Over the past year, I’ve visited more La Casa del Habano locations than ever before. You might remember my La Casa UK Tour, which included visiting newly opened locations in Sheffield and Long Eaton (Nottingham), followed by overseas visits to La Casa del Habano in Gran Canaria and Cyprus.

So, when Massimo de Munari—whom I had recently visited at the DeART factory—invited me on a short, spontaneous trip across the border into Switzerland to visit La Casa del Habano in Mendrisio and Lugano, I jumped at the chance – and what a trip!

For those unfamiliar, La Casa del Habano it translates to “The House of Habano.” It is a global franchise established by Habanos S.A., the official distributor and marketer of Cuban cigars. The first store opened in Cancún, Mexico, in 1990, and today the network spans nearly 170 locations across more than 60 countries. We’re even getting a brand-new La Casa del Habano on Pall Mall in London this March (that Massimo is currently working on) — an exciting addition for the UK cigar scene.

After enjoying a strong Italian coffee in an old traditional café in Bergamo’s historic Città Alta, the beautiful hilltop old town with sweeping views across Lombardy, we set off. Passport in hand, we hit the highway.

The drive from Bergamo into Switzerland takes around 90 minutes on the highway, with a smooth border crossing that opens up to a strikingly different landscape.

La Casa del Habano Mendrisio

Mendrisio was our first stop.

The La Casa Del Habano Mendrisio opened here in 2024, at the time it was the country’s ninth LCDH! Located at Via Angelo Maspoli 11, it is the second La Casa run by Alain Proietto and Sofia Belfasto, who also operate the Lugano location.

Conveniently situated near a shopping mall, it’s an easy option for anyone travelling with non-smokers: you can enjoy a cigar while your partners or family explore the mall nearby for a couple of hours 😁.

The space itself feels refreshingly contemporary. Mendrisio is one of those rare cigar venues that goes beyond retail; it’s a place where you can pair a premium smoke with genuinely good food, thanks to a full kitchen, a private chef, oh and there’s a super selection of drinks including a strong wine list.

Sofia explains “This is a place where guests can drink, smoke, eat, or simply relax. There’s no pressure to do just one thing. People often come in for a coffee or a sandwich, enjoy a cigar, leave, and then return later for another. That rhythm is very natural here.”

It feels more like a destination than a shop. I had the pleasure of enjoying a fantastic lunch here with Alain, Sofia and Massimo (who designed the humidor) 🙏.

After lunch, it was time to explore the cigars, and the walk-in humidor is vast.

The first thing that catches your eye is an award for Habanos Man of the Year (Premio Hombre Habano del Año), which is the most prestigious annual honour awarded by Habanos S.A. during the Festival del Habano in Cuba. This award recognises outstanding contributions across business, communications, and production, with past recipients including Edward Sahakian. It’s a serious accolade, and seeing it displayed prominently immediately signals the caliber of this place. The reason it’s there… Alain won it in 2025!!! 🤩

On winning an award for his work in the cigar industry, Alain said:

“This was my dream. It began 25 years ago, when I was 24. To reach this moment is something I always imagined for my life — and now that day has come.”

The cigar selection in Mendrisio is excellent, with Cuban cigars displayed on their sides rather than upright. When I asked why, the answer was refreshingly practical: it helps prevent damage to the head and foot of the cigar over time.

I didn’t choose a cigar here, as we decided to head over to Lugano.

Before we left, I had the chance to explore another side of Alain’s world: a second walk-in humidor tucked away at the back of the shop, housing parts of his remarkable personal cigar collection. Inside were truly original pieces — several genuine “firsts” and one-of-a-kind festival humidors you rarely, if ever, see.

Alain’s enthusiasm for all things cigars is infectious. It’s a big personality, but one rooted in a deep, genuine love for the craft. Sofia shares this passion. Having previously lived in London, she met Alain at the Habanos Festival several years ago — a lovely reminder that cigars not only bring people together around a table but can also shape lives.

Together, they make you feel instantly welcome. You can sense the love they have for cigars, for the shop, and for each other. That connection is reflected in the photographs lining the walls near the lounge — a visual timeline of their life together.

