has hookahs within five miles of where you live, you are likely to be as disappointed as we were.Firstly, the 'price per hour' label is just plain wrong.  It's price per hookah.  Anytime you want to refill the bowl, they charge you again.The service was truly horrible.  The waitresses ignored us for our drink orders (necessitating us to make repeated trips to the bar) and the hookah took forever.  There was no coal service to speak of.Finally, and I understand this is solely a consequence opting to go into a cigar bar, it was disgusting inhaling second-hand cigar smoke all night, and then reeking of it until showers and laundry were done. My friends and I have been there twice, hoping to have a better experience the second time around, but it was not to be.  It's just a bad place to go for a hookah.  It's obvious they don't care about their 'hookah customers', and frankly, it seems to me they should just do away with the service.  None of us is happy with their current arrangement, it's just a tease.

by David H.

All around cool place.  I like its hidden gem appeal.  I almost felt as though I was in on an underground secret when I came here.  It's very spacious with plenty of room to seat patrons.  Good atmosphere too, that's a plus.  It's a nice mix of working class, regulars, and younger crowds, a great plus.  Their selection of cigars are decent, but they are missing crucial essentials, such as Montecristo or Cuesta del Rey.  But on the other hand, stocking Romeo y Julieta and Avo makes up for this loss.  Problem is they fetch a high price-- expect to pay $14 on a cigar that's sold for $5 at regular cigar shops.  And if you bring your own cigar and get it cut there, they charge you 5 bucks!  Yikes.  Better off purchasing a cutter and a cigar of your own.  They offer hookah, which is aces in my book.  Also, they have a great drink selection.  Overall, I'd say the main problem with the place is the pricing and the hassle of parking in North End.  I do prefer Cigar Masters over on Boylston Street over this place, but it's a close second!

by Jason B.

Open a place like this anywhere else in the city, and you'd have a license to print money. Why we don't have more of these places is a mystery to me. Start with the experience of ducking off a crowded North End street...and I do mean "ducking"...into a doorway, down a narrow staircase, off through a weird side door, and whammo: the place hits you like a nicely-scented house fire.  The smell of rich tobacco smoke is everywhere, bold and heady. You sit down somewhere, anywhere you can find a seat, free tables are usually few and far between-y. Select a lovely dominican, or maybe a macanudo...get yourself a smoky glass of blended american whiskey, or single malt...and immerse yourself in the relaxing experience.The ceilings are low; when you're sitting down the room has a cozy, snug feel. Puffing a stogey in public while sipping malt has a deliciously decadent and naughty feel to it. Just be careful who you talk to. As I've said before, Boston has gentrified and urban-renewed the sh*t out of itself, but the old-school guys are still around...and they go here a lot. A manager had to ask a friend of mine to get me out of the place before I got knifed for talking to the wrong person. I won't elaborate much more, but let's say I found out later whose moll I had been (innocently) chatting up, and he wouldn't have had a problem painting the dumpster with my insides. That fabulous experience aside, I've been there a number of times, and besides the relaxing experience, the atmosphere, the great stogeys and the booze, the one thing that remains consistent is the atrocious service. They just don't care about you. You can't make them. Oh well. Fire the angry eastern European chicks, Stanza, and you'll get my elusive 5th star. Till then....

by Erica S.

Home of the cigar, the hookah, and the $70 glass of scotch... how can you not feel like a gangsta?! I love this place!You go down into a dark basement that feels like it should be filled with mafia men cutting shady deals, piles of cash of the tables, and each with a ho on his arm. The tables are intimate. Did I mention it's super dark? I like that. You feel classy, even if you are acting utterly un-classy.I am not much for cigars, but I love to get a hookah and a beer or a glass of port wine after dinner in the North End. Really hits the spot. They also have an amazing list of bourbons, scotches, cognacs, champagnes, grappas... you name it. This is the place to come, chill, smoke, and splurge on the good shit.Try it.

by Nicole M.

