The mighty have fallen. This place was my go to for years but it's gone bad. Poor circulation rude staff at times and just an overall negative experience. Still gets three stars for nostalgic reasons and the good bartenders avoid table service they are rude and move you quick. read more

The management should all be fired. The smoke removers don't work well tooooo smokey Short staffed. My first cigar was stale sent it back and instead of oh I'm sorry can I get you another. I had to chase the waitress down to ask Positive is the drinks came right away and the food too which we're both good. read more

Good burgers, beer was amazing, and staff were super nice. I had lobster bisque for 6 bucks (cheaper than I'm used to) and Diablo Burger was great. It is a cigar bar...I smoke cigars every now and again and it doesn't bug me. Did mess with my wife's eyes after about 30 minutes. No complaint there, just be aware if you don't like smoking. (Staff also mentioned it too, so points there!) read more

Heard about this place from some friends of ours. Decided to stop by and check it out. Got a drink and a Rocky Patel torpedo. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the quality of the cigar. Extremely dry. Almost as though it hadn't been in a humidor in weeks. As soon as it was cut V cut, the wrapper continued to unravel until it was completely off or sticking to my lips or tongue from time to time. I won't be going back. At least not for the cigars. The wait staff was subpar and almost annoyed at the number of people there. The pictures will tell the story of the cigar. Will continue to go to Civil Cigar lounge from now on. Better seats, wait staff, cigars, & overall experience. read more

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The food was wonderful. We shared a half smoked sausage, Caesar salad, and the crab cake entree. The crab cake was the best I've had by far, anywhere. The servers were incredibly quick and attentive, they definitely made the experience better. My only complaint is the smoke, but that was my fault for picking the joint. We were just so hungry and everywhere else was packed. I basically had to ball up my clothes in a plastic bag and tuck them away from the rest of my wardrobe to keep it from infesting everything in cigar smoke once we got back to the hotel room. If smoke doesn't bother you, this place is worth a try. read more

Great service, great environment. Nice selection too. I will definitely be going back. Great place to have a get together

The bartender was nothing short of amazing. However, the "manager" Joanne is a complete RACIST!!! If you are black or Spanish, do not go here. Joanne will expect you to pay your bill and then leave while the patrons that were all white were allowed to stay and make as much noise as they wanted to without any issue. Please note our bill was $200+ and our group was mixed (white, Spanish and black). As stated, the all white groups were louder than us and were NOT asked to leave and I'm quite sure they're bill wasn't as high as ours. Their loss. We will NEVER visit this RACIST establishment again!!! read more

Mike and Tony are fantastic! So much fun. Great conversation! Absolute well-vetted professionals. They ran the show and shift. They visibly get along with all other staff. They are observant to everything going on. Over all a fantastic experience for my first time wandering into the venue. Will 100% be back because of these fun gentlemen. read more

3.5 stars She didn't want to interrupt a meeting of the He Man Woman Haters Club; she was just looking for a good drink. While the boys chose their cigars, she perused the long scotch list, selecting the Ardbeg 10 she'd had the week before and wanted to savor again. She and the boys clinked their glasses in a toast, them careful to not blow white plumes of smoke around her face. She didn't mind; the aroma sent her far away, perhaps to Cuba, where she knew she'd never visit, an unjust consequence of silly history. For the next round, the one sitting closest to her recommended Laphroaig, which, she knew, would allow one to own a whole square of Scotland at the right price. She sipped, her lips curling into a kiss, blowing out the drink's smoke and peat flavor that lapped on her tongue. As she made her exit, leaving them to their boys night, she thanked God for these small moments that have made business school worth it. She walked home, the smoke in her hair loosening in the cold night air. read more

Favorite spot in DC to enjoy a cigar with good business partner. My lucky Spot! Highly recommend!

