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Why can't Chicago have a place as cool as the Owl Smoke Shop. The Owl is located right around the Corner from Yale University. This place is a Cigar smokers Wet Dream. Not only is there humidors that are stocked to the nines with High Quality Cigars, there is a kick ass smoking lounge.
The Owl offers Full bar service has sports on the Big Screen, they even have a full Coffee Bar in case you are nursing a hangover. If heaven exists, this would be it for me. Booze, Cigars and Sports on the tube.
The Bottom line is that the Owl has everything a smoker could want. I wish I had more time in New Haven so I could light up a Cohiba and catch a ball game. The next time I'm in New Haven, I will allow time for it. Save me a spot at the Bar.
This place is a gem. When it is bitter cold outside this winter, I'll wish I could give this place 6 stars for being able to smoke inside. Perfect!
Probably THEE coolest place in New Haven hell I'd even choose this place over most of my hot spots in NY. I thought this place is one of the top ten places you could take a friend or business associate from out of town if you're really trying to impress which is REALLY saying something. The ambiance is really just indescribable.
I can't believe the first time I was here was last night. I had a really great time just hanging out and watching the Yankees. We tried a few cigars but the highlight for me was the espresso martini and the black forest cheesecake martini. Really the best drink I have had in a very long time. Shaken perfectly (i hate when there are pieces of ice in my martini) and ice cold. The only downside is you smell like an ashtray for about 48 hrs even after a shower, but that's a small price. I will definitely be back.
Perfect. Amazing. Go for a day of cigars and whiskey.
I absolutely love the Owl Shop. Everything about this place is five star. It's one of THE best tobacco shops in the country accompanied by a great lounge to sit back, relax and chill....
Given, it's got the traditional "boys club" feel.....there's something for everyone here. There's a barista inside serving up great fair trade coffees, you can play chess or checkers, they have a wide range of liquors to shake up a fabulous martini, or you can have a fine bottled beer (no drafts here). They play a great blend of music which usually satisfies everyones taste when you're in the place and if you're lucky you can catch the jazz trio that pops in once in awhile. The place is wi-fi (if you must) and has a state of the art ventilation system.
The staff is very knowledgeable about their cigars so if you're not, don't be shy, ask. That's why they're there.... and then pull up a leather chair and enjoy.
Wow. A rare gem with a sidewalk in New Haven. Grab a table with some friends and have a few drinks, maybe some cigars. When more friends walk by, heckle them and get them to join you. They just won't be able to say no.
I don't go into the Owl Shop often because I don't really smoke. However, this is one very cool lounge with a great, yes, New York City feel. Guess what people, you're on the East Coast in *gasp* CONNECTICUT! This is the single most pretentious state in the union so why are you upset that in all of New Haven there is ONE somewhat pretentious bar? And it's not even particularly pretentious!
Unless by "pretentious" you mean clean, hardwood floors, glass doors, unusual tobacco products, scotches, martinis and the "boys club" atmosphere. Other than the air quality, I find the Owl Shop incredibly refreshing and a much needed addition for the smokers of New Haven.
I go into the Owl Shop all the time and this place rocks. There is such an odd assortment of people that hang out here ( House, Toots, Raff, Cowboy Jim, Chessman Bill, Moonbog, Snacks,Stella Man, and Winkie) and the hottest waitresses this side of the Pecos.
True, they only serve bottled beer and they pour only the finest vintages of swanky hard to pronounce adult beverages, but what other bar follows Alice Cooper with Frank Sinatra on a state of the art sound system?
And did I happen to mention YOU CAN SMOKE!!
Recently, they've added a barista. HOW PRETENTIOUS IS THAT?!? In this day and age, people serving fucking coffee in big cups. The nerve.
Anyways, if you're tired of the usual college scene, The Owl Shop is an oasis in a sea of big hair and bad attitudes.
Niche or not - this place is worth the five stars. My brother and I came here after the aforementioned Prime 16 dinner for a smoke and drink. To begin, I find the combination of the bar stools/comfy chairs one of the best parts - kind of allows you to decide how you want to shape your experience there. You can hang at the bar stools / outside ~or~ you can kick back like an old timer in the chairs, play some checkers, talk philosophy, talk sex, or just stroke your proverbial beard and look refined.