3 words: Total Gentleman's ClubThe first time I went to Stanza, I had pneumonia and was out to dinner with a group of friends for a 30th bday party.  For some unknown reason, I decided it might be ok if I went into the depths of smoke.  I got downstairs and nearly collapsed from lung failure, and was dizzy and had blurred vision the entire whopping 15mins I was able to last without dying right there on the floor.The second time was midweek during a cool summer evening.  Too lazy to traipse across the bridge to Tangierino, we opted to head here for a hookah.  The room to the right at the bottom of the stairs was empty, but the one to the left had ambiance going on, so we opted for that space.  A bunch of men, ranging in age from late 20's to 50's, decked out in either business or mob attire, smoking cigars and drinking cognac or port.  And then there's me, dressed in jeans, my chucks and a long boyfriend sweater and ordering a hookah and pomegranate martini.  Which one of these is not like the other?People watching was fantastic, the music was pretty rockin', the waitresses decolletage were all in my face and the hookah was perfect.  In addition to the faux pas of smoking a hookah and not a cigar, I also mistakenly walked into the "comfort room" thinking I would find the bathrooms.  Note to self: ask first.  It's clearly some secret room where you have to be part of a club in order to enter.  I love the atmosphere of this place.  I'm a sucker for basement locales and this one's got the extra perks of being dark and manly and cozy.Maybe it's time I brush up on my cigar lingo.

by Steve T.

The caption for the two-star graphic when you're writing a review is "meh, I've experienced better," which is not entirely true, as this was my first cigar bar experience.  But I would like to believe that there are better such places out there.  You go down a stairway to get into the place, and the ambiance is everything I expected it would be. Basement-y, somewhat dark, and obviously smoky.  There is a full bar at one end, and all the drinks I got from there were good.  Slightly overpriced, especially the specialty drinks.  Seating was tight but we managed to get a table pretty easy.I can't comment on the cigars because I didn't get any.  Never have, probably never will.  Not my thing.  The selection looked pretty good though, both on the list and in the giant glass case.  I recognized a few, so that was good enough for me.  We did a couple of hookahs.  The first was fruit punch and was pretty good.  The second was grape and was basically garbage.As many before me have commented, the service was pretty bad.  It was as if they wanted nothing to do with you, like they tried to force themselves to have tunnel-vision so they could walk straight through the room without seeing if you needed anything.  We had to flag down the waitress on a few occasions to order drinks, and even to get the second hookah.  Service was pretty much responsible for a shitty score, as everything else was as I expected, though a bit overpriced.  Oh yeah, and the horrible club music they played all night long was very tacky.  Who goes to a place like this to smoke, sip, relax, and listen to booming club music.  Especially in the North End.  The music wasn't working at all.  On a side note, I spent part of my night getting in the background of pictures that some cool kids were taking of themselves with cigars.  That was kind of entertaining.

by chelsea a.

A hookah den if I ever saw one.   Dark and warm basement dwelling.  Fireplace, cigars and leather lounge chairs.  Twenty an hour to feel like the caterpillar in 'Alice through the looking glass'  Strawberry and mango smoke tastes good with your favorite poison. The television blaring football hurt the ambiance, but would smooth jazz be too cliche?

by Karl R.

Stanza is my favorite cigar bar in the city.  The atmosphere is rather "speakeasy."  The waitresses are gorgeous and the drinks are cheap.  I also like that you can bring your own cigars and they don't charge a cutting fee.My favorite time to go is to watch Monday Night Football.  It is usually not crowded and they have plenty of HD TVs.  It's like hanging out in your buddy's basement but with a hot cocktial waistress keeping your drink full.On busy nights the drink service can be a bit slow, but that's ok.  I'm here to relax.  I've also always been a bit puzzled by the music.  It is often 80s/New Wave - think Madonna, Prince, etc.  It just doesn't go with the atmosphere.Anyone complaining about prices here needs to understand Boston's stupid laws.  A cigar bar has to maintain a certain percentage of it's income from tobacco.  I believe it is 60%.  This is to prevent any bar in the city from simply labeling itself a cigar bar and avoiding the smoking ban.Cigar Masters keeps their % in line by charging a cutting fee if you bring your own.  Churchills doesn't have a full liquor license and maintains a good walk in humidor and a client base who will talk in and buy cigars for  stocking their own humidors.  They are really a tobacco store that has a smoking area.Stanza has a full license and keeps their % in line by charging a lot for their cigars.  They are not a tobacco store.  One would never go there to buy a box for you home humidor.  They are a bar that happens to sell cigars also.  As for their drink prices, they are quiet cheap.  If you complain about an $8-$15 glass of Scotch or Bourbon then you don't know what you are looking at anyway.  These same spirits would cost $10-$30 at other bars in the city.  Don't compare your $4 Bud Light to an $10 Scotch if you don't know what you are talking about.

by nick h.