This happened to me last March, just found this draft today, thus the late post. I walked in on a Sunday afternoon hoping to see my beloved Bulls play the Heat. I ordered a Yuengling ($7.65) and asked kindly if they'd switch the television from golf to the basketball game. The response? "It's our ownership's policy not to show the NBA here. They don't like the crowd it attracts. Too loud, don't spend enough money...[looks around, speaks softer] ...bad tippers." Now I wonder who on earth they might be referring to? To my bartender's credit he went back and asked if I could watch the game, no dice. NBA fans: we aren't welcome here. I use "we" loosely as I think it is a certain subgroup of NBA fans these guys are trying to keep out. Shameful. read more

Let's be honest. If you are a non-smoker, don't go to Shelly's. If you don't like men's clubs, don't go to Shelly's. If you are looking for gourmet food, don't go to Shelly's. If you are complaining about any of the above in future reviews of Shelly's, well, caveat emptor! Now, why should you go to Shelly's? If you like cigars (bringing your own is a great way to save money), go to shelly's. If you like leather chairs, go to Shelly's. If you like scotch, scotchy scotch scotch scotch, go to Shelly's. That's really about it. But that is quite enough reason for me, an occasional indulger in cigars and big fan of all forms of scotch (if it doesn't burn, you aren't doing it right), to go to Shelly's every few months for a night out with a male friend (would I bring a woman--my girlfriend or anyone else? maybe not) and talk about guy things. Like football. Hunting big animals. and emphysema. All good topics. In short, go to Shelly's if it is for you. Otherwise, don't. As for me, I'm about to leave my desk for a night at ... Shelly's. read more

This was a terrible experience and once again it was customer service was the serious issue. We waited in a dead room for ten minutes to get someone to come over and after that they barely spoke English. I had to repeat myself three times to just get a beer... THREE TIMES. Three of my friends sat around waiting for our pints and another 15 minutes passed and we only got them after asking the bartender for them. I ordered a cigar and smoked it but when the bill came it said that we all had bought cigars because everyone was smoking. Everyone was smoking but I was the only one who bought a cigar because I didn't have one. The girl said that everyone has to pay to smoke -- EVERYONE. So they charge for smoking non-bought cigars $15. Stay away. read more

We went to Shellys during inaguration. After my god brother had bragged for the past 4 years about how cool of a spot this was, I have to say the anticipation was pretty high. Visually, the place isnt that impressive...and although i was told that i wouldnt leave the place smelling like a got damn cigar, i did. Which I hate! Anyways, the food was outstanding...we had nachos and chicken wings, and they were both good enough reasons to go back. I couldnt see going here just for a drink though...way too smoky and the drinks are expensive too... Food is great, smoke is NOT! read more

I understand wanting to save a table for parties of 3 or 4. But when half the tables are open at 11:00 on a Thursday night, why do I have to be told where to sit! I don't like to be hearded! But on to the real 2 star rating. I travel for work all over the world. And i make sure i find a cigar lounge first thing. This place feels like cracker barrel. Hard wood seats, old cloth arm chairs and a Thai waite staff that has that pushy attitude I've come to know. The cigar selection looks like a medicine cabinet. But it's better than Ozio! And pretty much the only cigar lounge downtown DC. The food is like......bar food. But when you're the only game in town, I guess you can be that way. read more

Great atmosphere to relax, eat, drink, and smoke quality cigars! I enjoyed my time. Great for meetups with colleagues and friends.

Outstanding service and incredibly friendly staff. The food was good and the smoking was awesome. We will definitely be back. read more

Shelly's Back Room - Had a great time with my 80-year old Dad. Staff were so friendly and helpful. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've probably walked by Shelly's Back Room dozens of times, as it's fairly close to my office, and I've never really thought about walking in. But for a friend's birthday party, I made my probably only visit. I get that Shelly's provides a niche service as one of the few places where you can sit and enjoy a cigar indoors. And since I'm not much a smoker, that benefit may have just been lost on me. So I can't fully judge Shelly's since I'm not the traditional patron. What I am writing about is the so-so nature of the food and service that we received. I won't speak for everyone in the party, but my experience wasn't the bad, I've just had much better. The reuben that I ordered was dry and sadly a bit bland. The chili nachos that I shared with my gf was just drenched in grease and oil. On top of that, our servers seemed a bit overwhelmed by the size of the group and were sadly not as attentive as they should have been. At the end of the day, I probably won't be coming back. But then again, I was never the target audience. So for those seeking a cabin-like ambiance where you can sit, enjoy a smoke and a drink, then Shelly's may be for you. It just didn't work out for me. read more

