I’d been meaning to visit Dolce Caffè in Rickmansworth for a couple of years. My good friend Steven, whom I met through the cigar scene, has a knack for discovering interesting, slightly quirky places to enjoy a cigar. A couple of years ago, he told me about Dolce, its owner Krenar Elezi, and the cigar evenings they host. Ever since, I’d been saying to myself, “I really must get down there one day.”
Well, a couple of weeks back, I finally made it! And what better occasion to visit for a cigar and whisky evening?
The journey to Rickmansworth
Travelling from South East London, where I’m based, to Rickmansworth felt like quite a trek!
I took the train and then an Uber from the station to make sure I arrived in time for the 7pm start.
Dolce Caffè sits on the high street at Moneyhill Parade.
From the outside, you could easily walk past without realising what’s inside. The restaurant has a relaxed Mediterranean vibe.
But the real hidden gem for cigar smokers is the terrace tucked away at the side!
Apparently, the spot where the terrace now stands was once home to public lavatories many years ago — you’d never guess it today! Krenar has transformed it into a fantastic cigar terrace, complete with lush greenery, neon lighting and a seriously cool atmosphere.
It strikes that perfect balance between intimate and spacious, with a unique design that gives the place plenty of personality. There’s also something unexpectedly bouji about the whole setting, making it feel quite stylish.
The folk behind Dolce
Krenar is originally from Albania and has an impressive culinary background. He trained at Le Cordon Bleu London and has worked at some of London’s most prestigious establishments, including Claridge’s, Simpson’s in the Strand and The Savoy.
Dolce itself dates back to 2012 and is a family-run restaurant combining French and Italian influences with Mediterranean touches.
But what struck me wasn’t his CV — it is his approach to hospitality. He is constantly making sure people are looked after, chatting with guests and creating a relaxed atmosphere. You could see that he genuinely enjoys bringing people together.
It also helps that Krenar is a cigar smoker himself.
Krenar and his wife Migena have managed to create something quite unusual — a restaurant with a serious culinary background, combined with a wonderfully quirky whisky and cigar terrace.
Wait… what?! I’m going to be the one doing the talking 😳😅
The evening centered around Blackened cigars and Angel’s Envy bourbon, but I had another reason to feel a little nervous before the night even began.
I’d been very kindly asked if I would say a few words about the cigars during the event. My anxiety immediately kicked in. Argh! I’m not the most confident public speaker, and my first instinct was almost to say no. But it was honestly such a nice gesture and a real honour to be asked 🙏. I felt I should push myself outside my comfort zone, so I agreed.
I suppose any imposter syndrome I experience stems from being a cigar blogger rather than an industry professional. I’ve attended plenty of events where I’ve listened to people from manufacturers, distributors and retailers talk about cigars, so suddenly finding myself on the other side of the equation was quite daunting.
When the time came, I got up and spoke to the guests about the story behind Blackened cigars, their connection to Metallica and the collaboration between the band’s frontman, James Hetfield, and Drew Estate.
I decided to focus on the story behind the cigars rather than simply reading out the blend details. I also made it clear from the outset that I was there as a fellow cigar fan and blogger, rather than as a representative of a distributor or manufacturer.
I wasn’t the only one doing the talking, either. Chris Wren also shared his experiences with Angel’s Envy, including a story about meeting the whiskey’s owner in the US back in the day.
Despite my nerves, I actually really enjoyed getting up and speaking. That said, I did describe the cigar has a hybrid of tobaccos from different countries, which whilst that’s true, I somehow failed to state the obvious: that it was made in Nicaragua. 🤦♂️
I’m also my own worst critic, so I inevitably went home and replayed the whole thing in my head. Still, I’m glad I said yes. It was a good experience, and one I probably would have missed out on if I’d let my nerves get the better of me.
Blackened cigars and Angel’s Envy
With the talking out of the way, it was time to enjoy the cigars and whisky!
You might remember my post about Blackened cigars a couple of months ago. These are the result of a collaboration between James Hetfield of Metallica and Drew Estate, bringing together the worlds of heavy metal and premium cigars.
There’s plenty of Metallica history built into the cigars, too.
The M81 takes its name from M for Metallica and 81 for 1981, the year the band was formed.
It features a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. Made at Drew Estate’s factory in Nicaragua, it delivers the sort of rich, darker profile you’d expect from the name, with notes of coffee, chocolate, earth and spice.
We also enjoyed the S84, which provided me with a little cigar education during the evening. The S stands for Shade, referring to the wrapper, while 84 refers to 1984, the year Metallica released Ride the Lightning.
(Cheers, Steven, if you’re reading this, for that additional bit of information! 🙏)
Alongside the cigars, we enjoyed Angel’s Envy bourbon, which is finished in ruby Port wine barrels. Its sweeter, fruitier character provided an interesting contrast to the darker flavours of the cigars.
Naturally, we also made sure to smoke the medium-bodied cigar before moving on to the fuller-bodied offering.
The people make the event
For me, one of the best parts of the evening came after my presentation. Once I’d finished speaking, I made a special event to relax and spend time chatting with the other guests around the terrace.
I met some great people, heard their own cigar stories and enjoyed the sort of conversations that make these evenings special.
Yes, the cigars and whisky are important, but it’s the people and the conversations around them that make a cigar event memorable.
And credit where credit is due, too: Krenar has already built up a terrific community of cigar smokers, and evenings like this are a great way to bring people together.
Final thoughts
The time flew by, and before I knew it, the evening had come to an end. It’s always a good sign when an event seems to pass in the blink of an eye!
Krenar and his wife, Migena, deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve created at Dolce Caffè 👏. The restaurant looks great, the food looked fantastic, the terrace is excellent and, most importantly, the hospitality was spot on 👌.
The cigar evenings currently seem to take place every couple of months, although there’s talk of making them more regular, potentially monthly.
All in all, Dolce Caffè is well worth checking out, particularly if you’re local to the area.
I’ll definitely be returning. Next time, though, I’m making sure I leave enough time to sit down and enjoy dinner, too!
And a big thanks to Krenar to give me the honour of talking about thr thing I love… cigars and pushing me outta my comfort zone! 🙏
Interested in visiting Dolce Caffe & Restaurant Terrace?
Address: 16 Moneyhill Parade, Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 7BE
Directions: View on Google Maps
Telephone: 01923 777040
Email: info@dolcecaffe.co.uk
Website: www.dolcecaffe.co.uk
Opening Hours
According to the restaurant’s website:
- Monday–Saturday: 8am–10pm
- Sunday: 10am–6pm
If you’re planning to use the whisky and cigar terrace, I’d recommend contacting the restaurant in advance, particularly if you’re visiting outside a scheduled cigar evening.
Upcoming cigar event
The next cigar event takes place on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, from 7pm, featuring a sampling of AVO cigars.
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