Wow....[sniff]...I don't know what to say...[sniff]...I'm, I'm really speechless. This means so much to me...[Sniff Sniff Sigh]First of all I want to thank the academy, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and every cigar producing country in the world - without you, this wouldn't have been possible. I want to thank the great state of Massachusetts for granting me a full liquor license so that my fans can swill on fine whiskey and scotch....the Boston Public Health Commission for allowing me to stay open for another 10 years with the option of extending despite the intense anti-smoking laws recently passed...and most of all...to the beautiful cigar aficionados and novices alike who supported me throughout all these years.You see, when I was just a small little unknown cigar bar, I used to hold my cigars pretending they would be Oscars...but when I took that first puff the dream disappeared into thin air along with the smoke rings. But you all, you came and sat in my leather chairs, you stayed all night, you brought your friends, you held private parties, you touched my ancient elephant's foot, you flirted with my waitresses, you made me what I am today. Without you, I'd just be lost in the din of Hanover street, dwarfed by Cafe Vittoria next door and buried alone in my little dark underground hideaway. Once again...[sniff]..[sigh]..[sniff sniff sigh]...I thank you.

by bubba h.

Enjoy it while you can, cause it won't last long!  Unfortunately, all cigar bars (what few still exist) in the Boston area are being forced to close.  Are you happy now, you uptight non-smoking public?  Few more years left to this place - and then it will be no more....  I've been. It's nice.  They charge you a fee even if you just light up yourself.  If you've got the scratch and want a nice bar to smoke in, go.  I bring my own cigars - theirs are overpriced.  Drinks are good.  Highly recommend a mixer here.  See ya!

by Sam S.

ahhh stanza how i love thee. a nice cigar, a scotch, and a comfy seat. what else could a man ask for ?

by Jamie S.

Stanza dei Sigari is molto molto molto molto molto molto oscillando.   Such a fun time in here.   The cigars are way over-priced, but here's the dilemma:  Cigar Masters on Boylston sells them for less, but they don't have a full liquor license.  Beat.    So, the question you have to ask yourself is, is it worth the extra few bucks to be able to sip scotch or other spirits con il vostro sigaro? in modo schiacciante, sì!You're in the North End, so you've probably already spent money if you're walking by here.  Why not spend a little more?  Sit down, have a cigar, kick it live.  You're paying for atmosphere.   It's better than paying for crap, which is what Jesus gets for his birthday every time a new Disney's Christmas Hits comes out.

by Catie C.

I don't smoke cigars and this is my first time in 10 yrs going into a cigar bar. With that said, this place still fascinates me. Many many historical artifacts. Brings out the imagination to wonder what was going on in there back in the days as we watched the Sox vs Yankee on the LCD that seems so out of place with the decor.It's quit enjoyable to sip a spirit and puff away. Our choice of puff was boring Marlborough Lights since adventure was out of the question that fine evening after Wolverine. We saw someone smoking a Hookah, but with one less than brave soul at our table we opted out. The main obstacle was that none of us has tried the it before and looking like idiots at a cigar bar is a no no. I certainly googled on "how to smoke a hookah" on the spot with my G1 but that still did not sway them to give in. Hookah will have to wait!The aroma of the Hookah and cigar mixture was calming. What was interesting is that there was quite a crowd there on a late Monday evening. Perhaps, it was the Celtics game that drew a crowd.

by Christopher M.