This is a cigar lounge. Repeat after me. This is a cigar lounge. Okay now that we are all on the same page. Love this place. It's really hard to find a place where you can sit down and enjoy a nice drink with your cigar. There's a few outdoor places that I've been to that allows you to smoke a cigar but I always get the dirty stares from the people who don't and only to end up putting out an expensive cigar before I enjoy the whole thing. This is where Shelly's Back room is a plus. Everyone who's here is enjoying their cigar. No dirty stares. Just happy people enjoying their smokes. On my few visits here it has always been packed unless you come on an off peak hours like a Monday afternoon around 4 pm. It's has a great atmosphere with a large cigar pairing drink menu ( Scotch, Whiskeys , Bourbons etc ). The waitstaff has generally been nice to me, service can be a little slow sometimes when it's busy but it's never to a point where I feel neglected. Maybe I have more patients than the rest of the reviewers here. I rarely eat after smoking a cigar so I typically will chow down some wings before my smoke so I can still taste it. After that filling my stomach I'll just kick back and enjoy my Glenmorangie and cigar. Heavenly. The cigar selection here is decently priced. It's a little bit more expensive then what you would pay for at a store but hey they got to make a profit as well. I have bought my smokes here a few times now and really didn't mind the price. Any cigar smokers will be able to tell you that there is no way in hell that you can enjoy a cigar without smelling like it after that . It doesn't matter, you will smell like an ashtray when you leave. The trick is to leave the layers outside in your car. I actually leave all of my jackets in the car during the winter months to ensure that my jackets doesn't smell. Just brave the cold for a few minutes to walk to Shelly's. I admit its harder to do so when the weather is in the teens outside but you will thank me later when you leave. It's really hard to find someone who doesn't smoke and want to hang out at cigar bar. I typically come here with people who smokes so there's no complains about the smell. However if you absolutely want to bring someone who doesn't smoke , try coming during a slower time when there's less smokers. Ease them into it. LOL read more

Okay, this might be embarrassing and all, but I know nothing about cigars and had no intention of smoking a cigar, me and my sister were just starving and looking for a place to eat at 1AM. After leaving Ultrabar (yes, we went there, don't ask me why, and yeah it was terrible), we decided to trek up F Street to find a place to eat. Of course, we know nothing about the area, and see that everything is closed, until we stumble upon this place. After being harassed by some drunk dudes on the street, we quickly decided to take refuge. The smell of smoke is overpowering as soon as you enter. My sister and I didn't mind much, I mean hey, it's obviously a cigar bar. They "closed off" the non smoking section which wasn't a big deal, pretty much expected at this time of night. We waited for a couple of minutes in the lobby area, until the hostess finally realized us while walking by. She took one look at us up and down and let out an annoyed sigh, flicking her head up as if you say, "Yeah, what do you guys want?" I get it. You see two girls in club attire and you automatically assume we are going to be drunk and noisy and sloppy. But we WERE NOT drunk, didn't have a drink all night, and we were dressed more classy than the usual "club girls". No boobies or butt cheeks hanging out anywhere, not our style. I was also very polite when I responded to her ungracious acknowledgment by telling her we were only there to eat, not to smoke cigars. She led us to a table and said, "Hurry up and order, the kitchen is closing in a few minutes". Uh okay, no probz, my kind woman. I had already seen they were have a special on a Turkey BLT wrap for 6.95 on the front door, and my sister was quick to choose the Blackened Chicken Sandwich. The food came out about 20 minutes later, and damn...it was good. The turkey tasted fresh in my wrap, and my sister's chicken sandwich was humungous and tasty. The fries were so good too...they gave us some roasted pepper mayo or something, and we couldn't help but dip our fries in this mayo thing, seriously you gotta do it too, don't worry about it being bad for you... I won't get into all the boring details about the service, but just know it was bad. Our hostess/waitress never came over or asked if we needed anything, we had to beckon her from across the bar each time, which would have been fine if she just showed a smile or some sort of kindness. I understand that it was really, really late and she was probably just extremely tired and ready to go home, but come on...don't you want a decent tip? Whatever, based on the food alone, I gave this place 3 stars and would probably come back again just to eat. If you come across the Asian, 40 something year old host/waitress, avoid at all costs...oh yeah! Before I forget, my sandwich came out to be 10.95, not 6.95! When I mentioned the special on the door, the waitress said something like it's already past midnight so it's not valid anymore...such b.s. read more