Anyhow, tangent aside - the servers are helpful and have the right amount of aloofness so as to make you feel like you are at a place that is a step above the others, but not so much that it comes off as a gimmick. They grabbed some cigars for my brother and I, and in sidling up to the bar, were able to grab a neat tequila and a Newcastle brown and just lounge the night away looking out onto college st.
The music was blasting, but I have few complaints for a place that will rock out a string of Zeppelin tunes. Sitting by the window allowed for the smoky haze to quickly dissipate, which was nice (I like cigar smoke, but I don't like feeling like I am trapped in wood chip smoker). I could see that it was a bit thicker further inside. As a plus, even though we went on a Saturday night, the openness of the place and all really didn't make it feel crowded. My only observation was the staircase going down to the bathroom was downright treacherous for someone who wasn't tipsy - I could imagine some bad falls if one was not careful.
I echo the other reviews - highly recommended if you like cigar smoke and nice alcohol (or stroking your proverbial or physical beard).
Really, when it comes down to it, I actually like the fact that I'm not allowed to smoke in bars anymore. I mean, I don't like the politics behind it, because I still think a privately owned business should be able to make up their own mind, but that's another discussion for another website.
The truth is that the Owl Shop is the only bar left in New Haven where you can actually legally smoke inside. Which I don't think is a bad thing. If that's what you want to go do, then by all means, go do it.
The bar is fully stocked and they have a decent selection of just about everything (no draft beers, but a great selection of about a dozen bottled beers). The lounge area is great as well. If you're lucky, you can score some prime seats to hang out, drink, smoke, and watch the Red Sox lose to the Yankees.
I disagree with the other reviewer about the "attitude" of this place. It's the complete opposite of pretentious. I've always found it really easy to talk to people here, and the bartenders are very friendly.
Clearly, the only issue is the smoke, which can start to be irritating after a while. But, if you can handle it, the Owl Shop is a great spot to chill with a friend.
This is the ultimate mans sanctuary. Nice place to go after getting a bite to eat in the city and don't want to be smothered by swanky women and guido dudes. One of the best cigar shops Ive ever been to. If your feeling the economy, cant listen to your wife yelling at ya, or just need a break from life and cant get any illegal drugs, then the owl shop is your place. Tell em ya want a fat stogie and a beer and sit back on a leather couch and puff away my friend.
Great retreat for a cigar smoker to get out of the cold. Clean friendly atmosphere. Good cigar selection and a fully stocked bar. Not as many scotches and whiskey's as Richter's but is still a good
Definitely feels like a guy's hangout. Nice to be able to find a cool place to be able to smoke, have a drink and relax.
Someday, when I hit powerball, I'm going to have a huge walk-in closet. At the back of that walk-in closet will be a small brass nob. When you turn that small brass nob at the back of that walk-in closet, a door will open -- into the Owl Shop.
When smoking became illegal in Bars in CT, I was forced outside. I grew to like it, as you always ended up in random conversations with random people, which added to a fun night out.
Every once and a while, however, I wanted to hide out, have a beer and smoke a cigarette -- at the same time. When that urge came, we'd go to the Owl Shop. They'd been serving ports and sherries forever, and around the time of the smoking ban had added Sam Smith's beers to their list of imbibables.
The Sam Smith's is still there, but now there's a larger bar, a barista, a stellar wine list (both by-the-glass and bottle), and a great beer selection. Their "browns" (scotch, etc.) are a bit limited, but the quality of what they have makes up for what they lack.
The smoke can get a little unbearable at times, but the friendly staff and oftentimes friendlier customers make up for it.
I suggest drinking the Innis & Gunn oak-aged beer when you're there, because every once and a while the executives for the import company stop in for a beer and a cigar. If they see you with an Innis & Gunn, you just stopped paying for drinks for the rest of the night. If that doesn't work for you, it's always nice to be able to get Clos de los Siete by the glass.
New Haven, CT
Category: Dive Bars
New Haven, CT
Category: Cinema
New Haven, CT
New Haven, CT
Category: Coffee & Tea
New Haven, CT
Category: Restaurants
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