Stanza is a North End cigar bar with a full liquor license - lounging in this comfortable, garden-level bar and enjoying a smooth cigar and a glass of scotch or cognac will make any man feel like a king.  But wait, what's that I hear being piped in over the bar's sound system?Cindi Lauper???Look, I realize that girls just wanna have fun, and I'm all for it, but not while I'm trying to enjoy a Churchhill and a Single Malt.  But every time I come here, they're playing the same 1980s Top 40 soundtrack that just completely ruins the mood.  I've complained to the waitress and have been told, "Yeah, everyone complains about that," but apparently those complains have fallen on deaf ears.But it's not just the soundtrack at Stanza that turns me off.  They always seem to be understaffed, which means it takes forever to get service.  When you finally get a waitress to your table, she doesn't have the time to make a suggestion or even look up because she has three other tables screaming at her.The staff (bus boys) smoke cigarettes while working - I find this utterly unprofessional.  I understand there's already smoke in the air, but you don't see waiters wandering around a nice bar with cans of Pabst in their hands.  And how well can you bus tables one handed while you're busy flicking ashes into people's drinks with the other?And I've been asked on more than one occasion to get up and move to a different (smaller) table so the staff could accommodate a large party that just arrived.  That's just not right.Stanza is also ridiculously overpriced.But Stanza is the ONLY cigar bar in Boston will a full liquor license, and given recent legislation passed in the state, it seems like that won't change anytime soon.  So if you want a drink and a cigar outside the comfortable confines of your own home, may I suggest you head to Stanza with a little Sinatra on your iPod and a boat load of patience.

by Meg M.

Okay Christopher... I agree with you on the soundtrack... DEFINITELY needs work. I think they just play 107.9 to be honest. Not good. Thats the last of the bad about this place though. I havent reviewed it yet and I have been many times. I love Stanza. I love the hot waitresses walking around in their little outfits. I love the smell of cigars (even though I dont smoke them) and I love being able to drink wine and smoke cigarettes INSIDE of a bar in Boston. Last night we got some Pinot Noir and a mango flavored hookah. 35 bucks an hour for hookah IS a bit steep but hell... its not something I do all the time and I consider it a treat to be in an establishment like Stanza. Its such a great end to a great meal at Panza which is just about 150 yards down the street. The Pinot Noir is delicious and isnt exactly a steal at 10 bucks a pop.. but they give you a nice heavy pour. I didnt have any problems with the service but in a place like that I dont mind a pokey staff. I never needed anything and she checked on us often enough but not so much it was annoying. She let us relax and have a good long chat. After a couple hours there we came up on the street to realize it was dark and well past our bedtime... so beware... you can easily lose track of time in this place... no windows...

by M L.

Normally I would chalk this experience up to a bad night but it needs to be told. I'm and experienced cigar smoker and know the difference from a good, moist(read non stale) cigar that has been in a humidor most of its life, from one that has been left out and gotten stale and let go or re humidified. I should have complained immediately but I was half in the bag and full of a good meal. I thought it was me. Nay nay. I brought it to my servers attention, she tried to tell me my punch was at fault and gave me a cutter. No dice. Finally after flagging the server down, who was doing her right best to ignore me, she got the manager. Who said since I smoked half no refund and tried to explain that it wasn't stale it was a different cigar. R i i  i i i ght    Now I accept the no discount thing, but it didn't help that the server was clearly avoiding me and the manager was way way way too  busy looking like a club douche bag to give a shit about the overpriced cigar. I might have even accepted a song and dance because it is possible to get  a crap cigar from a perfectly good box.  No, I get a club refugee.  I refuse to go here anymore for any reason. Overpriced booze, wine and beer coupled with overly expensive cigars that are stale....Cigar Masters always. Folks take it from me. I really really love the ability to go out, enjoy a cigar and a drink in the…

by Dara C.

