 Although Ottawa is one of the largest cities in Canada it's a pretty small market for pipes, tobacco and related paraphernalia. To make your quest for all-that-is-pipe easier I've assembled a list of retailers, pubs, etc. and what you can expect from them.
Since I'm not able to visit these stores often, if you've noticed a major change in inventory from what I've last reported, let me know. I'd also love to hear any stories or anecdotes you might have—whether you were treated like royalty or you found the staff conniving and incompetent!
2005 Update: I used to have reviews of every shop that sold any pipes at all, but it seemed kind of pointless since I was unlikely to ever bother going back. Instead, I've kept the few that are worth going to. I still don't visit them often (thanks to ease of Internet purchasing), but they are worth a visit if you're in town.
| The Ottawa Cigar Emporium | 110-B Clarence Street
(Byward Market)
Ottawa
(613) 321-7142
Last visited:
January 2005 | The Cuban Connection closed for bankrupcy in September 2004 and has since reopened under a new management. Namely, the same folks that own Southbank News! This store is the standard for other stores in Ottawa to beat. I am very impressed with their display and pipe selection—Stanwells, Petersons (some of them quite old an no longer produced, actually), Brighams, Lorenzettis, Porsche and—Dunhills! Yes, they have about a dozen Dunhills on display, as well as the acoutrements. The problem with Ray, the shopkeeper, is that he keeps trying to get you to handle the pipes. So I may have fondled a Dunhill or two... (Normally you should look, but not touch. Woops.)
As for tobacco, they a great selection of tins (for Ottawa), including the full line of Samuel Gawith, MacBaren, etc. Not a big deal for us online-purchasers, but very nice to see. (Of course, it's always good to support the local merchants—it's not their fault about the outrageous taxes.)
I recommend stopping by, even if just for fun, as Ray is very congenial and loves talking shop. They haven't decided what they're doing with the former smoking-lounge, however ... with luck, it'll be converted to our pipe club smoking lounge!
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| Comerford and Sons | 124 Bank Street
(near Albert)
Ottawa
(613) 232-7448
Last visited:
November 1, 2001 | Comerford's has been a friendly, family-run business for more than 50 years. They have quite a large selection (likely the largest in town) of pipe tobacco—about half pouches and half tins—kept on shelves behind locked glass doors (ask for the key to browse around!). In a display to the left of the entrance is a modest selection of quality pipes from various pipe-makers that they keep stocked. Once, when I tried to buy a nice Erik Nording pipe my credit card was declined (yeah yeah) but they cheerfully put it aside for me until my payment went through a few days later. This is a business with a great tobacco selection that knows their customers well and treats them right. Definitely stop by. (Note that if the old feller who owns the place is more likely to chat than the busy staff if he's there!)
2005 Update: I've been told that the pipe selection and service has been going downhill since I last visited. Your best bet is to be there when the old feller is around.
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| Southbank News Plus | 1555 Bank Street
(near Heron Road)
Ottawa, K1H 7Z3
(613) 523-6424
web-site
Last visited:
January 16, 2002 | This small store was an unexpected place for me to find the largest selection of pipes (and possibly tobacco) in Ottawa. Although there are pipes strewn in various places around the store, don't forget to browse the boxes of pipes that are stacked behind the counter: Years ago, I found what became a favourite Brigham pipe in one of the many small cardboard boxes full of them. Their selection of tobaccos rivals Comerfords: they have many different varieties in both pouches and tins. They also carry quite a selection of accessories such as pipe cases, humidors, cleaners, reamers, lighters, etc. Although the owner tends to be indifferent, I recommend this as one of the first places you should visit.
2005 Update: I would now recommend their sister store, The Ottawa Cigar Emporium, as the place to visit first. However, you have a good chance of finding some old or discontinued brands here! |
Not-So-Much-In-OttawaThere are some very nice places to buy pipes and tobacco that aren't exactly in Ottawa, but accessible from Ottawa via a long car drive. If you're in the area, these are great places to visit.
Kingston| Smokers Haven | 155 Wellington Street
(a block South of Princess St.)
