The Art of Taking Time
There was once an elegance to sitting, talking and allowing an evening to unfold. In the traditional cigar lounge, that slower pace of life has never entirely disappeared.
Autumn has a habit of changing the rhythm of things. The long evenings of summer begin to retreat, coats return to the hallway and there is once again something appealing about stepping inside somewhere warm and settling into a comfortable chair.
It is an atmosphere that the traditional cigar lounge seems almost purpose-built for.
For centuries, cigars have developed a culture of their own. From the tobacco fields of Central America and the Caribbean to the grand hotels, private clubs and drawing rooms of Europe, they became associated with occasion.
There is ceremony involved. A cigar is selected, examined, cut and prepared. There is no great advantage in rushing any of it. Perhaps that is why cigar culture and conversation have always sat so comfortably alongside one another.
The great cigar lounges understood this. They were places designed for lingering: substantial chairs, good company and enough time for discussions to wander. In many ways, that feels rather unusual in modern life.
We live in an age of short conversations, instant replies and the seemingly endless requirement to be doing something else. Even our downtime is frequently accompanied by a screen. Deliberately setting aside an hour or an evening and allowing it to remain uncomplicated has become something of a luxury in itself.
Marco Maffei spent his earlier career in property development, but cigars had been an interest since his youth and in 2018 he established Maffei Cigar Lounge & Bar in Tunbridge Wells. Running the Lounge With the help of Matteo and Luana, Marcos Son and Daughter establish Maffei‘s as a true family ran business.
Inside, the setting is wonderfully atmospheric. Deep leather chairs and sofas invite you to settle in. Whilst a wall-length humidor takes centre stage holding an extensive collection of Cuban and New World cigars. The latter opens up a much broader geography than many newcomers might expect, with cigars produced across Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and beyond.
There is a fully licensed bar too, but one of the more unexpected features is the attention given to music. A superb sound system adds another layer to the room, something that comes particularly to the fore during Maffei’s Jazz Kissa-inspired evenings.
The idea takes its cue from Japan’s famous jazz listening cafés: places where the music itself becomes part of the occasion. Maffei’s Thursday evening version runs from 6pm until 10pm, with tickets priced at £15 including a glass of wine. It is an interesting meeting of cultures. The traditions of the cigar lounge combined with a Japanese approach to slowing down and properly listening to music.
Perhaps most telling is how far people travel to find the place. Marco talks of customers coming from as far as London, Portsmouth and Dartford, alongside a loyal local following. Ages vary considerably too. Some arrive with years of knowledge behind them; others walk through the door knowing virtually nothing about cigars at all.
That mixture seems important. For the uninitiated, the terminology can be daunting, countries, wrappers, shapes, sizes, blends and ageing create an enormous subject. Conversation and advice therefore remain a significant part of the experience, and Marco openly welcomes both newcomers and experienced enthusiasts.
The lounge opens Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30am until 6pm, Friday from 10.30am until late and Saturday from 11am until late, meaning the character of the place naturally changes as the week progresses.
Yet step away from the cigars themselves and there is something broader at work here.
Places devoted simply to conversation, music and spending time in the company of others have become surprisingly rare. Perhaps that explains why people are prepared to travel some distance to find one.
And as another autumn arrives in Tunbridge Wells, there is something rather fitting about finding that tradition still occupying a corner of town: leather chairs, music playing, a drink from the bar and conversation flowing.
For once, nobody appears to be in too much of a hurry.
www.maffeihomeofhavana.com