One of the few places to get friendly with my Cuban friend if you get my drift of smoke! So that alone is worth the 5 stars and add to it the best staff well for a guy like me this is pretty close to a home feeling. Come on Thursday you probably catch me getting a good start for the weekend! read more

Really tempted to give Shelly's one star, but will stick with two. I will be the first to admit I am a brother of the leaf. Love, love, love a good cigar and a good drink, usually scotch or bourbon. I will also tell you that I've been occasionally frequenting Shelly's since I moved to DC about five years ago, I'm good for 3-4 visits per year and have noticed that it's slowly started to slide over the past 18-24 months. I now doubt that I will ever return for the reasons below. A group (8-10 I think, and mostly couples) of us arrived last Friday night after a show at the Hamilton down the street around 11pm, looking for a nightcap and some of the gentlemen looking for a cigar to finish what had been a near-perfect evening. The main area was full, so we retreated to the side area and were met by a waitress who was either new, not trained properly or just didn't want to be there. I can't determine which it was. After it took about 10-15 minutes for her and her friend to finish their conversation in the corner while we started at the menu, she finally made her way to our group. We were each asked for our ID's, which I was slightly offended because I'm of the view that at an upscale venue like Shelly's, you either ask at the door or you don't ask at all. All members of our party are mid-30's and certainly look it. This isn't Adams Morgan, this isn't U Street, this is (or at least was) a high-class venue and destination. Our waitress also didn't speak English very well, which made for difficulty for the folks that ordered cigars, call drinks or scotch/bourbon. It required a lot of pointing at menu items, but it wasn't the worst thing to happen. The worst thing to happen was when it came time to leave. Our check, pre-tip, was near $200 and one couple had decided to call it a night and asked for the check. The waitress, again I believe with the language barrier, didn't quite understand what they wanted so it took a bit of time, but again, we were able to get the tab. That couple paid $100 towards the check, signed for it, gave it back to the waitress and bid the rest of the party farewell (god bless Uber...they're awesome). The rest of the party finished their drinks and left with 15 minutes, paying cash towards the balance of the tab as well as the tip. As we walked outside, another waitress came barreling down F Street screaming at us that we had not paid our check and stiffed the bar...specifically that we had left it $100 short. No, no, no and no. Most of the group are folks like me, 30-something, enjoy good drinks and cigars, but I don't know if any of us will be back. Just an all-around unpleasant experience. Reader's Digest: poor service and being accused of skipping a check. read more

Moved to D.C. for work last year and several colleagues repeatedly recommended Shelly's. Now, I'm not someone who usually is a fan of cigar lounges because of the often oppressive stale smell that will stay with you for a few days afterwards on your overcoat or suits. However, Shelly's is different-- they've an excellent air system that filters out the old smoke but isn't noticeable or distracting while you enjoy a cigar. Have been coming here with some frequency since December and have never been disappointed. On game nights it can get a bit crowded and loud, which isn't my style but honestly I don't mind it. Most days around lunchtime it's fairly calm and relaxing-- they've nice overstuffed leather chairs to enjoy a coffee and cigar in, and of course a full menus for lunch or dinner. They also have a great selection of scotch and a decent humidor if you don't bring your own cigars. The staff are all friendly and helpful. Needless to say, one of my favourite places in the city. read more

