Barca - Gimeno or Casa Fuster

[Stevieboy]

What VTG said. Jordi Duaso is a nice lad. Happy to chat away and he leaves you in peace.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[TheMonk]

Thanks for the inputs as well as the pics, gents - extremely enlightening. I probably won't have a lot of free time in Barcelona this week, so I may just go straight to Duaso, and nowhere else. Hopefully I'll find a few interesting singles, as well as the ERdM Petit Robustos - been wanting to buy a box of those for some time now.

[james.uk]

Gimeno is good. It's easier if they know you as you get to go downstairs....

[ValeTudoGuy]

Gimeno is good. It's easier if they know you as you get to go downstairs....

Thats hardly good service though is it.

Im actually wondering if Gimeno is still the same company as it used to be. Old pictures suggest it was better stocked and less tacky. There was no Gimeno sign above the door anymore when I went either.

The doorway to downstairs had a clear no entry sign which was pointed out to me twice when enquiring.

And as my picture shows, they cant even be bothered to keep their cigar display humi in good visual order.

The extent of the staffs knowledge of stock appeared to be contained on a single printed A4 sheet with a list of general production sticks which accounts for probably under 1/4 of the cubans mysmokingshop stocks

How long ago is it since someone shopped here and can report a good experience out of interest?

I even mentioned my experience to another Tobac owner and he just laughed it off and said "Gimeno is a tourist shop, for tourists. Not a cigar shop for enthusiasts." It's anecdotal evidence from a competitor, yes.... But perhaps an insight to the current state of the shop which backs up my experience.

[james.uk]

Two years ago last time I was there.... Could well be new owners. Times have been very hard in Spain.

[ACMCC]

I was in Barcelona a few months back and the same owner was in Gimeno's - he's not the most welcoming shop keeper that's for sure! I only picked up a few singles for smoking that evening (no room in my luggage for boxes) so didn't go down stairs, you don't get offered to go down you have to almost buy something first of chat about Spanish RE's he has in stock etc.

Fusters I like as I've found some rare stuff in before, he has the odd box or two behind the main display, I found some Punch super selection No.2 which where in great shape and smoked well, It's only a small corner shop and your in the way of the door if your looking at the stock.


Duaso has great stock and is easily the best shopping experience but be very careful, on a couple of visits I've done the humidifier was at 82% and quite a few of the boxes I looked at had mould in, that was in 2010/2011 so check very carefully any boxes with age on. personally I would only ever buy young boxes or singles from them.


The best thing to do is have a wish list prioritised for boxes before you go, I have brought a lot from Gimeno only because the storage was the best for the boxes I wanted with regard to humidity (probably because he won't let most people down stairs!) singles you can get a better selection at the other shops, I've never had a good retail experience at Gimeno and I've been going for many years. I think it's down to the location and the fact that their English is not good either!

[ValeTudoGuy]

I was in Barcelona a few months back and the same owner was in Gimeno's - he's not the most welcoming shop keeper that's for sure! I only picked up a few singles for smoking that evening (no room in my luggage for boxes) so didn't go down stairs, you don't get offered to go down you have to almost buy something first of chat about Spanish RE's he has in stock etc.

Fusters I like as I've found some rare stuff in before, he has the odd box or two behind the main display, I found some Punch super selection No.2 which where in great shape and smoked well, It's only a small corner shop and your in the way of the door if your looking at the stock.


Duaso has great stock and is easily the best shopping experience but be very careful, on a couple of visits I've done the humidifier was at 82% and quite a few of the boxes I looked at had mould in, that was in 2010/2011 so check very carefully any boxes with age on. personally I would only ever buy young boxes or singles from them.


The best thing to do is have a wish list prioritised for boxes before you go, I have brought a lot from Gimeno only because the storage was the best for the boxes I wanted with regard to humidity (probably because he won't let most people down stairs!) singles you can get a better selection at the other shops, I've never had a good retail experience at Gimeno and I've been going for many years. I think it's down to the location and the fact that their English is not good either!

Great informative post. Thanks!

[TheMonk]

Well, turns out I only had the opportunity to go to Gimeno after all, seeing it was right in the middle of the Ramblas. Initially I got a pretty unwelcoming response, but after a bit I did have a nice chat with a young chap, and even went downstairs to check their remaining stock. I'll be looking forward to visiting Duaso next time around!