To round things off, there’s an outdoor cigar sampling area, complete with a covered rooftop option if the weather turns — a perfect finishing touch to an already standout destination.

Cigar Must & La Casa del Habano Lugano

From Mendrisio, we drove 25 minutes to Lugano — where Alain’s family roots lie and where his original shop, Cigar Must, stands on Piazza Riforma.

If Mendrisio represents where Alain is today, Lugano tells the story of how it began.

Alain discovered cigars through his grandfather, a passionate pipe and cigar smoker.

“My grandfather taught me everything. Every Sunday after lunch, we would smoke one cigar together. That’s one of my most important memories.”

After his grandfather passed away, the family acquired Cigar Must, preserving both a family legacy and a historic tobacco shop specialising in pipes and cigars.

Today, the store offers an extensive range of cigars and accessories.

Nearby La Casa del Habano Lugano expands the experience with a large walk-in humidor, private lockers, and an elegant lounge designed for slow, uninterrupted enjoyment.

But the real magic of this particular shop lies in the private collection on display. Antique jars. Pre-embargo cabinets. Historic cigar packaging.

Alain personally talked me through the collection.

Some pieces belonged to his family; others were acquired at London auctions long before vintage Cuban cigars became widely collected.

“I like young people to understand the story,” Alain told me. “The humidor, the history, the objects — they all explain the cigar. This is how the passion continues.”

One standout was a jar of Benson & Hedges cigars made in Havana. Look closely at the bands — they don’t reference King Charles III, but King George VI 👑🇬🇧. A proper slice of British–Cuban cigar history.

Apparently the middle cigar is wrapped in white paper because it has a pig tail, which allows you to easily pull it out.

It was also fascinating to see a Partagás cigar produced for the Casino de Cannes — a reminder of how closely cigars were once intertwined with European high society.

And then came the serious wow factor. The Cohiba Guayasamín Humidor — featuring an 18-carat gold woman, similar to that iconic silhouette which defines the Cohiba brand, complete with what I believe to be an original Cohiba logo (though don’t quote me on that – I’ll need to confirm that with Alex Groom!).

Alain also mentioned that he owns/has seen cigars specially made for Coca-Cola, Shell, and even Iberia Airways (including their bespoke Partagás) from back in the day.

I don’t have access to a definitive top-ten list of the world’s great cigar collectors, but Alain unquestionably belongs in the conversation.

Some of his most extraordinary cigars and humidors are kept discreetly in a private humidor, reserved for intimate moments.

Alain also owns several of Massimo’s remarkable creations, including the exquisite 225th Anniversary humidor crafted for Hunters & Frankau.

… alongside his Trinidad 50th Aniversario Limited Edition Humidor.

As if this trip hadn’t already been full of surprises, just as we were about to leave Alain made an extraordinary gesture — he invited me to choose any cigar I liked from his private collection 🤯.

I’d heard stories of this happening to others, but had never imagined I’d experience it myself.

There was no hesitation. I chose the La Escepción Selectos Finos Edición Regional Italia (2011) — a Cuban cigar brand you rarely even hear mentioned, let alone see in person. Released as an Italian regional edition in 2011, it marked the revival of the historic La Escepción brand, a name that dates back to the 19th century. Produced in limited quantities exclusively for the Italian market, it quickly became something of a cult cigar among collectors. And with my trip having begun in Italy, it felt like the perfect choice.

Despite my usual preference for larger ring gauges, this cigar was sublime: mild, creamy, elegant, and beautifully balanced. Even better, Alain shared the box with everyone present as we took a trip back over to the Mendrisio lounge to smoke it.

This wasn’t just a great cigar — this was a shared moment. One I’m deeply grateful for.

Thinking of visiting?

If you’re exploring Switzerland with cigars in mind, Mendrisio and Lugano should be firmly on your list — not just for the cigars, but for the people, the history, and the experience around them!

La Casa del Habano Mendrisio
Via Angelo Maspoli 11, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcdh_mendrisio

La Casa del Habano Lugano
Via Motta 12, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcdhlugano

A special thanks to Massimo, Alain, and Sofia for the most amazing trip 🙏