My lady and I decided to stop by Shelly's to order some wings and a couple of shots of tequila. It's almost midnight most of the tables have reserve signs on them, and the other tables wore occupied. We decided to sit at the bar, immediately the bartender with the pony tail comes out the back, stares at us but doesn't greet us. I say " hey bro how you doing, is the kitchen still open??" His response " no" I ask "what time do you guys usually shut it down, midnight? " His response "does it matter!....... Yea" Me and my lady just walked out, his energy was unwelcoming to say this least. I went to "Old Ebitt" a 2 blocks over its a more polished establishment and best late night food choice in DC, they have great service as well. We enjoyed the rest of the night.. read more

This was my first time visiting the location but it was definitely a nice feel to it. Soon as you walk in the door there is a sign posted saying each person must spend atleast $20. Honestly that's a cigar and a drink and you've met your minimum price. It's a very intimate setting (nice couches to sit on for couples and there were single chairs if you were by yourself). They had a wide drink menu, plenty to choose from and honestly the prices were pretty reasonable. I had a rum and pineapple and it wasn't watered down. The cigar menu is quite vast as well, plenty to chose from (if they have it in stock). Prices weren't the best but what would you expect from a "cigar lounge". The best part about this establishment was that they had a great ventilation system so you didn't smell like three whole ash trays when you left. The staff was very friendly and they cut and lit your cigar for you. They also had food however I didn't get anything. Only thing that I recommend is that they please out in another bathroom. I hate going into an establishment and have to put the toilet seat down read more

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

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It's a shame that the Shelly's backroomroom is managed by such a rude woman. The bartender, Mike, was very nice and selected cigars for us based on a description of what we might like. Unfortunately, the servers when we walked in were extremely disgruntled and rude. Additionally when it was time to check out the manager/owner, a woman named Nan, was extremely rude when it came time to close out the chat. She urged us to sign the check so that we could have all the checks closed out by 2 AM and escort us out. We felt extremely uncomfortable with this manager. It is sad that the bartender Mike has to deal with this kind of person when he himself is so kind and personable read more

Used to come here regularly. Moved away & was back in town recently...happy to see Shelly's still going strong. Great selection of spirits, cigars & friendly service. Ventilation works well so no worries about too much smoke. Happy to be back for a drink & a stick. read more

Great spot, not to Smokey, food was well prepared and well seasoned. The party melt was great with the onions on the side. The fresh cut fries were a flash back from my childhood. Well cooked and perfect. I sampled the Ruben and cuban. Both had great flavors with excellent seasoning and the same home cut fries. Plus the cigar smoke is so well filtered inside you only catch various aromas. read more

Good little bar for cigar smoking, drinks, bar food, and watching the NCAA games. Comfortable, big chairs and sofas. Lots of tvs. Good service. read more

My first time there got me thinking how soon I plan to return there......Drinks good, Cigars good, and good people too...

Great place to stop for lunch and a good smoke. Easy to have lunch and a 1/2 a stick then return to work!

I've been going to Shelly's for about 8 years, longer than I've even lived here. It's a favorite spot to take guests when they're in town, and they are perfect for big events like Christmas parties. It's very cigar centric, but the air circulation system works well so you don't drown in smoke. read more

Go to Clyde's for a better burger. Menu states setup, but it did not come as expected. Hassled by owner when mentioned. Decent burger, just expected all the toppings as advertised for $17. Fries were bottom of the barrel. read more

While the food is good the service sucks. Came in with my lady and got a table to smoke and watch some playoff football. We got seated and 30 min later. The server, who served the other patrons and cleaned every table around us. Never came to take our order. Ended up having to ask the woman who sat us to take our order. Mind you, another group had sat down and got service, RIGHT NEXT TO US!!! Completely intolerable. Doubt I'll ever come back here. I don't need the racism in my life. read more

If you're looking for a laid back, low key spot to enjoy a stick or two, then Shelly's is perfect for you. Kind of has a sports bar/pub atmosphere to it with some leather couch/chair seating in the middle flanked with a decent amount of high tops, not a massive bar though. No cutting fee as long as you spend at least $20 and their food menu is actually really good. The wings are super tasty, highly recommend. Tony is the man, he took good care of us. Gonna ask for him next time I come in. They don't have a huge selection of cigars so I recommend bringing your own! read more

Cigars...food...libations...what more can you ask for? Awesome joint on F street in the heart of DC. This is a must! Perfect for the fellas night out with money to burn. A one of a kind place that put the G in gentleman. read more

