Randomly found this place for lunch after a looooong site-seeing walk. We hesitated wondering if it would smell of cigar but the main dining room was just fine. Had 14 and 12 yo with us. Good draft beers, great wraps, burger, salad -- and very reasonably priced for the area. Great lunch spot. read more

Absolute amazing place for drinks and a cigar. The cigar menu is extensive. Sure to satisfy most tastes. Excellent drink menu. Very good ventilation. Highly recommend. Very close to the White House. read more

Shelly's is an awesome place for cigar smokers to drink and dine. The atmosphere is great, the service is outstanding, and the people are incredibly friendly. read more

Shelly's is mostly a restaurant area with a small bar - where you sit in the restuarant area and drink if you wish for as long as you wish. Food is a bit pricey and good to above average but you don't come here to eat, you come here to smoke, talk to your buddies, watch a game, and drink a few. Let's stay focused here. This is a man's bar. Women are welcome of course but it's a man's bar to talk about sports, women, work, and sports - which plays on the numerous TVs throughout the restaurant. Don't park illegaly on F st, you'll get a ticket. The ventilation system is terrific - you're going to smell some smoke of course, but it won't be a 'smokey bar' even when packed, as it often is at nights and weekends. To clear up a misconception in some other reviews, you do not have to pay to smoke here (a cutting charge in some other clubs). You can buy cigars (pricey like any other club), or bring you own - no charge. If you want an entree, go for the pork chops - terrific. read more

The service here is a joke. The waitresses, at best, are unresponsive, and the management is even worse. When we went, they wouldn't even push two adjacent tables together to make a bigger one for our party of 8. The manager was a clown and asked us to leave the second we paid our check because we were unhappy with his complete lack of help. Literally said, "You paid, so now you can leave." Sorry for suggesting that your table-pushing policies are stupid, pal. Feedback is apparently not much appreciated here. God forbid a customer suggest that you loosen up and allow someone to enjoy their time with their large party spending lots of money in your business! If I go somewhere for a night and spend hundreds of dollars, I want to do it at a place that at least appreciates the business. And I want to feel as if they are actually making an attempt to accommodate me. I didn't think moving one table was a lot to ask, but at Shelly's Back Room, the tables come first! read more

I go to Shelly s frequently. The food is first rate and the wait staff are the nicest group of people you would ever hope to meet. read more

Had the pleasure of visiting this great Washington landmark just two blocks from the White House. Excellent selection of fine cigars along with a full service bar. Humidor service rentals. Fine luncheon and dinner menu. Comfortable bar and lounge including outside seating in a cool and shaded umbrella area by the sidewalk on F Street. I appreciated the kind and attentive service by Ms. Joann who made our afternoon and evening a pleasant and relaxing adventure. read more

For a guy who wants to smoke w great cigar in a club setting with great drinks, beautiful Thai girls and fantastic service, Shelly's is the place. The setting is classic Washington, their smoke eaters keep the room clear, even the food is top shelf. I've stopped in to smoke and relax when in town from NY, I've entertained over drinks and dinner, and, even rented a cigar locker which is awesome. I find some of the less than positive comments very confusing as I've been to Shelly's many times and always hate to leave. I'm betting it's likely some people that do not expect to pay for a nice cigar, drink and service in a higher end place like this. You get what you pay for - best service I've encountered in Washington. Enjoy! David read more

Lunch food is good with nice portions. I usually get the BBQ Wrap and it comes with fries. It's less than $11 and sometimes I smoke a cigar sometimes I just come for food. They have several air purification systems so it's not too full of cigar smoke. They have several TV's for watching sports. Sometimes I have the burgers too and they are fine. Best part of the place is that it's somewhat a hidden gem. I think most people see Cigar bar and skip it. I can always find a table and most times it's very quiet. read more

I ordered a non-alcoholic "Buckler" for $5.95. Upon providing a debit card, I found I was in fact charged $16. I requested a refund. The server, "JoAnn," first claimed to be a manager and then the owner. She explained that there was a room fee of $15. I said that was not the same as a credit card minimum, or charging an amount that hadn't been agreed upon. She claimed to issue a refund, but that their machines were "not able" to print refund receipts. She then tried to stress that I needed to immediately order additional items in order to exceed the required $15. To summarize the rest, I said I was going at my own pace and wasn't trying to be rushed, and then she cursed at me multiple times and told me to leave. Upon researching it, I have found that "JoAnn" is not the owner. The real owner seems like an interesting guy, but his staff seems to conduct business in a manner that is mildly illegal. That also means the currently listed price range of $11-30 is inaccurate. I would assume that with tax, $16.12 is the minimum. read more

