Good Selection. Good group of guys that don't mind taking time to help you find what you are looking for. Reasonable prices throughout the shop definitely a place to come back to very often. read more

Used to come here with my friends as a teen because we liked the DGAF culture and we thought it was cool. Funny how things change when you grow up and the risky attitude isn't quite so cool anymore and just seems a bit irresponsible. Gonna avoid this place during COVID and not take any chances. read more

Great selection and the guy that works there is great. Ready to help with any questions. And try the aromatic house cigars they are great. If you're in Merced take a drive to The cigar monkey for a grab a couple cigars. read more

Great place to visit. I stop by when I can. I've met a handful of the stores clientele over the years and we've shared stories. Phil is fantastic, I just wish he'd let me tip him. read more

Excellent variety of cigars. Met the owner was was greeted warmly. He helped me find a cigar brand I liked. I love the fact that this is close to my home! read more

This place is the shiznit. Great environment and very friendly staff. With a wide selection of cigars the staff are more than happy to help you find a cigar that's right for you. read more

Love this place!!! Heading there on Monday from Manteca to meet up with a brother from Tulare

The gist: Staff and crowd are friendly I came in to buy a cigar for my non-smoker cousin. I was embarrassed to tell the cashier neither I nor my cousin were smokers, but when the truth came out, everything was okay. He recommended a coffee cigar, which I cannot tell you if it was good or not, but it fit nicely in my cigar box from the antique shop! read more

Amazing shop! Cigars are decently priced and tons of selections. The owner was great, he thought me a few things about pipe smoking. Highly recommended for those who like to smoke indoors. read more

I am not from Merced however stopped by for some cigars to smoke while helping my son move. This is a Great place! I love my cigar shops and have enjoyed cigars in many places around the country. The staff was very friendly and made many suggestions. If you have chance stop in. read more

The shop is legit and good prices for some good cigars well worth the moneyAnd Mike and his wife are good business owners

Bottom line: TOBACCO BEETLES - CIGAR NEGLIGENCE If I could, I would give a BELOW one star rating. Why? oh let me tell you my experience... I walk in. I wouldn't say i'm a connoisseur but I have been smoking (cigars) a while and find them delightful from time to time. I don't really buy boxes in stores anymore because the prices are insane (buying mostly online instead). That's besides the point. I go in there to try out a new cigar. Maybe i'll love it and buy a box online. I've been jimmying for something different. Anyways, I go in, confronted by a lady who's nice. I tell her i'm just looking and don't really need help. She leaves me be. I look into the glass cases where they keep their cigars (no walk in humidor) and to my surprise I see a small hole in one of the cigars... and OBVIOUS sign of a tobacco beetle infestation. This cigar is TRASHED, ever try to smoke and infested cigar? tastes like shit. Anyways, I bring it up to her show her the hole and the hole the beetle chewed through in the plastic wrapper. point her to the box to which she proceeded to turn over the cigars next to it and tell me "huh, that must be the only one" - no. NO. one hole in one cigar DEMANDS an overhaul and a DEEP FREEZING of at LEAST the infested box, if not the hole row of boxes. Okay moving on, I continue to look around, thinking well, maybe it's just that box. I don't really appreciate how she handled it but whatever....I keep looking I go to a totally new section of the store and look around another glass case of cigars and the very first box i look into has cigars ridden with holes. I'm out. My suggestion. Don't even walk in. read more

This shop may lack the tapestries of high-end establishments, but the personable service of the owner has turned me into an immediate repeat customer. He patiently and with great passion initiated me into pipe smoking, a hobby I now thoroughly enjoy. On my second visit, after having made the initial sale the week prior, he skillfully assisted me in cleaning my pipe, discussed the pros and cons of a certain line, then spent over 45 minutes with me explaining the different types of tobacco and styles of cut, etc. When I made a small purchase to replenish my supply, he shook my hand and was genuinely pleased to have simply helped. He is a true enthusiast. The crowd is knowledgeable and enjoyable to be around without being overly intrusive of newcomers. They carry everything from $6 cobs to pipes that would meet a serious financial investment, and many in between. Their selection of tobacco seems excellent, with sampling before purchase encouraged with couches and chairs to take your time. If remotely interested in a local tobacconist, pay the Cigar Monkey a visit. Speak with the owner, don't be shy (he will let you browse without hassle) and put your needs out on the table. You'll be well taken care of. read more

Should I go back and have a better experience, I will write another review. But for now... I went in hoping for a good local tobacco shop, and was disappointed. I understand that they are a cigar store primarily, but they hardly carry any cigarettes at all, let alone good imports. The employee seemed incredibly uninterested in my business. I don't know if I'm not the usual patron, but regardless of the reasoning, I felt unwelcome. There was a dog in the store, which was cute. Less cute was it defecating on the carpet right next to me. If I go back, it's out of desperation. read more

The Cigar Monkey - Great cigars and great place to hangout. We have visited Merced from Tennessee for a few summers now. A couple of years ago while strolling through Merced we spotted The Cigar Monkey. I have been there a couple of times, so while we are here for 3+ months I decided to check it out again. Mike and Janet are great hosts and provide a wonderful venue where you can get a great cigar at a fair price plus meet and chat with cigar aficionados. read more

