After 18 months in town, we’re ready to make it official: Estate Cigars & Social is one of the best hangouts in St. Pete, and it is truly a local gem. Located at 1201 4th Street South, the chic and comfortable lounge was an immediate hit when it opened, and in the time since it has developed a cult following of locals in the know.

While there are several things we love about Estate Cigars – the outstanding cigar selection is a star, of course – two things make the lowkey hotspot a must-visit this time of year. First, despite being so close to the water and downtown, it’s one of the few places that has managed to stay off the tourist radar – a welcome oasis for locals who want to kick back with a drink or a smoke. Second, while we do love the beautiful patio overlooking Booker Creek, it’s truly unbeatable during the summer to bask in the cool, plush interior of a well-air-conditioned lounge.

Estate Cigars specializes, as you might imagine, in fine cigars curated from across the country and across the globe. In addition to the cigars, they offer a full wine selection featuring some truly impressive bottles, as well as a rotating list of local craft beers on tap and in cans. Hours of operation are 11 am – 10 pm Tuesday-Thursday, 11 am – 11 pm Friday and Saturday, and 12-6 pm Sunday.

Our favorite excuse to visit is for their two happy hours, helping to keep our wallets as full as our glasses. Thursday night is the best time to drop in and kick off your weekend, as that previously-mentioned wine list is ripe for tasting. From 7 pm to close every Thursday, all bottles of wine are half-off, giving the perfect excuse to luxuriate in the main lounge or catch a sunset on the patio. Even if you don’t want a cigar, it’s an excellent excuse to relax with a drink.

Of course, if a good smoke is what you’re looking for, Estate has you covered there, too, every single day. Owners have created a never-ending happy hour: buy five cigars and get one free, any time and any day (except Mondays when they’re closed, of course). Our pick: enjoy the free one in the lounge with a pint of beer, and save the other five for later. Though we won’t be surprised if you end up smoking more before you leave.

One of St. Pete’s best patios

While the cool and dim indoor lounge is beautiful in the summer, with glass cases full of cigars and plush couches and chairs spread throughout, it’s the waterfront patio that we can’t get enough of. Hidden on the shaded side of the building along Booker Creek, Estate Cigar’s patio is an absolute oasis, and the perfect place to have a cigar, enjoy a drink in the afternoon, chat with friends under the lights at night, or even catch the sunset. The private and scenic patio is actually one of the main reasons owner Jonathon Waterman chose this location for Estate Cigars, and he’s been excited to show it off.

Inside, however, the renovated space remains a work of art. Custom cabinets were created for storing the cigars, and Waterman also installed a high-efficiency HVAC system to create near-perfect ventilation. With the machine in place, 100 percent of the air is replaced with outdoor air every seven minutes.

“There’s nothing worse than walking out of a lounge and smelling like an ashtray, so we wanted to ensure that doesn’t happen to our patrons,” Waterman said. “This dramatically minimizes the ability of smoke to stick to clothes and furniture.”

Cigars are sourced with a variety of palates in mind, led by an owner with a deep appreciation for and understanding of cigars. The plush interior has been entirely renovated to create a relaxing lounge with warm colors and comfortable seating alongside an elegant bar.

Making things better, the lounge is in the same plaza as Nicko’s Pizza, and the areas surrounding the plaza have been growing as neighborhoods like Old Southeast, Roser Park and the nearby Coquina Key have become more and more popular. Learn more at estatecigars.com.

And if you’re a biker or motorcycle enthusiast, mark your calendar for the Estate Cigars Bike Night on Wednesday, August 7 at 7 pm. Get your bike and your riding buds and make your way down.