The Casa Havaneza was founded in 1864 at Lisbon, Portugal, by Henry Burnay, a Belgian banker and a visionary entrepreneur that also shared a passion for cigar. In the traditional and vibrant neighborhood of Chiado, the shop rapidly became a meeting point for Portuguese writers, painters, politicians, businessmen and aristocrats.
The cigar shop was immortalized in works of some of its illustrious patrons such as Eça de Queirós, Fernando Pessoa and Ramalho Ortigão. It was an important cultural center as the shop also had the first public telegrapher in Portugal.
To reach 162 years is not easy. Over the years the Casa Havaneza had to reinvent itself especially due to new regulations forbidding to smoke inside the shop. The shop still not only a reference for those looking for the best selection of Cuban cigars in Lisbon, but also offers a wide range of premium wines and spirits. It proved to be a success recipe as the Casa Havaneza opened three more branches over the years; one at the Amoreiras Shopping Center in 1985, in Colombo in 1998 and at Porto city at 2012.
To celebrate the milestone the Casa Havaneza held last week a dinner for its customers, partners and friends. More than 120 guests from five countries attended a dinner full of surprises.
Luis Javier Bosch, Commercial Director of Empor SA, the Habanos official importer to Portugal gave the welcome to the guests and were followed by the Cuban Ambassador in Portugal, Mr. José Ramon Saborido. Maritza Carrillo, Co-President of Habanos SA, and Rodrigo Gonzalez, Strategic Marketing Director, spoke about the importance of the Casa Havaneza for the Portuguese cigar scene.
The night had also its comic moment when a theater group took the stage to tell the story of Casa Havaneza over the years with the artists presenting the roles of the its famous guests, as Fernando Pessoa, Ramalho Ortigão, Bordalo Pinheiro and Zé Povinho. Mr. Pedro Rocha, General Director of Empor SA, also took part on the stage playing the role of Henry Burnay, the founder of Casa Havaneza.
It was a great dinner, filled with good drinks, food and cigars celebrating an anniversary that puts the Casa Havaneza as one of the oldest operating cigar shops in the world.