I'm not a cigar connoisseur, but I do occasionally smoke one, and I like to buy them for friends & my lover for special occasions. However, I do know good customer service when I see it, so I figure I'm entitled to review this fine establishment: 1) It's kind of like Cheers without the alcohol. There is seating in the back and out in the front of the store, and a chess table with chairs in one display table, so you can hang out and enjoy your cigar AND get to know the locals. 2) The staff are ALL friendly and helpful, even if you're a girl who is coughing because there's too much smoke. From the owner to the young blonde guy, they have all been extremely polite/professional and do not ignore me when I walk in. 3) Like wineries have wine-tastings, this place has cigar tastings from time to time. It tends to be free. 4) From what I can tell, they have a good selection. Obviously, it isn't as big as the cigar place(s) in Fresno or elsewhere, but this place definitely sells more than swishers. Just tell the owner what you're looking for (smooth, light, & creamy, or dark and spicy? long or short?) and he'll take you to 5 different cigar varieties. He knows his stuff. My only complaint? Ventilation. I've been to the cigar place in Fresno, and indoors, they have vents in the ceiling that whisk away the smoke. I'm sure you're still getting secondhand smoke up the ying-yang, but at least you're not choking while you acquire cancer. read more

ok Cigar Monkey is a small little place with big hit's coming to it. Oct 30th rocky Patel had a Road Show there. and the last two times I was there things are going on. I came in before RP show started and the owner still gave me the deal RP was doing. I walked out of the store with four nice stick and three new RP sticks that I have never had. and He through one in for free. Cigar Monkeys is a good place. read more

I've read a couple of these reviews about Mike (and/or Janet) being rude and racist. They all make me laugh. I moved from Merced but always visit "the Monkey" when I'm back in town. I generally try and arrange to meet with several friends there. Mike is extremely knowledgeable about his products. The proof of this is the many manufacturers that he gets to come by the store. They wouldn't come if he didn't know his business. From what I've seen, its the customers that generally set the tone of Mike's interaction with them. If they come across rude, he can too. The last time I was at the store, Mike, one of his regular customers (a friend of mine, who is black) and I were helping a young Hispanic guy pick out some cigars as he was interested in starting the hobby - to suggest Mike has racial issues is just silly. read more

Before you delve into this (necessarily) long review, a few things should be made clear: Cigar Monkey is a great shop. The owners are fantastic and their tobacco is superb. However, my experience with tobacconists is quite limited, therefore it's hard for me to make a fair assessment based on prior knowledge. Also, their supply stops at pipe and cigar tobacco. That being said, Merced needed a good tobacco shop and Cigar Monkey is it. I read the other reviews posted and I've come to the conclusion that people who are included in the intended audience will find that their needs are more than satisfied. One customer reported disdain at the store's lack of cigarettes, but I feel as though that falls outside of their intended range of products. If you're in need of quality pipe tobacco or a fine cigar and can't drive to a major city on a whim, Cigar Monkey will most likely have your fix. read more

So I drove down from Turlock to visit this cigar and pipe store to pick up some pipe stuff, look around and hopefully meet some new folks in the pipe hobby. I was gretted by Janet who took her time to get out a bunch of pipes from the case and show them to me. Then Mike took me to the tobacco section and talked with me for over an hour while the shop was full of cigar customers. They ran the shop great while providing me the time to make a modest purchase even helping me formulate a blend of aromatic tobacco. We talked pipes and tobacco for a while and I walked out with everything I needed. It can sometimes be a little intimidating to walk into a tobacco store where you don't know anybody but Mike and Janet helped me a lot without pushing anything on me, making me feel like an idiot or unwelcomed, they told me they have a lot of industry people coming through and regularly go to trade shows to stay up with trends. I was so pleased when he informed me that he ended up with most of the stuff from when Ed Crosby went out of business. Will definitely be back! read more

Great little spot. Took me a few times to find it as I'm not from Merced. It isn't as big as a couple Cigar shops that I have been to, but the Owner Mike was a pleasure to talk to. He answered all my questions,gave me some recommendations and hooked me up. Next time I'm in town for work, I'll will be stopping by. read more

We have never had a bad experience. This shop even ran a cigar bar at my wedding. I trust them wholeheartedly. They are very knowledgable and are usually spot on with their suggestions. They have a lounge where you can sit and socialize and smoke. read more

Grumpy mfers dont go here buy cigars somewhere else and smoke em on your porch or at the driving range

I have lived here for many years and didn't realize that this cigar store was here. What a pleasant surprise! The owners (Mike and Janet) are most helpful and allowed me to browse with no pressure. It was quite appealing with the tables and chairs allowing people to sit and converse while enjoying a good smoke. read more

The Owners of the tobacco store are true professionals. As a passerby of Merced I was pleased with the sincere efforts to accomodate their customers. They are not in your face trying to close a sale but are very helpful in pointing out what's on sale. Great choice of pipe tobacco and a nice selection of accessories. If Cigar Monkey was in Orange County I'd shop there regularly as they put franchises like Tinder Box to shame. read more

Mike (owner) is always willing to help. He likes listening to what you're looking for to help you make a selection. He makes excellent recommendations and knows just about everything there is to know about every cigar, tool, lighter, pipe, etc in his store. Great overall. read more

Just enjoyed a great cigar with Mike and Janet. The Cigar Monkey was a good find after checking in to my hotel. They have a decent selection and a cofortable place to enjoy your pick. -Scott read more