I was very disappointed that the ownership refused to show NBA basketball even the Wizards. Not sure their reason but I am hopeful with playoffs coming up they change their policy. If not there are other options in the city that are happy to support the local team read more

This is the best cigar lounge In the D.C. area. I been all over the world and smoked with the best of the best and this place is among the best. Nice ownership, professional staff and chai, joe and Tip are the best host in the world. If anyone has or had a problem with this place, ITS them not the place. Great food read more

I love smoking cigars so this is my spot!!! Such a wide selection of cigars!!!! Very diverse bar too. I just cant leave this place without giving a positive review:) read more

Over priced, watered down drinks, cigar selection limited, and staff seemingly not interested in serving the customer. Food even worse. Won't go back. read more

Why is that when you a hype a place up before taking someone, they always disappoint?! My bff and I went last night, and the service was terrible at best. I've been to Shelly's before, but this was my first time dining here. She liked the chicken nachos and I liked the fire fried shrimp. We were also served fries and started eating them before a server came and took them and delivered them to another table!! Yes, you read correctly...I had fries on my plate and my bff was digging in them while the waiter was present, and I tried to tell him...maybe it was a language barrier, but that's disgusting in any language. Our server/bartender (tall, slim, black guy) was slow, inattentive, and just lacked enthusiasm and personality. I mean he brought the check and we didn't even get a chance to order cigars! I won't be visiting again and urge you to not order food if you go..you don't know where it's been or who's touched it. I'll stick to the hookah lounges. read more

Great cigar selection. Great service. Great atmosphere. Had a very good time here and will be back.

Been a customer for over four years. Would have given it 5 stars before last week's event. A group of customers came in and insulted one of the wait-staff by refusing services from her because "she was Mexican." Beyond the obvious, the women who work there are Thai. Rather than address the bad behavior of the customer, Shelly's on-site management did nothing. A text was sent to the owner who also did nothing. Poor behavior on the part of all, except the women who work their butts off every day. read more

Been coming here on occasion for almost 10 years. Good food and ambiance; however, the service leaves quite a bit to be desired. If you come alone or with only 1 other person, prepare to sit at the bar, no matter how many tables are open. I recently stopped by around midnight on a Monday after leaving a concert at Verizon center; the place was almost entirely empty, so I asked if my buddy and I could sit at a small table so we could watch something on the TV--the answer was a very unapologetic "No". Oh yeah, the service at the bar is notoriously lousy. They have a backwards bartender/server system in place. It doesn't work... This place could be great, but I guess its easier for them to just remain mediocre. read more

The atmosphere here is wonderfully old-school (I picture decades before the '50s), with all the dark wood, ornate fixtures, and, of course, the prevalent cigars. There's power, cockiness, and high ego in the air here...but now it's reminiscence instead of reality. (I think.) The richness of the setting is matched by the prices; unfortunately, the quality of the food doesn't hold up across the board. Food-wise, what I've tried is all "good," at least, but to me the real selling point of Shelly's is the atmosphere. And for cigar smokers -- I enjoy the smell (in moderation) but am not a smoker myself --I'd imagine the opportunity to smoke your own brought-in cigar or one of Shelly's wide variety of cigars for sale around many other cigar fans is probably a good thing as well. To round out the experience, Shelly's has an extensive list (-almost- as extensive as the cigar list) of whiskeys, bourbons, other liquors and mixed drinks. Plus beer and wine, of course, but those lists seem more standard. read more

The best place to drink booze and smoke cigars indoors in DC. 4.5 Stars.

I love this place. I visit here every time I go to DC. The staff is friendly and very attentive, but not intrusive. The food is always great. Not many places left to smoke but this one goes up and above, not just a smoke place, a great restaurant. Thanks for always providing your best !! read more

Overall, a must checkout place when in DC. The room fills with little too much smoke on weekends but it's a cigar bar.... The waitresses are friendly and witty. I heard they can get little pushy with ordering drinks, but that's how they make money, off of tips. So they do want you to spend little more than just on a cigar. Good choice of whiskey and cigars. read more

After long day of walking the national mall from end to end I happened upon Shelly's Back Room. It has a comfortable and rich atmosphere, however the service is horrible. The servers had sullen attitudes and after having sat down in the bar area for ten minutes I had not been asked if I would like a drink, so I got up and left. The staff didn't seem to care that a customer was walking out the door. It was not busy, there was about as much staff as there were customers. read more

Loved it! Great service! Didn't get to try the food but it was very relaxing and a good environment to smoke. I paired a buffalo trace with a cigar and it was very complimentary! read more

Atmosphere is pretty cool, but the prices are steep. Worst part is you pay big bucks for a stogie, and it is hard as a rock and doesn't draw because they humidor is not taken care of properly. When I was leaving I thought I would see what the humidity % was- it was 52%. Made perfect sense. read more

This place is amazing -- if you can tolerate cigar smoke. Great prices, great atmosphere. Awesome place to unwind.

