This place was great. Came here for vacation and me and my buddy wanted to smoke cigars on the…read morebeach. We went here and the guy behind the counter was a fucking legend. He recommended one of the best cigars I've ever had and even went the extra mile to cut them for us so we didn't have to buy a cutter.

Yes, I love cigars about one a week and all of a sudden there are a whole bunch of new vape shops…read morethat say they sell cigars. I trust Gregg and the Grotto because he and his staff know me and what I like. Period! If you want a gift... done! Want to smoke one in the Grotto? Done. Need accessories? Also done. Great spot and service with easy parking.

Wow what a great cigar lounge. From the moment you walk into this place they have a HUGE humidor…read morefilled with almost every single cigar your heart could desire. There is a very handsome man that works there looks Pureto Rican or something Not exotic but this guy is very knowledgeable in cigars and can get your right. The cigar lounge inside and out is roomy snd clean. Couple weird guys floating around but what cigar lounge doesn't have those. When in NORTH COUNTY / ESCO make sure you slide in to this place and satisfy your cigar needs

The outside is VERY clean and well lit…read more My friend has bought a couple of cigars there and he enjoyed them, at a VERY reasonable price. Brian was very gracious to me one time in the rain and gave me a VERY NICE JACKET and made sure I was ok. Can't wait to hang out sometime on the patio and chill.

Five starts because 1) I don't know diddly about cigars and 2) the owner (?) was the coolest,…read moreunpretentious righteous dude ever. Especially Christmas Eve when he coulda totally gauged me on a cigar that I knew nothing about. I walked in there Xmas eve and the Promenade was a cluster-F mess. Whole Foods had a bunch of rabid squirrel customers (hey, I was one of those squirrels) trying to gather their last minute nuts to share with the family before the big Christmas day. I wanted to get a stocking stuffer for the bf's father that was in town. He has a secret love of cigards (secret = bf's mom doesn't know about it) so I remembered the small cigar shop I've seen for so many years at the newly revamped Promenade. The 2 story shop had a few customers browsing the two humidors. I tried to look cool and hip like one of those well dressed women from Mad Men (except I wasn't well dressed and I looked schlepy that stressful day). After a moment or two perusing the humidor, a nice gentleman came up to me and asked if I needed help. I gave him my price range (um, something under $20 - I'm rich yo) and he didn't judge or scoff at me. He gave me a few options and when I asked if there was something a bit 'larger' than the stumpier cigar he recommended, he gave me his honest .02c and sold me one that was even better than the original ( I believe it was a 1964 Padron). Plus, look at the cool packaging he put the cigar in (see pics). I couldn't have been happier or more pleased with the transaction. So thank you Liberty Tobacco -

Great place to relax and enjoy a quality cigar!! Staff very knowledgeable and friendly.read more

Was looking for some cigars, heard about this spot and the photos on Yelp looked good. Here was my…read moreexperience. AMBIANCE Parking: Hillcrest area--street parking, might take a minute depending on the time. Seating: Multiple lounge-style areas--couches, chairs, even a pool table setup. Plenty of space to spread out and hang. Good for small groups Vibes: Welcome to the Hillcrest Gay-borhood. It's an eventful place from good eats to bars. This place leans heavy into that speakeasy / vintage lounge feel--dim lighting, moody atmosphere, and a slightly cinematic vibe. It almost feels like stepping into another era. DRINKS / EXPERIENCE They've got a solid selection of wine, beer, and cigars, and the humidor (cigar storage room) is stocked with a variety of options for different preferences. Even if you're not a cigar expert, the staff is known to help guide you toward something you'll actually enjoy--which makes it approachable for both beginners and regulars. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly and knowledgeable. Rocky was pretty helpful. TL;DR OVERALL 4 Stars. Solid selections and pleasant vibes. I'm not into the cigar culture but it looks like a unique spot in San Diego. Great for a chill night out, especially if you're looking for something different from the usual bar scene. TIPS: * Take your time--this isn't a rush-through spot * Ask for recommendations if you're new to cigar

I had my doubts walking up to the place. It's in an alley and nothing good has ever come from a…read morebusiness down one of those. But as soon as i walked in, I knew I was in for a gem and it didn't disappoint. I had such a great experience at Cigar Cave! From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel right at home. They were fun and totally added to the vibe of the place, even if they inserted themselves into our conversation. Their energy was part of some really dope vibes and good fun! The selection of cigars they recommended based on the flavor profiles we described was spot-on. They have hundreds of cigars as well. Close the door when you enter and exit to keep the cigars fresh. They also serve beer and wine in cool glasses, which was a nice touch. The place has a low-lit, smokey, and had an edgy vibe that just screams chill. The decor is really unique and adds to the overall ambiance. Plus, they'll even change the TV to whatever you want, so you can kick back and enjoy your time however you like. It's super comfy and relaxed. I would definitely recommend this spot to others but not too many because I want to make this part of my monthly routine. If you're in Hillcrest and want a laid-back, fun place to grab a cigar, this is it!

This place is heaven for cigar lovers. I had the pleasure of visiting this lovely cigar club…read moreyesterday and everything about it is perfection. The decor is fabulous, the staff is kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere is so nice. It's a great place to enjoy a nice cigar respite with good friends, and the patrons here are very nice as well. Big shoutout to Steve, the GM, who puts the H in hospitality. He is a mensch and a half. I am looking forward to coming here again. Thank you!