Shelly's Back Room - This ain't for the faint of heart. A few cigars and a few drinks can add up quick! But definitely worth the visit. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always good, great service, with excellent cocktails and food available! I've never had a bad experience with the crowd in there either and no matter how crowded, they always find a nice table or chair. Can't speak on the cigar selection since I always bring my own (which is never a problem, or cut fee) but I will note, the ventilation is not the greatest, but tolerable. A definite D.C. favorite! read more

Nice place with good wings but price gouging lives here. Charged $20 for a 'well' drink which was the worst margarita I've ever had. Complained to waitress but she wouldn't do anything about it. Won't be back read more

Stopped in to have a cigar and a couple of drinks. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and prompt. The cigars were good and the drinks were delicious. While we did not eat anything, all of the food coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. I would definitely return and give it a try. The atmosphere was chill I just wish they had a few more couches vs. Wooden chairs. read more

I love the atmosphere! The food was great ! I had the beef pepper turnover and a Diablo burger ! The drinks was great! The service was good ! The cigar was great.it a nice chill relaxing place to go for a good convo food drinks and a cigar this place is a the top of my list to relax ! read more

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Great selection of cigars. Drinks on point. Bartender and waiter very personable Tam from 901

WARNING: not for those bothered by smokers. OMG. In the age of smoke-shaming it is SO refreshing to find a place where I can have fine scotch and and excellent cigar without fear of being scolded. To the contrary; this is like a club where you can share your enjoyment with those of similar taste. The selection is astounding. A welcome refuge in an increasingly hostile city. read more

Great cigar bar with a very friendly staff and a great selection of cigars. Make your way here and you won't be disappointed.

On our way to the MoMA I heard my friends say 'Montecristo' and my mind immediately went to the delightful ham, turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich that I like to dip into jam. "I love those," I said wide-eyed. They exchanged dubious looks and asked me if I smoked cigars. Obviously, I don't. Well, except for that one time on a moonlight patio overlooking a desert golf course while celebrating my best friend's graduation from law school in Las Vegas. . . I'd been warned the afternoon before heading to Shelly's Back Room not to wear anything I didn't plan on having professionally cleaned right after. This turned out to be sage advice. Since it was a mild night, the front door at Shelly's was left open, providing greater ventilation. The couches were comfortable and the drinks (bourbon and ginger is the way to go but switch out the requisite lime wedge for an orange slice) refilled promptly. If I smoked cigars (or even cigarettes), I could be a fan of Shelly's. read more

TOP FIVES! 5. The ATF has a cigar locker here! I couldn't decide if that was good or bad for Shelly's, but it makes sense that the guys who regulate cigars would like them (I wonder if they get the confiscated Cubans?) I forgot to get photo evidence because... 4. I was distracted by the wings! They boasted about the best wings in DC which makes THIS guy skeptical - you shouldn't have to brag about it if it's true. But they were very tasty, well-seasoned with a good spice and a dash of celery seed that brings up hints of Old Bay. Grilled, not fried, and though I prefer fried, 5 star wings! 3. Smoking in the winter! A cigar is a decent 70-90 minute commitment, and once it gets into November, 'outside' becomes a bummer of a place to enjoy one, at least for my California sensitivities. At Shelly's, it's warm inside, the smoke is whisked away, as long as you... 2. spend at least $12 a person, which won't be a problem because the cheapest bottle of wine is about $30 (way marked up!). We splurged and bought a few other drinks too, (decent beer and liquors) but the service was a bit spotty. But I guess the minimum is necessary because... 1. you can bring your own cigars and save a few bucks from their choice cigars (marked up as well) I brought my own, so I can't vouch for the cigar selection, but I'll probably check it out next time, because I'll definitely be back! read more

Shelly's Back Room - Voted best wings in DC, great seasoning, grilled not fried - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Anytime I have the chance to find a good cigar bar in a city I am visiting, I jump at it. I was in town on business. I had just finished a great meal at Old Ebbit's Grill. Yelp pointed me here for a good cigar. I love the look of the room. The bartenders made me feel like an old friend. The other patrons at the bar were friendly and talkative (and I felt like it was more locals than out of towners at least where I sat which was cool. One top shelf El Carillo and Lagavulin later, and I was on top of the world feeling like a big shot. Thank you to the people of DC for making me feel welcome, and this place was a big reason why. read more

