GMCVB Vacation Planner 2012 : Page-117
ADVERTISEMENT T he very moment you walk into Cuban Crafters, you know that this is no ordinary cigar store. Sure, there is the familiar and very knowledgeable attendant who will guide you through the shop’s extensive catalog of premium cigars, yet you will not encounter a cigar store that will offer a free shoeshine service the moment you walk in, courtesy of Cuban Crafters. This sort of vintage and charming detail is what makes your first visit to the expansive yet intimate store in Little Havana one to remember for years to come. The shoeshine station is placed in front of the entrance of the store, next to the Cuban coffee bar (which is also complimentary), where you will be treated to the traditional “cafecito”. The timeless aura that navigates smoothly over the Cuban Crafters headquarters is the constant characteristic of this specialized boutique store. With over 10,000 square feet of space, this store offers a full range of specialized and boutique premium cigars, offering the cigar aficionado and the occasional smoker a bevy of options and delicacies to explore. The setting can be best described as Cuban nostalgic: paintings of the island surround the showroom, murals depict the golden age of Cuba, the delicious aroma of coffee invades your nostrils and invites you to sit down and converse with the always-present colorful characters who have made this store a second home. Carefully lighted and decorated with gentle tones of mahogany and darker hues, Cuban Crafter’s cigar lounge offers patrons a space for soft conversation and wine tasting. A creative tapas bar offers an inventive menu of traditional staples of Cuban cuisine with a touch of ingenious modernity: try the Cuban wrap, the lighter version of its older and huskier cousin, the Cuban Sandwich. Don’t be surprised to be joined for a snack by one of the affable owners, Don Kiki Berger, the Master Cigar Maker and namesake of many of the store’s finest cigars. His stories will make you laugh and wish that you could spend many more days in this little paradise of true craftsmanship that is Cuban Crafters Cigars. MiamiandBeaches. com 117