Cigars are probably the thing I know the least about, except for maybe organic chemistry and plumbing. I don't know why those popped into my head--those just seem like subjects on which I'm woefully undereducated and should cigars, organic chemistry, or plumbing come up as a Jeopardy! category, I would be at an extreme disadvantage, even if the other contestants had a mediocre handle on any of the subjects, for I know virtually nothing and would surely lose.That being said, apparently the cigars are good and plentiful. I don't know if they're overpriced, but they didn't SEEM so extravagant to me. Though there were a few listed as "market price"--I assume these are the lobsters of cigars, and they'll probably run you a little bit more--nothing seemed jaw-droppingly pricey.The drinks were priced on the higher end, but I wasn't surprised. It's the North End, it's a veritable gentleman's club, they're mostly served in the proper glassware, etc. Our table's mixed drinks were limited to white Russians, which were met with approval. Scotch and cognac tasted as they should; beer was cold and bubbly, but the selection wasn't great (Stella, Peroni, Sams, Bud Light.)Ambiance is dim and smoke-filled. (No, but really?) I love the smell of cigar smoke so that wasn't problematic at all. Mostly dudes in their thirties to fifties, leaving our group to bring the average way, way, way down, by about thirteen years. But the servers didn't seem to mind, and we behaved like proper ladies and gentlemen, ie, not wearing flat-brimmed baseball caps. (It would seem a damn shame to do so while sitting in a comfy leather chair, now wouldn't it?) And word to the wise. By ten o'clock on a Friday, this place became Cougar City. Make of that what you will. Grrrr.Service was fine, if a little non-attentive. This place gets very busy; I'm glad we arrived when we did because it was HOPPING by ten. The server was nice enough, as was her well-displayed decolletage. (Am I allowed to bring that up as a point of service? I feel awkward.) There was a wee hiccup when she took away two half-finished drinks while the drinkers were waiting in the interminable bathroom line, and it took a damn while for the server to return to correct the problem. She did eventually but I'm surprised that she whisked away two drinks so quickly. She was also a little MIA but again, it was busy ... a little disappointed I didn't get a final drink because I wanted to impress the table by drinking a scotch and not puckering, but alas, alack, another day. On the music note--heh--which everyone is bringing up ... yes, the tune selection is just plain wrong for the atmosphere, the clientele, and everything right down to the leather recliners. It should be swingin' jazz, not Taylor Swift, and though we admittedly sang along as the spirits flowed, it kind of killed the mood. More Sinatra, less Jonas, that's my motto.All in all, went for the fella's End of Birthday Week celebration, and it seems a very good place to do so. Definitely a good place for a classier gentleman's birthday or probably a low-key bachelor party but I don't really know. Enjoyed myself. Maybe I can haz bachelor party?

by Dara C.M L.

Cigars are probably the thing I know the least about, except for maybe organic chemistry and plumbing. I don't know why those popped into my head--those just seem like subjects on which I'm woefully undereducated and should cigars, organic chemistry, or plumbing come up as a Jeopardy! category, I would be at an extreme disadvantage, even if the other contestants had a mediocre handle on any of the subjects, for I know virtually nothing and would surely lose.That being said, apparently the cigars are good and plentiful. I don't know if they're overpriced, but they didn't SEEM so extravagant to me. Though there were a few listed as "market price"--I assume these are the