My review is dated from 05 not sure if they changed but some coworkers and I used to go here after work and wind down with some cigars and drinks Staff was just arrogant and management turned me and my coworkers off from wanting to return. We watched football the times we went and after a couple of times they cut the sports out completely stating they didn't want to have a 'Sports Bar' Atmosphere and turned on some Little House on the Prairie nonsense Food was ok , Steak was surprisingly good but the real turn off was how we as a group of paying customers were treated read more

I attempted to go on a sunday afternoon to watch a US Soccer game and smoke cigars. I was told at the door the bar has a "no soccer" policy. The place was completely empty (maybe 10 patrons total), and there was nothing on but PGA tour. They didn't budge. Regardless of your views on soccer, it's bad business. (furthermore what kind of childish, dan snyder redskin fan, old man, middle class baby boomer crap is that?) I left and went to Civil where they happily watched the game with me, served me excellent manhattans and moscow mules. I have been to Shelly's several times before, while it's not the worst place in the world, it's pretty much meh all around. The drinks are 1995, ventilation is poor, and the furniture is applebees. It's the only cigar bar in downtown dc, so the standards are low. read more

The only redeemable thing about this establishment is the fact that one is permitted to smoke there, even when the very rude staff decides to turn the smoke filters off 30 minutes before they close and they stop serving food 15 minutes before the advertised last food call. Oh, don't think you will roll in there over an hour before they close and sit on the comfortable club chairs and couches- they have already turned the cushions over and they are cleaning up all around you because they want to get you out of the door so they can carry on with their night. The cigar selection resembles that of a pharmacy and the decor is that of a log cabin in a 70's amusement park. Cozy if you are a carnie and you want to be treated like a unwanted house guest. read more

This place is a DC landmark amongst the metro center neighborhood. Definitely has the market cornered on cigar-whiskey bars. HOWEVER, I don't Yelp much and it takes inspiration for me to do so. That inspiration, I'm sorry to say, was negative. Service was nothing short terrible. Following the order of my cigar, it took about 10 minutes to be informed they were out of that, another 5+ before I got my drink, following asking again I was given my cigar. Granted, we were in a party of 6. The cake was taken by being given our check without asking, then pressured to close it over an hour before close. No matter how great or unique a menu, service is the name of the game. read more

Nice cigar lounge located on F Street. I met some friends there after arriving in DC. Thankfully knowing I was going to a cigar lounge, I didn't wear anything that I didn't mind getting smokey. The inside reminds me of a hunting lodge with the wood paneling, but it was charming and cozy. Our service was very good, but I think that is partially due to the fact that my friends are regulars there. Our server had no problem changing the channel on one of the TVs for us so we could watch the Olympics. It's seems like a good place to hang out with a friend to smoke a cigar or a whole group to drink and smoke. I was quite impressed with the cigar selection although I did not end up partaking in smoking. I didn't end up trying any food but did have a few beers each of which were around $5. Seems like quite the afterwork spot for politicos, lobbyists and Hill staffers so there was some good people watching to be had as well. read more

Yikes. I mean, really. This place is definitely afloat from stupid businessmen coming in for a cigar after their stressful days working for the good ol' federal gov't. Granted, I work for good old Uncle Sam as well, but this place really does not get the gist of good service and quality food. They just spit out some below mediocre dishes and are in a good enough location to where they can pay the bills. I got the barbeque chicken wrap thingy with fries and yuck. It was probably canned chicken smothered in worse than KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce and wrapped in a tortilla. Stray away from this b/c the amount of sauce will make you sick. Seriously, what a disappointment. But really I wasn't expecting much going here. If you have to have a meal and you are nearby, eat your friend's arm or something, b/c you will leave more satisfied than having a meal at Shelly's. Shame on the owners for thinking they can just open up a restaurant with a theme and make money without taking into consideration the overall dining experience. read more

To start out, I have never eaten here. Also, you better have room on your credit card when you get here because it ain't cheap. All that being said, every-time time I'm here I feel like this is one of the great establishments in DC. Everything is as it should be. You want a big selection of cigars....done. You want a great range of scotch/whiskies....done. You want couches or table seating...done. You want music that is good for the ears but not loud so that you can enjoy your conversation....done. And you want the best customer service.....done. Nuff said. read more

