Last night I found myself with one of the hottest tickets in town — the opening of a new pop-up sampling lounge at The Garden Room at The Lanesborough, just by Hyde Park Corner and a short walk from Knightsbridge — and what an event!
The evening brought together some real heavyweights from the cigar world. The new Head of Cigars was in attendance, alongside representatives from Habanos S.A. and Hunters & Frankau, as well as a curated selection of Ramón Allones cigars, which made the night feel even more special.
This pop-up lounge is a temporary concept running through spring and summer while the original Garden Room undergoes renovation, with its full reopening expected later in the year. It’s discreetly tucked away behind the hotel — you wouldn’t even know it was there from the front.
Walking in brought back memories of my first visit years ago, when I found it a little intimidating. This time, though, I felt right at home – what’s happened!!! 😁
Interestingly, the crowd had a very different vibe than expected. Many guests weren’t regular cigar smokers — or hadn’t smoked at all — which gave the evening a fresh, curious energy.
I met people from luxury lifestyle media, and hospitality, and also bumped into familiar faces including Joe of Davidoff of London, Mansur of OM Cigars, Tuba from UK Cigar Aficionadas, and Tatiana of Itpak — always a pleasure to catch up.
What makes this opening particularly special is the timing. With ongoing legislative pressures in the UK — especially the proposed generational smoking ban moving through both the House of Commons and House of Lords and potentially about to become law — it’s refreshing to see venues like this still investing in cigar culture. It’s a real testament to the idea that the show must go on!
It’s also worth noting that The Lanesborough has long played a defining role in London’s cigar scene. Widely regarded within the industry as an early pioneer of the “comfortable outdoor smoking area” following the 2007 smoking ban — a concept closely associated with the late Simon Chase of Hunters & Frankau — the hotel helped set the benchmark for luxury cigar terraces in the capital. It is also home to some of the city’s earliest humidors crafted by Massimo De Munari of DeArt (I recently visited his humidor factory in Italy), which remain on display today.
The event itself had a great atmosphere. A live Cuban band played throughout the evening, adding an authentic and vibrant touch, while guests enjoyed champagne, canapés, and, of course, cigars. Although we didn’t experience the lounge in its usual format — it was very much set up for a party — it still offered a strong sense of what’s to come, especially as staff restored everything to its original setup after the event.
A major highlight of the evening — and of this new chapter for the venue — is the appointment of Yeni Momblan as Head of Cigars.
Cuban-born and a graduate of the International Cigar Sommelier Academy, she brings both heritage and international expertise to one of London’s most distinguished cigar programmes.
Momblan joins from La Casa del Habano in Edinburgh, where she served as Humidor Manager, and previously developed cigar experiences within the restaurant group of Michelin-starred chef Dani García in Spain.
Her appointment coincides with the Garden Room’s ambitious 2026 relaunch — first as this elegant pop-up, followed by the unveiling of a fully renovated permanent space later in the summer. She becomes one of very few female cigar sommeliers in London, marking a progressive step forward in what has traditionally been a male-dominated space.
The Garden Room’s celebrated walk-in humidors house one of the capital’s finest Cuban cigar collections, spanning iconic marques such as Cohiba, Trinidad, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagás, and Bolívar, alongside rare pre-Castro vintages. Momblan introduces a refined pairing philosophy shaped by her Cuban roots and European training — ranging from unexpected combinations like white tea and 70% dark chocolate to classic pairings with Highland and Islay single malts, as well as selections from the hotel’s historic Paradis collection of rare Cognacs and Armagnacs dating back to the 18th century.
If you’re planning to visit, be aware that the hotel layout is a bit of a maze — definitely ask for directions to find the pop-up. From what I saw, the cigar offering leans heavily towards Cuban selections, with no obvious New World cigars available.
Location-wise, this sits right in the heart of what’s becoming London’s second “Cigar Mile,” with St James’s as the first hub and Knightsbridge emerging as the second. Surrounded by landmarks such as The Peninsula London, The Wellesley, The Emory, and just a short distance from Sautter Cigars, the area is quickly establishing itself as a key destination for cigar enthusiasts.
Overall, it felt like a truly special evening — honestly I felt so humbled to actually be invited — especially at such an important place for cigars on London’s cigar scene. Beyond the cigars, we sampled the Ramon Allones Specially Selected cigar, it was about the people and the stories. One guest I spoke to, originally from Belarus, recounted her first visit to The Lanesborough for a friend’s wedding and how she has returned almost every year for her birthday since, drawn by the memories it holds. That truly says everything about this place.
I can only imagine what it costs to stay the night 🤩 — but just being there, enjoying the atmosphere and the pop-up experience, felt like an utter privilege. The Garden Room Terrace is well worth checking out this spring and summer!
You can find the cigar menu here. All menus displayed are sample menus and are subject to changes.
Opening hours (subject to change)
Mondays to Saturdays 12.00pm – 2.30am
Sundays & Bank Holidays 12.00pm – 12.30am
Bookings
Minimum spend £50 per person after 9.00pm for non-resident guests.
Last orders 30 minutes before closing
The Garden Room is a cigar sampling venue. Until 9.00pm, guests are not obliged to purchase a cigar or sample a cigar, however are welcome to. From 9.00pm onwards, at least 50% of any party are required to purchase a cigar. Please note guests are not permitted to bring cigars from elsewhere to sample in this space and the smoking of cigarettes is not permitted.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the terrace.
Interested in visiting?
The Garden Room at The Lanesborough
Hyde Park Corner
London
SW1X 7TA
If you liked this review, check out my other reviews of cigar shops, sampling lounges and terraces.
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