It is rare I bother with writing a poor performance for an establishment, however if I had the option to pick zero stars believe me I would. I went in yesterday for a quick pint around 5pm before rush hour, and I was treated with such disrespect by the hostesses and bartenders I am still slightly dumbfounded. First, I walk in and the hostess ignored me (there was no one else standing anywhere near the door, not a busy time for the restaurant) and when I finally got her attention I told her I'd just like to go to the bar. My girlfriend and I were escorted to the bar and sat at a small booth. There were several open booths and we picked up our menus to order. We were promptly and curtly told by the bartender that we had to move to the section of the bar that was reserved for parties strictly consisting of two. That's fine, but if we had known this before we sat, she could have saved us the embarrassment of having us move to the front of the bar. Perhaps instead of lecturing the customer, she should save it for those responsible for seating customer. We then ordered, and for a bar with a reputation for "elegance" and charging $7.25 a pint, learn how to properly pour a Guinness, please! My girl and I had but barely finished our first drink before Christina the bartender came whipping around and literally threw down the checkbook. She demanded immediate payment because her shift was about to end, and offered not the slightest hint of apology about it. Okay, so I may not be a middle-aged white man wearing a Gucci suit ordering a $35 cigar and working for the Trump campaign, but have a little respect! We were dressed well, and it was 5:00 pm on a Thursday! Meanwhile, our original seating had been occupied by TWO men (Yes, two! Call the manager...) who also had their checkbook flung at them by Christina the bartender. So, it's totally cool if these two guys sit at this spot, but not us and we must pay immediately based on the bartender's request. We will not be returning. I prefer to save my money now and buy my own Guinness, at least I know how to pour it correctly. read more

Terrible service and not worth the hassle. It's ashame because the interior and location are great for dc. However, just go down the street to W. Curtis Draper for a better selection and a small space to enjoy a cigar. read more

Great atmosphere and fairly priced menu (food drinks and smokes). Great place to meet up or just people watch.

I went to Shelly's Back Room for New Years Eve because I just wanted a relaxing evening of reading, wine, and smoking. I definitely enjoyed my experience at Shelly's and will be back soon. The atmosphere is very relaxing and the service is exceptional. I never smoked a cigar before I went to Shelly's and I was a bit nervous but the supervisor was very helpful in making my experience not so awkward. Chi, one of the staff members, waited on me and he was friendly and kind and always had a smile on his face. I spent my evening being comfortable by sitting on the soft couches with a glass of wine and a mild cigar with my book to get some studying done. I will make Shelly's one of my go-to places for more relaxing sessions when I just want some peace, a book, and a cigar. read more

My cousin camed to visit me from Florida last weekend. We both enjoy the occasional cigar, so decided to stop in Shelly's. I had never been before and was eager to try it out and to show my cousin a good time. Things started out fine - the waiter came by, took our food and drink order, and recommended some cigars. For my meal, I went with a chicken sandwich. It came with grilled onions and mushrooms and also had an option for buffalo style. I asked our waiter "If I order the sandwich buffalo style will it still come with the grilled onions and mushrooms?" He answered in the affirmative, and I am sure you can guess what happened when the food arrived. Yup, I was delivered a piece of breaded chicken between two buns. The lady who brought our food (not the gentleman who took the order) argued with me for a little while about the order, and then my cousin suggested she just bring out a side of grilled mushrooms and onions to remedy the situation. She replied that she would have to charge me for that. I told her to do whatever the hell she had to do in order to bring me what I ordered, so she took the sandwich away (talk about a huge waste of money on the restaurant's part) and 25 minutes later came out with the correct item. There were maybe 10 other people in the establishment besides myself and my cousin, so why the order took so long/wasn't put in as a "rush" baffles me. After we ate our food and ordered a couple more drinks, my cousin asked if there was a deck of cards somewhere so that we could play while we smoked. No cards. No problem. However, my cousin is a persistent fellow, so he went to a nearby convenience store, purchased cards, came back, and we began playing. Another woman came by to inform us that the restaurant does not allow patrons to play cards. Unbelievable, especially, as mentioned before, hardly anyone was in there and it wasn't like we were disturbing anyway. Nonetheless, we told her we would put them away and asked for our check. She comes back about 30 seconds later to yell at us for not having the cards put away. I calmly tell her that we are in the process of doing so. She replies that she will wait there until the cards are put away (Yes, this actually happened), like we are children being punished for not listening to a parent's command. Never have I been treated so poorly or with such disrespect. It really is a shame because I am expecting a lot of friends/family to visit me while I am in the city, and this would have been a spot that, under different mananagement (you know, the competent kind), I think they might have enjoyed. read more

don't get it. lodge living room meets airport CNN tv viewing experience in a super smoky environment. you will be sending your coat to the dry cleaners after hitting this place read more