I don't smoke cigars. I was with friends that do so that's why we ventured into Shelly's Back Room for a nightcap of stogies and scotch and/or bourbon. That's not to say that I've never smoked a cigar, but seeing as how I wasn't in Vegas for a bachelor party or no one just became a dad, I wasn't going to partake in this particular bad habit. Shelly's was less than half full when we arrived around 9pm on the Tuesday night before the 4th of July. It was smoky and had the permanent smell of a room with years and years of smoke-filled nights. The place looks less like a classy lounge and more like someone's basement, a rustic interior with a well-used sofa and chairs, crossed with a neighborhood sports bar filled with unadorned formica topped tables, generic chairs, and plenty of TVs tuned into sports. The bar offers a good spirits selection, but the beer list wasn't anything terribly special. I don't know if they offered wine (I'm sure they do), but I can't imagine drinking a glass of good red wine while smoking a cigar. Shelly's sells cigars on premises, but most people seem to bring their own. Service was acceptable, but not particularly friendly or remarkable. One positive is that we sat under one of the air ventilation/filtration intakes so even though the other five guys that I was with were smoking, the second-hand smoke I was taking in was barely bearable. Needless to say, my suit will need to be dry-cleaned and I was in serious need of a hot shower after I got home! Frankly, if Shelly's didn't allow cigar smoking, it would've closed long ago. There's nothing distinctive or memorable about the place or experience other than the "smoking lamp" is always lit. read more

I have to be fair, so I say okay with a 3 star vote. Perhaps this simply is not overall my kind of place. I don't really smoke (I have had cigars in the past). We were in town and had made no advance plans, so Shelly's was a fast smartphone search default. It is decent bar food-nothing special and nothing bad-at least from what we ordered. I think they could put one more handful of fries on the order, fries are cheap and the prices certainly support it. [$87.00 lunch for 4 with tip-not complaining that's life in the big city]. We had respectively; a burger, sandwich, wrap and a lobster bisque. The food came in a fair amount of time after ordering, the server was attentive and effective (if tiny). We were there on Saturday 13 Feb, a very cold day outside. It was very cold inside, so cold that I kept wanting to put my coat back on but didn't want to be a wimp in front of my new wife's Marine son! [The fireplace seems only decorative and they were doing their part for the environment by not running the buidling heat-I guess]. I felt like I was having a flashback to a chowhall at gunnery in Grafenwoehr, Germany. There was also a very strong, soaked into the wood, cigar smell. If that's not something you can deal with, even on the non-smoking side--it's a war stopper. read more

On a recent DC trip I stopped in late on a Sunday evening for a quick meal, a few pints, and a short smoke. Did a little homework before I flew into DC and decided on Shellys. Good decision. I believe the bartender (my server) was Mike. Accept my apologies if I have that wrong. Mike was quick to bring my first IPA a moment after sitting down. He also talked a bit about the menu options and helped me decided on the turkey rueben. Nice sandwhich. For the cook, I would only recommend a hint of seasoning for the turkey or dressing. Or maybe smoked turkey. It was good, though, and did hit the spot. Mike came around a few times to check on the dinner and bring a couple more IPAs. Great service. Good dinner. Happy with the choice. To cap it off I enjoyed a nice cigar to end the long day of travel. The restaurant has nice seating areas - and I could have gone outside as well for the smoke. Based on the high DC humidity, though, I stayed indoors. At this late hour on a Sunday night, there were only a few others in the establishment. I watched a little MLB and ESPN on the various screens and had a nice, relaxing time. I'll look forward to my return trip. For others, stop by Shellys for a meal, beverage and/or quality smoke. I actually would rate this venue a 4.5 out of 5 if that were an option. Well done Shellys. read more

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"Congress Should Learn to Cut "Back Room" Deals over a Single Malt & Cigar!" Make no mistake about it, bring your own cigar, because they are WAY over-priced at Shelly's. (E.g., $20.95--$22.15 with tax for a Davidoff Petite Corona--ridiculous!!!) Also, You aren't dining at Shelly's Back Room Cigar Bar because theie foor is the best in town--a pedestrian menu at best, although the food itself was very good and reasonably priced. Huge burgers. However, this quaint establishment is a throw-back to old school dining, GREAT Scotch, and fine cigars! The leadership of Congress would do well to get a private room, or reserve the entire restaurant/cigar bar sometime before January 15, 2014! read more

In dc for 2 nights. Went to Shelly's both nights. Good atmosphere. Didn't have some of our cigar and scotch selections but good Place to enjoy a smoke read more

Great cigar selection, friendly staff, a Washington DC, staple every cigar smoker should visit whenever you're in the area

One of my favorite cigar lounges in America. Nice staff and a great atmosphere. Its a great place to experience when in DC