Kingston
(613) 549-4477
Last visited:
March 2, 2002 | Kingston has a very nice, charming downtown core. A bit away from the mainstream is the best stocked pipe and tobacco store in Kingston. Don't get your hopes up, though—it has but a smallish selection of pipes and tobacco (though including some bulk Cornell and Diehl). However, the friendliness of Scott—the gentleman who works the counter—more than made up for what I couldn't find in the store. When I told him I had been looking for a particular pipe, he pulled out their catalog and ordered it for me. (We finalized everything over the phone while I was back in Ottawa and I got the pipe a mere week after my visit.) I wouldn't make a special trip to Kingston for it, but if you're in town, stop by. |
Montreal| Blatter and Blatter | 365 President Kennedy
(at the corner of Bleury)
Montreal
(514) 845-8028
web-site
Last visited:
December 28, 2001 | This is a true pipe store, and you can sense it from the moment you walk in. Part of that, sure enough, are the big glass display cases full of wonderful and interesting pipes. But there's the fact that the Blatter brothers, carrying on the family business, can be found inside puffing away on pipes. Blatter and Blatter not only blend their own tobaccos but craft their own line of pipes on the premises. The shop is located in the heart of Montreal, so if you're in the area (and why wouldn't you be visiting Montreal?) you really must stop by.
2005 Update: Apparently they can no longer smoke inside their store thanks to new laws. Booo! |
Quebec City| J.E. Giguere Tabac | 59 Rue Buade
(near the Notre Dame Cathedral)
Vieux Quebec
(418) 692-2296
Last visited:
August 27, 2001 | While walking in Old Quebec (possibly the most beautiful place in North America, incidentally) I conveyed surprise to my girlfriend at not having seen any pipe stores, since it was quite obviously the perfect place for one. I then noticed that a store with a big display of tourist junk in the window we had passed had "Tabac" in its name. Not expecting much, I was pleased to find reasonably large selection of pipes inside (if not an exhaustive selection of tobacco). But one of the nicest things, in my opinion, is the wide selection of nicely crafted Paradis pipes which are made by two brothers in Quebec. |
Toronto| Julius Vesz Pipesmith | Royal York Hotel
100 Front Street
Toronto
Last visited:
July 17, 2002 | Julius Vesz is touted as one of North America's premiere pipe makers and has been making pipes for about 50 years. His gorgeous pipe shop is situated in lobby of the majestic Royal York in Toronto. My first (and only, so far) visit involved me and my wife pressed up against the glass and making 'ooooooo' and 'aaaaaaaw' noises while gazing inside: They had closed only minutes before. Some nice pipes, but somewhat overpriced so unless you can afford one (which range from hundreds to thousands of dollars) then you may not want to torture yourself by visiting! (A word of warning: Vesz is reputed to be dismissive and rude if he's not in a good mood. Which sounds like never if you go by the anecdotes.) |
Halifax| Sievert's | 1573 Barrington St.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 422-4544
Last visited:
September 19, 2003 | Not visited by myself, actually. However, Ottawa pipesmoker Shahar Harel wrote during a trip there: "Whenever in Halifax, there's a great Tobacconist, the name of the business is Sievert's. He's got HUGE selection of pipes and if you'll ask he'll show you hundreds more in the back room. He also got nice selection of tobacco, mainly from Europe. |
Readers have left 4 comments.  No.4 Cigar EmporiumWas just at Cigar Emporium and Yuri (sp?) was incredibly helpful , I'm new to pipe tobacco smoking and needed some things set straight and he had no trouble telling me how awful the cheapy chinese made pipes were, they felt like a pipe made of lego, unlike the refined feel of briar. All around I recommend visits to this fine establishment. No.3 Untitled
I can also say that Silvert's is a great tobacconist, they always have something I haven't tried before! No.2 Untitled
hello, sir
a big cigar store is in kingston, ontario.
wish u can drop by in near future
store address: 289 princess st, wish u can come and give me some advices about cigar
thanx
store owner: Max Hu No.1 Sievert's
I lived in Halifax over the summer months of 2004, and I decided there to take up pipe smoking. I bought my first pipe there, a Brigham 2-dot Platinum, which run in the $60 range. The staff are friendly and helpful, and I can vouch for their pipe and tobacco selection. They also know about pipe repair (they can do it on site), and buying blocks of briar for fashioning your own. Sievert's on Barrington is just up the street from St. Mary's Basilica, and downhill from Halifax Citadel, if people are looking for a reference point. |
Pipe Smoking 
Although Ottawa is one of the largest cities in Canada it's a pretty small market for pipes, tobacco and related paraphernalia. To make your quest for all-that-is-pipe easier I've assembled a list of retailers, pubs, etc. and what you can expect from them. 