This place could definitely use a revamp. It is catered more to a man's taste... a dirty man who hasn't showered in a few days and has been bathing in cigar smoke for days upon days. Don't get me wrong, I love the smell of cigar and cigarette smoke (I know I am weird), but this place was even too much for me. It is so claustrophobic and small that all of the smoke just continues to lingers for years upon years and the ventilation is quite poor. By the end of the night, I end up with a smoke coma. The men will pounce on any lady walking into their smoke infested den which is always entertaining/irritating depending on who you get! read more

Visited your establishment on the date above 8:30 pm or so. Have to say it was the worst experience I have had at your PLACE. 1. Entered the place and walked to the bar area and was going to sit at the tables behind the bar. 2. There was a sign on the table, reserved for three or more? 3, what is 3, who comes in with 3. 3. I asked a person who stated that he was the manager and could he help? 4. I asked if myself and a friend of mine who had just arrived could sit there, there were 3 of these tables available at the time. 5. His answer was and I quote [I think you would be more comfortable in these two chairs] How about asking me and not telling me?? 6. These chairs looked like two old cloth chairs someone was throwing out? 7. Where is the LEATHER??? Your prices warrant leather?? 8. I frequent the establishment about 2 dozen times per year and have never been treated like this. 9. The manager then wanted to seat us in the front room, noisy/no music/no ventilation, [for the smoke]/lousy service by Thai girls that could not understand plain English?? I asked them several times to keep an eye out for a table to open behind the bar for us? Audrey, never let me know about any table opening up? Although my friend and I walked past a few times to the bathroom and observed tables still unoccupied?? 10. I ordered a NY strip 34.99 steak med rare and a Caesar salad and I want to say, the steak was not, ANGUS AS YOU CLAIM, it was tough chewy and downright awful, Swimming in butter sauce? 11. My salad and entre came with an entree fork only, no salad fork/butter or steak knife. 12. With drinks and small tip we spent 108.00, what a waste of time and money 13. Good luck keeping this place open for very long?? A very dissatisfied customer read more

I'm not a cigar fan so I'm not in a position to write a review. I do have acquaintances that are and I just wish the ventilation was better. It would make this a much more pleasant experience for those who don't smoke, but enjoy being in the company that do. (or who have no choice but to go along) read more

Quick trip to dc. Great place for cigar and some bourbon. Great staff. Nice folks. Will return

service seemed a little off. they weren't rude or anything but a little demanding unbendable on some things. food was ok and hence the service and food 3 stars. the bar/restaurant was great! i dont smoke cigars but real cigar lounge feel with what seems to be great air filtration. atmosphere was great. wish i could give 3.5 stars be aware that this is a cigar bar so if u go be prepared to eat/drink with some cigar smoke. to me it wasn't that big a deal but if u are on a date or with family go elsewhere read more

Meh. Cigar bar very well done. Atmosphere is spot on. Food was only ok. Nothing you couldn't get elsewhere. Whiskey menu is extensive. Nota cocktail type place. But, if you are looking for whiskey and a cigar, you've found a good spot. I would just go elsewhere for your meal. read more

I love that Shelly's is very DIVERSE and a well rounded place. My wife was a little hesitates about going with me. Now she can't stop talking about this place. SHELLY'S BACK ROOM offers two sides. The RIGHT side offer dining only, NO SMOKING. The LEFT side offer a lounge and dining area to enjoy FOOD DRINKS and CIGARS. It's REFRESHING to see other COUPLES as well as groups of WOMEN enjoying a good CIGAR and CONVERSATION. This wasn't your typical good old boys joint. I would definitely RECOMMEND this place for COUPLES, WOMEN and MEN of any RACE. The menu for FOOD, DRINKS and CIGARS are very reasonable $$. The SERVICE and STAFF were AMAZING. My wife and I are glad we chose SHELLY'S BACK ROOM for our first experience at a CIGAR JOINT. Street Parking. Garage Parking near by. read more

Great cigars and libations selection! The servers are very attentive! Great atmosphere and selection of beverages and cigars.