My daughter will be soon in New York City for a brief holiday and offered to buy me some tobaccos not available here where we live (Italy). So i wonder if someone of you could kindly suggest some good tobacconists in the City for her to visit. Thanks in advance
Tobacconists in New York City
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Sad to say--as others here will attest--the heyday of New York's tobacconists is long past. I suspect that Barclay Rex at 126 Pearl Street in the financial district is for many of us the beginning and end of what was once quite a respectably sized list. You should also be warned that like many other places in the US local tax on tobacco products is stiff.
I second Barclay Rex. They have some decent house blends but nothing spectacular.
How far are you from Piacenza? I go there often.
How far are you from Piacenza? I go there often.
Is it possible for you to order online from any tobacconist in the country, have it delivered to where she will be staying in New York, then have her bring it back as part of her duty free purchases ? That might expand the possibilities for you. Try The Country Squire in Mississippi; L.J. Peretti in Boston. Iwan Ries in Chicago(?) --- I'm sure others here can make suggestions as well .... just an idea ...
I stop into Barclay-Rex on occasion (it's not that long a walk from my office at the 9 to 5 gig). Their tin section is quite small and 3x the price of online vendors. I've only smoked their Maiden Lane blend, a mild English that the gal there compared to Balkan Sobranie. I enjoy the novelty of smoking the blend in a Barclay-Rex pipe, but, it's nothing to write home about.
There is a Davidoff at the Brookfield Place Mall on the Westside Highway. You might find a couple Davidoff tins, but, not much else. I'd love to find a brick and mortar here in New York that had a decent pipe tobacco section. Those days are long gone and I never got to take advantage as I was more into cigars in the '90s.
There is a Davidoff at the Brookfield Place Mall on the Westside Highway. You might find a couple Davidoff tins, but, not much else. I'd love to find a brick and mortar here in New York that had a decent pipe tobacco section. Those days are long gone and I never got to take advantage as I was more into cigars in the '90s.
Since Nat Sherman, the pipe and cigar shop, closed a few years ago, Barclay Rex is about it. The South Carolina pipe and cigar outfit, Laudisi that has the online retailer smokingpipes.com, bought the Dublin pipe maker Peterson in recent years and has some kind of European presence, so you might at least inquire with them.
It is sad to see what has happened to NYC retail since the late 70's, which is as far back as I can remember. As a young teen, I found the variety, depth, and charm of NYC's specialty shops to be amazing and inspiring. I'm sure all large cities have suffered in similar ways, but Manhattan is a striking example of urban cultural decay.
First of all, many thanks to all; I understand that Barclay Rex is the only choice remained, apart from the suggestion of ordering online and have the tobaccos delivered in New York City, but my daughter will last only a few days, so it seems unfeasible. And yes, Piacenza is not far from my town, less than a hour by car...
So I'll suggest Barclay Rex to my daughter, but I wonder, they sell only home made tobaccos or even something else?
So I'll suggest Barclay Rex to my daughter, but I wonder, they sell only home made tobaccos or even something else?
Yes, your best bet is to find a place that will ship overseas and have them ship it where you want. Tons of places: the Country Squire (www.thecountrysquireonline.com/product-category/tobacco/), or L.J. Peretti (ljperetti.com), or Smoking Pipes (www.smokingpipes.com), or Watch City Cigars (watchcitycigar.com) and the list goes on for quite a while.
new york is still amazing and you can still find many smaller speciality stores, but the last time I was there the stores had taken a hard turn into shopping mall style shopping.
I'm sorry to say that this dire portrayal of the situation is a very fair one. I'll encourage you, though, as I think she'll enjoy visiting Barclay-Rex. The last time I was there was summer of 2021, which seems an age ago, but they had a respectable selection of tinned tobacco, including Esoterica Tobacciana, if your tastes run that direction. I purchased some of their Vincent's blend, a Latakia blend named for the past owner, Vincent Nastri. It's a fine English, but not about to displace Nightcap for me!
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It is sad what has happened to the all the tobacconists in New York city and many US cities. I agree with what many have said above. The selection if any will be slim. Almost all of the US sales have moved online. A postal delivery to a hotel (marked for the guest) and timed for a visit is your best bet these days.
In addition to barclay Rex down by Wall Street, Davidoff of Geneva 6th avenue and davidoff of Geneva 515 Madison Avenue. The one off 6th is where I first learned of McClelland years ago. They have a decent selection of pipe tobacco, I would say around 30 to 40 different blends, all tinned tobacco, no loose tobacco. Sadly the barclay Rex on Wall Street is not as good as the location they moved from nor old the upper east side location. Between the barclay Rex and Davidoff you should be able to get a nice array of tobaccos.