This review is long overdue! I've been a VIP member for about six months, and I'm almost a daily…read morevisitor. The lounge has two main areas. First, there's the sophisticated bar, which is smoke-free and the perfect spot for high-end spirits and amazing cocktails (The Gov'ner Old Fashioned is a must-try!). The staff are welcoming, friendly, and always smiling! They've started adding some events to the schedule, like Whistlepig/Cigar tastings, Cajun Boil, Macallan tastings, and wine tastings. They're also introducing a late-night happy hour with food and live music, which is a great way to enjoy a sophisticated drink when most restaurants have closed in the area. The second part of the lounge is the two cigar lounges: the day lounge and the VIP lounge, which has lockers. Both lounges have high-end luxury seating and lots of screens for all your favorite sports. The staff keeps the lounges clean with friendly service. At the back, there's a walk-in humidor that's well-stocked with a great selection, including Davidoff, Padron, Opus X, Fuentes, My Father, Foundation, and Placencia, just to name a few. The Winston House stick blended by Placencia is an incredible stick for an exceptional price! Both lounges have a bunch of friendly regulars, so it's always easy to find conversation, or you can just relax and enjoy the moment! This place is a hidden gem that I consider to be the best cigar lounge in SoCal!

The employees are very nice. Great service. Jesus is…read moreKnowledgeable and will always go out of his way to help. He always cuts my cigars for me because I always tend to do it incorrectly lol.

We had a good time here, very friendly staff, the service was a little slow but they have a good…read moreselection of cigars and lots of area in the lounge. They have a decent selection of whiskeys and bourbons!

Vernice is absolute the best behind the bar! She makes the best Old Fashioneds, she makes the…read moresyrups from scratch, perfectly balanced, smooth, and always made with care. On top of that, she's friendly, attentive, and makes you feel right at home. If you're looking for a great bartender and an amazing Old Fashioned, ask for Vernice! She definitely knows what she's doing.

Thanks for the Wonderful Service tonight Pivot Crew,Manny, Betty, Sam,Jessica & Priscilla. I was…read moreReally feeling like Part of the Family , Thanks Again.

Outstanding experience. Great recommendations…read more 5 star cigar lounge. Thank you for your hospitality.

*The Best Cigar Lounge within an Hour to Disneyland*…read more My fam went back to Disney every night. I couldn't find a lounge Sunday or Monday. Then, Tuesday I found 8 Eighty Eight Cigar Lounge! What a great lounge. The parking lot it's in is the same you'd use for Cultura Tacos y Mas and Fuoco's! What a trifecta!!!!First, up front Robert (Bob, Bobby) is the best! Very knowledgeable able and top notch when interacting and delivering great customer service. Love they have Opus X's and the next two nights I went to town haha. They have 4 chairs in the front room and very well lit. Middle Room, Bar Room, is where McKenzie is throwing down! This is more that darker, club vibe. This has a lot of hightop seating and many TV's, not to mention a killer bar. Also awesome. She recommended a burrito place in the same parking lot and it was the best burrito I've ever had! The Third area is straight lounge chairs, music, digital jukebox and bathroom, with medium lighting. This lounge is very deceiving one would think it's very small if you go to the front but then you'll see if it's very large. Loved spending my time there both nights. *Overall, there aren't many lounges now down there, thank God this one's so good!*

Awesome Customer Service! Great cigar lounge to kickback and have a cigar, to just chill and relax…read more No alcohol is available, had to pay $50 to bring in our own.

Service: 10. Selection: 10. Ambiance: 15. Don't let the…read moreexterior fool you--once you step inside, it's a whole different experience. I'll definitely be back.

We had an awesome time on the patio with our server Corinne. She gave great recommendations and…read moremade it easy with all the kids we brought. Food was great on top of it all. Thank you

We visited on Wednesday after spending the day at Legoland. I purposely held off on writing this…read morereview because I wanted to see if I'd feel differently after having some time to reflect. Unfortunately, after thinking it over, I still feel the same way. Our family decided to come to Karl Strauss Brewery for dinner since it was close by. We were looking forward to relaxing and enjoying a meal after a fun day at the park. When we arrived, the hostess was very friendly and got us seated quickly, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, that's where our positive experience ended. The restaurant was extremely busy, and it took quite a while before our server came to greet us. We were able to order waters, but even those took a long time to arrive. After another long wait, we finally ordered our appetizers. Our original server, who I believe said her name was Noemi or Naomi, came across as overwhelmed, stressed, and like she didn't enjoy her job. While I understand restaurants get busy, her attitude made us feel like we were an inconvenience. She wasn't very attentive, especially to our kids, who had been at Legoland all day and were extremely hungry. She never came back to take their food order, and we found ourselves waiting longer and longer without any communication. Eventually, another server took over our table. She was incredibly kind, friendly, and apologetic. We explained that we had already been waiting a long time and just wanted to place our food order to go so we could get our hungry kids back to the hotel. She handled the situation professionally and did her best to help, which we truly appreciated. If you're dining with young children, I'd keep in mind that service may not be the best fit if your family needs an attentive server or timely service. Waiting extended periods without updates can be especially difficult for tired, hungry kids. It's disappointing because the restaurant itself seemed nice, and the hostess and second server were both wonderful. Unfortunately, the experience with our original server left a bad impression. While I understand busy nights happen, the lack of attentiveness and communication made for a frustrating experience, and because of that, I don't think we'll be returning.