Shelly's Back Room Cigar Bar / Restaurant

DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, DC –

Situated just two blocks from the White House and guarded by a saluting five-foot Native American statue, Shelly’s Back Room is one of only a handful of DC establishments where folks can still get together for an indoor smoke without suffering the evil eye from suburban yoga moms and soy milk-drinking herbivores.

In fact, just behind the red door, politicians and diplomats relax on club chairs and sofas to sip Willett Bourbon Whiskey and puff away on smoldering Ashtons, unapologetically blowing gray circles of smoke into the air.

Framed cigar boxes give a nod to the same premium brands for sale in the display case, which are frequently paired with the bar’s excellent selection of rare bourbons, whiskeys, and wines.

Both cigar connoisseurs and novices cull through the lengthy tobacco menu before settling into the lounge, where they join international travelers, after-work regulars, and savvy young politicos pulling their favorite stogies from one of the two hundred personal humidors.

Although Shelly’s Back Room also offers a small but hearty selection of American dishes, the obvious draw for the mostly male crowd is the chance to enjoy a guilt-free smoke in an upscale and relaxed setting.