Let's just get the food out of the way. I had the crab cake sandwich, it was good. OK. This place is a secret bastion of masculinity, stinky masculinity. I felt like I had been let into a secret club. Came in with a coworker and his crew for the Macallan tasting and walked out smelling like someone's granpa. The service was friendly but I think our big group was a little troublesome or maybe just confusion which could be our fault. I like that you can bring your own cigars, which we did, which I smoked, which made me want to hurl...eeew. Great whiskey and scotch selection and if I ever switch to a career in mergers and acquisitions and pick up a golf game I will be back in here! Or if I'm invited again, ha! read more

Rude staff, overpriced drinks, cover charge and an uncomfortable layout make this place pretty unbearable. As others have mentioned, the only redeeming quality about this spot is the fact that you can smoke cigars inside. Despite the overwhelming smell of cigar smoke, they seemed to have a decent filter system going. If you need your cigar fix, this is the spot for you. If you're just popping in for a drink and a bite, I would probably head elsewhere. read more

Bought a Nub cigar for an overpriced 15 bucks. Didnt care much since i was on vacation. Took it back to the hotel area and smoked. It was the most dried out un pullable cigar i had in years. Im still fighting pulls as i wtite this. read more

This place is pretty cool, a really chill place to hang out at. They have a wide selection of cigars and no, they are not cheap. I remember I paid about $15 dollars for my cigar and it turned out pretty good. I also like the fact that they have a few TV's and a bar as well. The drinks are pretty expensive and you'll be paying about $10 for a brew. This place also is an attraction to the YUP's in the area, so if that bothers you i'd recommend going somewhere else. I didn't get a chance to try the food but I didn't really plan on it either. Also I found it rather strange that their whole waiting staff was Asian. Overall, if you aren't on a budget and looking for a smoke, I'd recommend coming here. read more

A solid selection of beers, wine and scotch. The food is great and there is a great variety of options. The cigars are pretty reasonably priced. Great selection of smokes and they are in perfect condition. This place is a cigar smoker's dream come true! read more

Shelly's Back Room - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've never felt like such a gentleman until I stepped through their doors. The service and the selection of cigars and whiskey are very decent. I think there's room to expand their drink and cigar selection and it'd be nice if the staff were a little more knowledgeable or at least communicative about their selection for when someone who is relatively unfamiliar to their stock comes in. Their menu has a general guide but it's always nice to have someone to fill in the gaps. I can't comment on the food but from what everyone has been saying so far, you might do better coming in after a meal at one of the many great restaurants and enjoying your cigar and scotch. TL;DR - If you like cigars and alcohol, this place would make a great spot to finish your day. read more

This is a hard place to rate... It's basically the only Cigar Bar in DC. That alone has got to count for something. Good air changers, comfortable seating, lots of television sets. Unfortunately, the absolutely, atrociously, lousy Manhattans and lame service count for something too. Oh, and for the love of everything holy- bring your own cigars. You really don't wanna pay their prices... read more

Yo - one of the best spots in town to still smoke a cigar - nuff said!!!!! Finished off New Years night with a cocktail and smoke at Shelly's and it didn't disappoint! Huge selection of cigars and a great atmosphere. read more

Ladies night, at a predominately men's spot.. It was amazing. Cigar smoking is something I've wanted to do since forever, because it looked cool. So, for our night out we decided to come here. It took a while for our server to come over(I've said it before, you must need a penis, to get good service). The cigar selection was amazing, and our server was really nice, and gave good recommendation for each of us, and what we wanted in the cigar we wanted to smoke. The food was good too. I order a burger, and asked for it medium. It was medium well, so I will just order it a little differently next time. The drinks were pretty good too.. I will defiantly go back, and actually bring a cigar home, the next time I go. read more

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This might be one of the best cigar bars I've ever visited. The whiskey selection was awesome and the they have a great cigar selection. read more

Shelly's Back Room - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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