Fair amount of street parking in the area. Service was pretty easy to flag down. Many a heavyset customer had previously settled into the sinking couches. I was squinching my eyes in an attempt to rehydrate them, and quoting Anchorman long before our evening was over. I was happy to see they had Heavy Seas on tap, and the turnovers were okay-- half-centimeter flaky pastry crust, more beef than peppers in the filling, too-cold sour cream tub. An awesome cigar bar laid out like a boys' club hunting lounge, but this is not for me. read more

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

Wow what a find on a cold DC night. First off if you don't smoke then you need to find another place! This is a true cigar lounge. One of what three left in the city... So I sat at the ordered a beer you know wanted to see what they would recommend. So after looking over the extensive cigar menu I was helped out by one of the staff and let me tell you, he knew his cigars. I have a particular brand that I just adore and it's hard to find. Hey they have the brand but not the particular one I want and he recommends me one. Hey I'm still a novice at this so the more info the better. Not at all pushy and very helpful. I settled on one he recommended as I like Nicaragua grown myself, everyone has a different pallet and that's what I know I like. So he cut it and even lit it with a butane torch. For you none cigar folk, you gotta light them with that or a match. You use a regular lighter it will impart that taste into the cigar. Kudos!!! Wish I had my xikar stuff with me. So half way I order a neat bulleit rye and wow what a pairing. It is a little marked up but hey if it helps keep them around I'll pay It. My only problem is I wish the filtration was a bit more up-to-date. It needs some tlc for the non smokers. I like that I can bring my own. Again if you don't smoke stay away but if you know anything about a good cigar and bourbon this is your kinda place. Think I'm gonna stop in over the summer and enjoy the patio and people watching in this fun part of the city. read more

Shelly's Back Room - Oh yeah bulleit rye! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went to this place back in February with two of my friends. It was my first time here. The hostess was very nice. I remember I had to charge my phone because it was about to die. They have an entire section by the host stand where people can charge there phones! We sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The waiter did a good job explaining the different cigars to my friends as they had a llloooottt of questions. I think this is a nice place for everyone to try, where you always smoke cigars or if its your first time. read more

I really like Shelly's. There aren't many places like it these days, so I definitely appreciate the fact that it's around. The first time I went, everything was pretty great, but the service left a lot to be desired. On this most recent visit, that changed for the better! Our waitress, Lisa, did a great job! The food, a Deluxe Chicken Burger, was perfect, and the atmosphere was awesome as usual! Shelly's is the perfect place to unwind and relax with some good friends! Highly recommended! read more

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Nice spot. Friendly initially. Sat down and was given a drink menu and cigar menu. Ordered coke, beer and cigar. Got drinks, no cigar due to being out of what I wanted. Then ordered a different cigar...again no luck. They didn't have it ( just mark off if not available). We decided to leave at that point . Told the server we were just going to leave and not drink the drinks and was CHARGED! Paid but very dissatisfied that they didn't have the cigars on the menu we ordered and was not comp'd for our drinks that we didn't drink! read more

Waiter was super rude and would not give us water. Apparently you have to promise to spend $30.00 dollars to sit at a table.

Give me a break ma'am.....we read ALL the signs letting us know about the $20 food/drink minimum. I think it's in very poor taste but to each his own. Ok place but way to used car salesy for me. The cigars are way over priced but my gimlet was Awesome. read more

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

Recently had my first experience at shellys and surely wont be my last. Ambience is amazing with a log cabin/american feel to it. Food was good and prices weren't nearly as bad as I imagined. Great selection of beers, whiskey, scotch, etc. Be sure to bring a cigar if you can...they're a little pricey there and the selection isnt what a cigar shop is. Parking sucks but thats a given in dc - usually have to do a garage and pay You feel important being here...bring your cigar to the bathroom and enjoy the experience. read more

Shelly's Back Room - Buy a locker for a year if you please - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This cigar bar was perfectly situated in downtown DC, right by my hotel (The W.) Shelly's is spacious, has an excellent whiskey selection, and features great service. Anytime my cigar went out, one of the staff was right there to relight it and everyone I spoke with was pleasant. They were also knowledgeable about their products which isn't always the case. Will definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

My fiancé who's a huge cigar aficionado LOVES Shelly's. He goes there with friends, to study, to eat, and just to relax. I've gone with him on several occasions, mostly to eat. I love their fries and they have an interestingly diverse menu. Although I've recently gotten into cigars, I'm not a huge fan of indoor smoking--there's poor ventilation and the odor sticks to everything. read more