To truly appreciate a building, restaurant, or, in this case, a cigar bar it helps to understand the history.

Started in 1912 in Tampa, Florida Arturo Fuente would become one of the best-known cigars companies in the world with several of his cigars receiving many industry awards. His cigars were rolled in Florida, but he purchased his tobacco in Cuba – his home country. In 1956 Arturo, now in his later years, handed the reigns of his company over to his son, Carlos Arturo Fuente, who began to expand the business into the world-class cigar company it is now. In 1962 Carlos saw the impending trade embargo with Cuba by the United States and bought a 3-year supply of Cuban tobacco. With many of his competitors either out of business or selling inferior tobacco, Arturo Feunte cigars started to take the international main stage.

Knowing he had a limited supply of Cuban tobacco Carlos began to experiment in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic with growing his own tobacco. He liked the Dominican Republic but at the time the government proved too difficult to work with and so he opened his tobacco farms in Nicaragua.

Then in the late ‘70s the Sandinistas Liberation Front started a rebellion in Nicaragua and one main objective of the rebels was to burn everything in their path. Unfortunately, the Arturo Fuente factory was on the path of destruction. At this point everything the family had worked for was in peril as Carlos Fuente fled Nicaragua. He knew he had to do something quickly so he created a partnership with an established family in the Dominican Republic that allowed him to open his operations in the Dominican Republic with less governmental pressure than he had experienced in his first attempt in the Dominican Republic.

While Arturo Fuentes is one of the newer brands in the Dominican Republic (1980), its company is well established as a world brand and has been hand-rolling cigars for over 100 years.

At its offices in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, they have created a world-class cigar bar on the first floor and their corporate offices on the second floor.

The cigar bar/club is in the heart of Santo Domingo on Avenue 27 de Febrero #211 and is more than just what the name suggests. The Arturo Fuente Cigar Club combines quality and atmosphere to make a luxurious cigar club that offers excellent hand rolled cigars, the best rums from the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, spirits, a great wine cellar and an excellent but limited food menu.

After exploring the city of Santo Domingo in the day, there is no better way for a cigar novice or aficionado to spend a night in Santo Domingo than enjoying a fine hand-rolled cigar and a good Caribbean rum while listening to the smooth jazz band performing on many nights. For the novice the staff is more than eager to help find just the right pairing of cigars, spirits and food for you to enjoy.

• Not a lot of smoke (well ventilated)
• While not cheap, the prices are very reasonable for being in such a luxurious cigar bar
• Music on many nights (usually jazz when I have been there)
• High-end cigar club that anyone can visit
• Friendly staff willing to help you make the most of your visit
• One of the best (if not the best) cigar brands / cigars in the world

Fuente Fuente OpusX – The first ever cigar to be 100% pure Dominican (puro Domincano). It is considered one of the best cigars in the world and is a benchmark for all other cigars.

Hemingway – In 1980 after the move to the Dominican Republic, as the previous generation of cigar rollers were retiring and with modern machinery, the art of hand-rolling seemed to be a fading art, but the Fuentes family were determined not to let this art form disappear. They started created a line of perfecto cigars, (a distinctive shape that is narrow on both ends and thick in the middle). The family called there first perfecto cigar the Hemingway after Earnest Hemingway who spent a great deal of time in the Dominican Republic. This cigar solidified the presence of the Arturo Fuentes Cigar Co. in the Dominican Republic.

Flora Fina 8-5-8 -was originally introduced in 1975 in memory of Arturo Fuentes -the patriarch of the family and founder of Arturo Fuente Cigars. This cigar was created using Arturo Fuente’s special blend.

Eye of the Shark -Cigar Aficionado Cigar of the Year 2017, and is one of their best-known cigars in the world.

With the rich history of the Arturo Fuentes brand, the luxurious club/bar with its excellent food, fine rums, spirits & wine, its world-renowned cigars, and all for an affordable luxury price, this makes a wonderful place to visit on your Dominican vacation. What says a Caribbean experience better than a fine hand-rolled cigar with a glass of the Dominican Republic’s finest rum after a day at the beach!