Tucked away in a decrepit little corner of Bukhari Commercial, is an unsuspecting little oasis. One where you can sit back, relax and unwind. In fact, the space is a nod to the classy Karachi that was once far more common then, than it is now. A Karachi of languid evenings, great music, and people coming together over food and drinks. And cigars.
The Karachi Cigar Club is that oasis. It is a fancy place, with rich woodwork, luxe leather sofas and a playlist to match. The interior design and lighting will immediately draw you in. It’s a 180-degree shift from the cacophony of the naan and chicken shops outside. But one can’t help but ask the question, why is a place of such expensive taste located in a place like this?
According to the owner, Dewan Adil, why not? To him, the cigar culture is as much a part of Karachi’s essence as the naan. We sat down with him to figure out if there is even a need for a cigar club in the city.
Karachi actually has a very vibrant cigar community, he explains. And his own personal journey into cigar culture started at the age of nineteen when he had his first cigar, on a boat in Karachi. Needless to say, cigars are the stuff that the high life is made of. And the Karachi Cigar Club is unapologetically rich – in taste and culture. Which is really what Dewan wants us to remember about the place.
According to the owner, Dewan Adil, why not? To him, the cigar culture is as much a part of Karachi’s essence as the naan. We sat down with him to figure out if there is even a need for a cigar club in the city.
Karachi actually has a very vibrant cigar community, he explains. And his own personal journey into cigar culture started at the age of nineteen when he had his first cigar, on a boat in Karachi. Needless to say, cigars are the stuff that the high life is made of. And the Karachi Cigar Club is unapologetically rich – in taste and culture. Which is really what Dewan wants us to remember about the place.
Some of us may recall an establishment called Club Havana in a small shop lot in Zamzama, which was also a passion project that aimed to rekindle cigar culture in Karachi. But needless to say, it fizzled out. What went wrong, we’ll never know. But that’s the thing about such projects, passions wane and that’s that.
Will this be the fate of The Karachi Cigar Club? Absolutely not, says Dewan sitting up in his chair. He is very clear that this is not his bread and butter. He admits that it is a passion project but with years of business acumen behind it and a very hands-on approach to managing the space, crucial to a small, niche business.
Dewan also has a refreshingly inclusive take on cigar culture. It isn’t just for the well-heeled, international man of mystery. Sure, there are expensive cigars that live in their own temperature-controlled little room but there’s also great coffee and food. Even if you are just getting started with cigars, The KCC welcomes you. Also, even if you just want to settle down in a comfortable sofa and get a cup of coffee to clear your head, this is the place for you.
And like Hernaz Diaz described his protagonist, a tobacco trader, in his novel Trust, as a purveyor not only of the finest cigars but also of excellent conversation…