As someone who regularly writes about cigar shops, sampling lounges, and cigar-friendly spaces, I get a steady stream of messages across email, social media, and WhatsApp. They usually follow the same pattern: “I’m in [this city] — where can I enjoy a good cigar? Any recommendations?”.
That question came up recently in relation to Milan. Wanting to be helpful, I did a quick Google search and came across a 2018 article from EGM titled “24 Hours in Milan: Restaurants and Cigar Lounges”. It pointed to the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, noting that the hotel had a cigar lounge — an intriguing detail that immediately caught my attention. I shared this recommendation – but not sure if it still opearates – it looks like it. I think that request quietly planted the seed in my head to include Milan in my upcoming trip to Italy — though at the time, I had no idea how that would actually unfold.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I found myself travelling to northern Italy to visit the DeART factory where they make the world’s best cigar humidors. Little did I know that Massimo de Munari (the owner of DeART) himself would offer to drive us into Milan for the afternoon after my factory visit. What started as a casual request and Google search had somehow turned into an unexpected opportunity to explore a small but fascinating slice of Milan’s cigar scene.
Milan and cigars: smoking regulations
Milan isn’t a cigar city in the same way London is (well for now at least). There are almost no dedicated lounges and sampling rooms, and the culture feels a little more discreet. I think that’s all down to their smoking ban – at the time of my visit, smoking was restricted in many outdoor public spaces, including public green areas, transport stops, sports facilities, cemeteries (?!), and places used by children, recreational users, or dog walkers, unless it was possible to maintain a distance of at least 10 metres from other people. From 1 January 2025, these restrictions were extended to all outdoor public areas, with the only exception being isolated spaces where a minimum 10-metre distance could be maintained.
That said, we did visit two notable establishments — both of which feature humidors designed and built by Massimo of DeArt — giving a fascinating snapshot of how cigar culture exists in Italy’s fashion capital.
The Wilde, Milan
Our first stop was The Wilde, a five-star private members’ club named after Oscar Wilde. It was previously the private residence of Santo Versace.
Spread across several floors, the club offers elegant dining rooms, bars, and social spaces, with a dedicated cigar room tucked away downstairs.
The cigar lounge itself is relatively small, but beautifully executed — intimate, calm, and clearly designed as a place to unwind rather than linger for hours.
The humidor, designed by DeART, is understated and precise, very much in keeping with the club’s overall aesthetic.
Despite its small size, it was a great experience and felt very “Milan”: polished, discreet, and stylish without being showy.
We were joined here by Luca Borla, who owns La Casa del Habano Milan. I recognised Luca immediately — I’d posted about him a couple of years ago when Michael Jordan (the now retired US basketball player) visited his shop. Since then, they’ve become friends, and when Michael is in town, he always makes sure he gets his cigars from the LCDH.
We smoked the Cohiba Novedosos – an LCDH special – inside, it was a lovely cigar and a great atmosphere.
In the summer you can also smoke cigars on the terrace outside
La Casa del Habano Milano
From The Wilde, we made our way into central Milan to visit La Casa del Habano Milano. The city was deep in preparations for the Milano–Cortina Winter Olympics, which are taking place right now — and there was a real sense of momentum in the air.
Founded in 2006, La Casa del Habano Milano celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Owned by Luca Borla and driven by a genuine passion for Cuban cigars, it remains one of the most important cigar retail destinations in Italy, welcoming both seasoned aficionados and curious newcomers with an exceptional range of Habanos.
Luca was once nominated in the Business category at the 2024 Habanos Festival Awards, a recognition that highlights his influence within the cigar industry on a global platform.
Chatting with Luca, it quickly became clear that supply can be challenging. Like many retailers today, he isn’t always able to choose exactly which cigars he wants for the shop, instead purchasing what is made available. As a result, there were no vintage or aged cigars on display during my visit.
Luca also spoke about one of his most famous customers: Michael Jordan. According to him, Jordan gravitates toward large, dark cigars, with favourites including Partagás, Romeo y Julieta (particularly the red boxes and Línea Gold), Double Coronas, Lusitanias, and Monterreys. Ring gauge and wrapper colour are key criteria. Jordan reportedly smokes six or seven cigars a day and often buys in volume, with Luca carefully reserving suitable boxes for his visits. On one occasion, Jordan even gifted Luca a Punch Benelux Selection cigar.
Inside, the shop was a joy to explore. Boxes everywhere — shelves stacked high with cigars — a sight that’s becoming increasingly rare. The walk-in humidor (once again designed by DeART) maintains ideal storage conditions, and the overall selection was genuinely impressive. Alongside classic Cuban boxes, there were jars too — one standout being La Escepción, a historic Cuban brand released for the Italian market — as well as accessories and plenty to tempt even the most disciplined smoker.
There is also a small sampling room, though it didn’t appear to be in use during my visit.
One particularly interesting detail was the presence of Toscano cigars. Made in Italy using locally grown tobacco, Toscano cigars are hugely popular with Italian smokers. They’re quite different from Cuban cigars — stronger, more rustic, and often smoked in a different way — but they play a major role in Italy’s cigar culture and compete strongly with both Cuban and New World offerings. According to Luca, the clientele here is highly international.
Finishing on a visual high note, the shop walls also featured some fantastic accessories — including a giant Cohiba watch created in collaboration with Zenith — a bold, unmistakable statement piece that perfectly suited the space.
Final thoughts
The smoking lounge at The Wilde makes for a great post-dinner spot. That said, it’s a private members’ club, so this isn’t somewhere you can simply wander into off the street — and I suspect membership doesn’t come cheap.
La Casa is an excellent stop for picking up cigars. I didn’t have time to check prices as it was very much a whistle-stop visit, but there were plenty of boxes on display, which is always a good sign.
I managed to pick up a Toscano myself, which I haven’t smoked yet — but I’m really looking forward to lighting it up soon and experiencing it.
As you’d expect, the DeART humidors throughout were absolutely top-notch.
I also heard through the grapevine that the Bulgari Hotel in Milan may have a cigar lounge, although I wasn’t able to confirm whether cigars are still permitted there. If you’re into your New World cigars there is meant to be a good shop called Noli – Articoli per Fumatori and a club called Remedy where you can smoke, that is worth a visit too!
Interested in visiting?
The Wilde
Milano Club, Via dei Giardini, 16, 20121 Milan, Italy
View on Google Maps
Website: https://www.thewilde.com/milan
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/the_wilde_milan
La Casa del Habanos Milan
Via Augusto Anfossi, 28 – 20135 Milano
View on Google Maps
Tel.: +39 02 59900973
E-mail: info@casadelhabano.it
Website: https://casadelhabano.it/en/
Social media: https://www.instagram.com/lcdhmilano/
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