First look: Halfway to Habana

(Credit: Mykal McEldowney)

Halfway to Habana to offer food and drinks

Halfway to Habana has been catering to Greenville-area cigar aficionados for years at its small shop in Greenville’s downtown. Now, in what marks the realization of a longtime vision for owner Paolo Varvaro and his wife, Debra, the cigar shop has made a move to the West End, and expanded its offerings in the process.

“We tried for years to expand our business at the old location,” Varvaro says. “It just didn’t work out.”

Halfway to Habana’s new location sits just next to beautiful Falls Park, in the building where Latitude used to be. Now, in addition to buying and smoking premium cigars there, you can enjoy a high-quality bar and dining experience, too.

Chef David Sparaccino has trained abroad in both Italy and France, and is serving up quality cuisine to Halfway patrons now. The dinner menu is a mix of tapas and larger-portion entrees.

The bar offers an extensive wine list, with varietals from the south of France, Argentina and California, among others. Varvaro says there are close to 50 single-malt scotches available, in addition to fine cognac. And the bar itself is quite stylish, with a layer of frosted glass displaying a light show underneath.

“It’s a complete experience now, from the cigar to the bottle of wine,” Varvaro says.

The new location opened for business Oct. 7, and Varvaro says it has been bustling ever since. Smoking of pipes and cigars is permitted throughout the shop and dining area, but no cigarette smoking is allowed. Varvaro says the building is equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system that will keep the air inside free of smoke.

“You will see no smoke,” Varvaro says. “You can see four different people smoking at the same time, and you will see no smoke. Of course, you can smell the cigars, the tobacco, but you won’t see smoke.”

For those who purchase a membership at Halfway, there are the added perks of a members-only smoking lounge and private lockers and humidors.

Varvaro says he and his wife have envisioned a space like this one for Halfway for nearly a decade, and to them, it’s like a dream has finally come true.

“We imagined this place for many, many years, and now the innovation has overtaken imagination,” Varvaro says. “It’s something very, very unique, more what you’d see in New York or Washington. We’re trying to bring Greenville to the next level.”