lobsters of cigars, and they'll probably run you a little bit more--nothing seemed jaw-droppingly pricey.The drinks were priced on the higher end, but I wasn't surprised. It's the North End, it's a veritable gentleman's club, they're mostly served in the proper glassware, etc. Our table's mixed drinks were limited to white Russians, which were met with approval. Scotch and cognac tasted as they should; beer was cold and bubbly, but the selection wasn't great (Stella, Peroni, Sams, Bud Light.)Ambiance is dim and smoke-filled. (No, but really?) I love the smell of cigar smoke so that wasn't problematic at all. Mostly dudes in their thirties to fifties, leaving our group to bring the average way, way, way down, by about thirteen years. But the servers didn't seem to mind, and we behaved like proper ladies and gentlemen, ie, not wearing flat-brimmed baseball caps. (It would seem a damn shame to do so while sitting in a comfy leather chair, now wouldn't it?) And word to the wise. By ten o'clock on a Friday, this place became Cougar City. Make of that what you will. Grrrr.Service was fine, if a little non-attentive. This place gets very busy; I'm glad we arrived when we did because it was HOPPING by ten. The server was nice enough, as was her well-displayed decolletage. (Am I allowed to bring that up as a point of service? I feel awkward.) There was a wee hiccup when she took away two half-finished drinks while the drinkers were waiting in the interminable bathroom line, and it took a damn while for the server to return to correct the problem. She did eventually but I'm surprised that she whisked away two drinks so quickly. She was also a little MIA but again, it was busy ... a little disappointed I didn't get a final drink because I wanted to impress the table by drinking a scotch and not puckering, but alas, alack, another day. On the music note--heh--which everyone is bringing up ... yes, the tune selection is just plain wrong for the atmosphere, the clientele, and everything right down to the leather recliners. It should be swingin' jazz, not Taylor Swift, and though we admittedly sang along as the spirits flowed, it kind of killed the mood. More Sinatra, less Jonas, that's my motto.All in all, went for the fella's End of Birthday Week celebration, and it seems a very good place to do so. Definitely a good place for a classier gentleman's birthday or probably a low-key bachelor party but I don't really know. Enjoyed myself. Maybe I can haz bachelor party?Normally I would chalk this experience up to a bad night but it needs to be told. I'm and experienced cigar smoker and know the difference from a good, moist(read non stale) cigar that has been in a humidor most of its life, from one that has been left out and gotten stale and let go or re humidified. I should have complained immediately but I was half in the bag and full of a good meal. I thought it was me. Nay nay. I brought it to my servers attention, she tried to tell me my punch was at fault and gave me a cutter. No dice. Finally after flagging the server down, who was doing her right best to ignore me, she got the manager. Who said since I smoked half no refund and tried to explain that it wasn't stale it was a different cigar. R i i  i i i ght    Now I accept the no discount thing, but it didn't help that the server was clearly avoiding me and the manager was way way way too  busy looking like a club douche bag to give a shit about the overpriced cigar. I might have even accepted a song and dance because it is possible to get  a crap cigar from a perfectly good box.  No, I get a club refugee.  I refuse to go here anymore for any reason. Overpriced booze, wine and beer coupled with overly expensive cigars that are stale....Cigar Masters always. Folks take it from me. I really really love the ability to go out, enjoy a cigar and a drink in the…

