I pulled into Scottsdale on a Tuesday in November, checked into a hotel near Old Town, and walked to a cigar lounge in shorts and a polo. It was 78 degrees at 6 PM. No humidity, no wind, just dry desert air and a patio with mountain views. That pretty much sums up why the Phoenix-Scottsdale cigar scene is as big as it is.
The metro has over 30 cigar lounges, bars, and shops. The climate makes it obvious once you think about it: 300+ days of sun, patio season that barely takes a break, and Arizona's smoking regs are looser than what you'll find in California or most of the Northeast. The scene has been building quietly for years.
Where the lounges are
Scottsdale leans upscale. Full bars, VIP rooms, resort visitors mixing with local professionals. Old Town has the densest cluster, and you can walk to dinner, hit a lounge, then continue into the bar scene without moving your car.
Central Phoenix is where the variety lives. Strip-mall shops with regulars who've been coming for a decade sit a few miles from newer purpose-built lounges. Prices run lower than Scottsdale across the board. The Camelback Road corridor has the highest concentration.
East Valley (Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler) is the growth story. New lounges keep opening with modern HVAC, big square footage, and less weekend crowding than Scottsdale spots. Some of these rival Scottsdale's best.
West Valley (Glendale, Peoria) has fewer options but a handful of solid neighborhood shops. Worth knowing about if you're staying on that side of town.
Top cigar lounges in Phoenix
Top Cigar Lounges in Phoenix
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And here are the top spots in Scottsdale:
Top Cigar Lounges in Scottsdale
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What to know before you go
Smoking laws. Arizona's Smoke-Free Arizona Act bans indoor smoking but carves out exemptions for tobacco shops and cigar bars. If a place is a licensed cigar lounge, you can smoke inside. Some spots with food service face extra restrictions, but the vast majority of dedicated cigar venues allow full indoor smoking.
BYOC. This varies by neighborhood. Scottsdale's nicer lounges generally expect you to buy on-site. Phoenix neighborhood shops tend to be more relaxed, with some being fully BYOC-friendly. Where cutting fees exist, expect $5 to $15.
Drinks. Scottsdale wins on drink programs. Full cocktail menus, deep whiskey and bourbon lists built around cigar pairings. In Phoenix proper, most shops offer at least beer and wine. Several are BYOB, which is a good deal if you want to bring something specific.
Weather and patio smoking. This is the real draw. Almost zero humidity, almost zero rain. You can smoke outside comfortably from October through May without thinking twice. Summer is a different story. Daytime temps blow past 110 degrees from June through September, so evening sessions after 7 PM become the standard. Once the sun drops, it's genuinely pleasant.
Getting around. Phoenix is sprawling and car-dependent. Public transit won't get you near most lounges. Uber and Lyft work fine. Free parking at nearly every lounge, which is a welcome change if you're visiting from a coastal city.
FAQ
How many cigar lounges are in Phoenix and Scottsdale? We list over 30 cigar lounges, bars, and shops across the Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area. Browse the full Phoenix listings and Scottsdale listings for details.
Is Scottsdale or Phoenix better for cigar lounges? Different strengths. Scottsdale has the most polished options with full bar service. Phoenix has more variety and lower prices. If you have time, hit both.
Can you smoke cigars outside year-round in Arizona? Effectively yes. Summer evenings after sunset are fine. The other three seasons are perfect for it. Rain is basically a non-factor.
What's the best cigar lounge in Scottsdale? Depends what you're after. Browse our Scottsdale listings to compare ratings, BYOC policies, and amenities.
Exploring the Valley? Browse all cigar lounges in Phoenix and Scottsdale with filters for BYOC, drinks, patio, and more.