It’s a brand-new year, and while the world’s news may already feel a little chaotic just two weeks in 🤯, it’s an exciting time for cigar enthusiasts in London. The city is welcoming several new cigar shops and sampling lounges. The first this year has just opened its doors — say hello to The Cigar Merchant at DUKES Hotel in St James, London 👋.
Just before Christmas, I announced that a new cigar merchant was to open and wrote about The Delany Room at DUKES Hotel following a preview visit.
At the time, however, the cigar sampling lounge wasn’t quite ready. It officially opened shortly before Christmas, and I finally had the chance to visit this past weekend.
Background
DUKES Hotel first opened in 1908 and is a long-established luxury institution tucked away in the prestigious St. James’s area of Mayfair. Originally serving as private chambers for the aristocracy, it later transitioned into a hotel, maintaining strong ties to British high society throughout its history.
One of its most famous features is DUKES Bar, a longtime favourite of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond. The bar is legendary for its martini—“shaken, not stirred”—served tableside from a trolley using frozen glasses. Due to their strength, guests are limited to two per visit.
Over the years, DUKES has hosted numerous notable figures, including composer Edward Elgar and members of the British royal family. Princess Diana reportedly had a standing table for afternoon tea in the drawing room, inside what is now known as the Delany Room.
There is a tribute to her inside the Delany Room.
At present, DUKES London is undergoing a full renovation (the hotel itself is practically empty) and is scheduled to reopen in late Summer 2026. While the hotel itself is closed, DUKES Bar, the newly reimagined Delany Room, and The Cigar Merchant and sampling lounge are fully open to guests.
My experience
DUKES Hotel sits on what I like to call “Cigar Mile.” The closest Underground station is Green Park on the Jubilee line, from where it’s an easy stroll along Piccadilly and down St James’ Street. The route takes you past Davidoff of London, The Stafford Hotel, CGars, and J.J. Fox before reaching St James Place, where DUKES is tucked away.
I arrived on a Saturday afternoon, not long after the lounge opened at 3 p.m.
Access is through the main hotel reception, where the staff are exceptionally welcoming. You can leave your coats here and head downstairs to use the restrooms before returning upstairs and passing through the Delany Room…
…then through the white double doors into the outdoor area, which occupies the spot where the old Cognac and Cigar Garden once sat, under shelter.
From there, it’s up the stairs…
…into the cigar merchant itself, now housed in what was once a hotel room — an arrangement that gives the space an extremely intimate, almost private atmosphere.
The interior was designed by Russell Sage Studio — the same team behind the Delany Room. With only 14 seats and five small tables, it’s well worth calling ahead to check availability; arriving to find it fully booked would be particularly frustrating given how intimate the space is. On the plus side, there are several other cigar lounges nearby, making it easy to fill the time if you plan to return later in the afternoon.
The humidor was designed by Massimo of DeArt, with cigars curated by Manu Harit of ManuH Cigars in association with importers and distributors Hunters & Frankau, Davidoff London and Tor Imports.
Although the humidor is relatively compact, it offers a thoughtfully curated mix of Cuban and New World and Davidoff cigars.
The humidor includes a selection of high-end Cuban cigars such as the Montecristo Special Reserve and Partagás Serie E No.2 Gran Reserva, complemented by New World offerings including the My Father × Tatuaje La Union, alongside cigars from Padrón, Arturo Fuente, and Davidoff. The one I was most curious about was the Manu House Blend Lancero — which I believe is also available at The Tasting Room at The Peninsula.
As is typical for hotel-style humidors, prices weren’t displayed, but a price list is available on request — a good idea if you want to avoid any surprises. Prices start around £30 and climb to approximately £570. I chose to sample a San Cristóbal Cabana. My cigar plus a drink came to £85 – in line with most London hotel cigar establishments.
The lounge is managed by Diana Turcanu, one of the few women in the UK to hold the title Master of Havana Cigars. Previously associated with The Peninsula London and The Arts Club, she brings both expertise and genuine warmth to the role.
Diana is excellent at guiding selections, pairing cigars to sample with drinks, and — if requested — cutting and lighting with precision.
Accessories throughout the space are supplied by Mantis Accessories (their cigar cutters are super sharp!), and it was a pleasure to run into David Kelaty (and Danny), the company’s owner, who recently took home Cigar Accessory Company of the Year 2025 at the Boisdale Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards.
The room also doubles as an extension of the Delany Room that are hosting whisky and drinks tastings throughout the year.
On this occasion, I had two drinks. The first was “Count Camillo’s Cousin”, a twist on the classic Negroni. They age a blend of Glencadam Pinot Noir Cask Single Malt with Campari that they have nitro-infused with tonka beans, adding Antica Formula, in their own cask in the Delany Drawing Room.
The second was “The Admiral”, their twist on a classic Old Fashioned, with coconut-washed navy-strength rum, mixed with Dom Bénédictine, Grand Marnier, and Angostura bitters.
The lounge is warm and inviting, with rich reds and oranges creating a snug, friendly atmosphere. Small wooden tables are dotted with softly glowing lamps, while comfortable chairs and sofas sit close together, making it easy to relax and chat. The overall mood is calm and intimate — clearly a place designed for quiet conversation and unwinding with friends. Ventilation is good too; I didn’t leave smelling strongly of cigars.
There’s no strict dress code at The Cigar Merchant, though very casual clothing might feel out of place. Smart casual works well, especially if you’re planning to drop into DUKES Bar as well.
Despite its cosy size, the space naturally brings people together. A special shout-out to Mike (who’s read the blog 🙏) and Simon—great company and great conversation. They discovered the venue after visiting Davidoff of London, where the Sahakians had recommended it. I’d already noticed their stamp of approval myself after spotting them at the lounge on Manu’s social media just before Christmas. Judging by how bare the humidor looks in the photo below, though, you do have to wonder… did they sample everything? 😃.
My overall thoughts
A great experience for sampling cigars with a group of friends. Going solo may feel a little awkward for first-timers, as the space is quite intimate — unless you visit during quieter times in the day or late at night. It’s also a great spot for tourists travelling from the States and beyond.
The staff are brilliant: super friendly and genuinely welcoming — Diana is ace! While a wider cigar selection would be a nice addition, the cigars are well humidified and the drinks on offer are top-notch 👌.
Pairing this with the James Bond Martini experience at DUKES beforehand — if you can get in, it’s first come first serve — makes for a great follow-up with a cigar. Definitely check the price lists before making your selection.
Overall, I’d rate the experience 8 out of 10 — an excellent addition to London’s cigar scene and well worth a visit 👏.
Are you interested in visiting?
The Cigar Merchant is open Tuesday – Saturday, 3pm till 11pm.
DUKES London
35 St. James’s Place, London SW1A 1NY
Tel: 020 7491 4840
Email: info@dukeshotel.com
Website and their cigar section
DUKES Hotel is set to open fully in Summer 2026.
If you like this review, check out my other reviews of London’s other cigar shops, sampling lounges and terraces.
Leave a Reply