by Dara C.M L.Meg M.Christopher M.

Cigars are probably the thing I know the least about, except for maybe organic chemistry and plumbing. I don't know why those popped into my head--those just seem like subjects on which I'm woefully undereducated and should cigars, organic chemistry, or plumbing come up as a Jeopardy! category, I would be at an extreme disadvantage, even if the other contestants had a mediocre handle on any of the subjects, for I know virtually nothing and would surely lose.That being said, apparently the cigars are good and plentiful. I don't know if they're overpriced, but they didn't SEEM so extravagant to me. Though there were a few listed as "market price"--I assume these are the lobsters of cigars, and they'll probably run you a little bit more--nothing seemed jaw-droppingly pricey.The drinks were priced on the higher end, but I wasn't surprised. It's the North End, it's a veritable gentleman's club, they're mostly served in the proper glassware, etc. Our table's mixed drinks were limited to white Russians, which were met with approval. Scotch and cognac tasted as they should; beer was cold and bubbly, but the selection wasn't great (Stella, Peroni, Sams, Bud Light.)Ambiance is dim and smoke-filled. (No, but really?) I love the smell of cigar smoke so that wasn't problematic at all. Mostly dudes in their thirties to fifties, leaving our group to bring the average way, way, way down, by about thirteen years. But the servers didn't seem to mind, and we behaved like proper ladies and gentlemen, ie, not wearing flat-brimmed baseball caps. (It would seem a damn shame to do so while sitting in a comfy leather chair, now wouldn't it?) And word to the wise. By ten o'clock on a Friday, this place became Cougar City. Make of that what you will. Grrrr.Service was fine, if a little non-attentive. This place gets very busy; I'm glad we arrived when we did because it was HOPPING by ten. The server was nice enough, as was her well-displayed decolletage. (Am I allowed to bring that up as a point of service? I feel awkward.) There was a wee hiccup when she took away two half-finished drinks while the drinkers were waiting in the interminable bathroom line, and it took a damn while for the server to return to correct the problem. She did eventually but I'm surprised that she whisked away two drinks so quickly. She was also a little MIA but again, it was busy ... a little disappointed I didn't get a final drink because I wanted to impress the table by drinking a scotch and not puckering, but alas, alack, another day. On the music note--heh--which everyone is bringing up ... yes, the tune selection is just plain wrong for the atmosphere, the clientele, and everything right down to the leather recliners. It should be swingin' jazz, not Taylor Swift, and though we admittedly sang along as the spirits flowed, it kind of killed the mood. More Sinatra, less Jonas, that's my motto.All in all, went for the fella's End of Birthday Week celebration, and it seems a very good place to do so. Definitely a good place for a classier gentleman's birthday or probably a low-key bachelor party but I don't really know. Enjoyed myself. Maybe I can haz bachelor party?Normally I would chalk this experience up to a bad night but it needs to be told. I'm and experienced cigar smoker and know the difference from a good, moist(read non stale) cigar that has been in a humidor most of its life, from one that has been left out and gotten stale and let go or re humidified. I should have complained immediately but I was half in the bag and full of a good meal. I thought it was me. Nay nay. I brought it to my servers attention, she tried to tell me my punch was at fault and gave me a cutter. No dice. Finally after flagging the server down, who was doing her right best to ignore me, she got the manager. Who said since I smoked half no refund and tried to explain that it wasn't stale it was a different cigar. R i i  i i i ght    Now I accept the no discount thing, but it didn't help that the server was clearly avoiding me and the manager was way way way too  busy looking like a club douche bag to give a shit about the overpriced cigar. I might have even accepted a song and dance because it is possible to get  a crap cigar from a perfectly good box.  No, I get a club refugee.  I refuse to go here anymore for any reason. Overpriced booze, wine and beer coupled with overly expensive cigars that are stale....Cigar Masters always. Folks take it from me. I really really love the ability to go out, enjoy a cigar and a drink in the… Okay Christopher... I agree with you on the soundtrack... DEFINITELY needs work. I think they just play 107.9 to be honest. Not good. Thats the last of the bad about this place though. I havent reviewed it yet and I have been many times. I love Stanza. I love the hot waitresses walking around in their little outfits. I love the smell of cigars (even though I dont smoke them) and I love being able to drink wine and smoke cigarettes INSIDE of a bar in Boston. Last night we got some Pinot Noir and a mango flavored hookah. 35 bucks an hour for hookah IS a bit steep but hell... its not something I do all the time and I consider it a treat to be in an establishment like Stanza. Its such a great end to a great meal at Panza which is just about 150 yards down the street. The Pinot Noir is delicious and isnt exactly a steal at 10 bucks a pop.. but they give you a nice heavy pour. I didnt have any problems with the service but in a place like that I dont mind a pokey staff. I never needed anything and she checked on us often enough but not so much it was annoying. She let us relax and have a good long chat. After a couple hours there we came up on the street to realize it was dark and well past our bedtime... so beware... you can easily lose track of time in this place... no windows...Stanza is a North End cigar bar with a full liquor license - lounging in this comfortable, garden-level bar and enjoying a smooth cigar and a glass of scotch or cognac will make any man feel like a king.  But wait, what's that I hear being piped in over the bar's sound system?Cindi Lauper???Look, I realize that girls just wanna have fun, and I'm all for it, but not while I'm trying to enjoy a Churchhill and a Single Malt.  But every time I come here, they're playing the same 1980s Top 40 soundtrack that just completely ruins the mood.  I've complained to the waitress and have been told, "Yeah, everyone complains about that," but apparently those complains have fallen on deaf ears.But it's not just the soundtrack at Stanza that turns me off.  They always seem to be understaffed, which means it takes forever to get service.  When you finally get a waitress to your table, she doesn't have the time to make a suggestion or even look up because she has three other tables screaming at her.The staff (bus boys) smoke cigarettes while working - I find this utterly unprofessional.  I understand there's already smoke in the air, but you don't see waiters wandering around a nice bar with cans of Pabst in their hands.  And how well can you bus tables one handed while you're busy flicking ashes into people's drinks with the other?And I've been asked on more than one occasion to get up and move to a different (smaller) table so the staff could accommodate a large party that just arrived.  That's just not right.Stanza is also ridiculously overpriced.But Stanza is the ONLY cigar bar in Boston will a full liquor license, and given recent legislation passed in the state, it seems like that won't change anytime soon.  So if you want a drink and a cigar outside the comfortable confines of your own home, may I suggest you head to Stanza with a little Sinatra on your iPod and a boat load of patience.