Telford’s Pipe and Cigar

Amazing store. It really is incredible. So many cigars and accessories. I only came here to buy a vaporizer (PAX2) for smoking «herbs» and got a bit of an attitude from the guy. He didn’t know how the item worked but luckily I did a lot of research before I bought. If you are into smoking, this store is absolutely incredible. Don’t mind the staff and if they try to sell you over-​priced lighters lel.

The owners lived up to their response and have been super nice. We have since been regulars enjoying the excellent tobacco, cigar & pipe selections and purchases. Its a great place to relax and smoke in the sun.

I never write reviews, but after my experience today with Telefords I am compelled to do so… I have been a good customer for many years with these guys and have always received great service… until today.
I just got off the phone with (I believe the owner or manager). They lost the paperwork on an expensive lifetime warranty cigar lighter that they offered to have repaired or replaced for me 18 months ago (since I purchased it at Telefords). He offered me a $ 40 in store credit and basically said take it or leave it. When I declined his offer and told him it was a $ 120 lighter, he then told me to never come in to his store again.
Really? In 57 years, I have never been banished before… let alone banished while I was on the phone, and for something that the «banishee» screwed up in the first place. I guess I have finally become a rebel?
Your call as to where you spend your time and money, but I would never do business with Telefords again. I am embarrassed to say this after so many years of being a customer.

It’s pretty damn neat to be able to smoke on a patio of the very place where you purchase a cigar.
All the the tobacco shops I’ve ever been to do not have a patio for smoking because of the governmental ordinances prohibiting smoking in pretty much any public place.
They have an impressive selection of cigars, which I expected. A large amount of pipe tobacco and a very neat array of tobacco pipes as well.
The two people who assisted me with selecting my smoke and purchasing it were helpful. Given my homebase and my propensity to only share a smoke with friends, I rarely visit cigar shops. I have been plenty of times to where I’m not a novice but it takes a while to orient myself.
I was pleased that I was not talked down to. Instead I had a conversation with someone who seemed genuinely interested in getting me a good smoke in line with my vague description of what I was looking for.

After Grant’s tobacco shop on Market Street closed, I was kinda wandering around smoking crap for two years (doesn’t sound very good, does it?). I have driven by Telford’s numerous times but never had a chance to stop by and I finally did yesterday.
Well, this place is the bomb! Loads of cigar options, beautiful pipes, lighters, and drawers of tobacco — blended and straight. I was helped by Barney who was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. I was recommended their Belden blend which was the closest to Grant’s Royal Reserve which I used to smoke.
I walked away with their Bay blend, their Belden and their Nob Hill. Funny how one’s taste evolves over time, I smoked their Bay blend and absolutely loved it! It’s smooth, and easy, I love the fact that it’s a drier tobacco and so it stayed lit in the bowl without me having to strike a match or flick on my lighter frequently when I wanted a puff.
I wasn’t so hot about the Belden — am not sure if it’s because I had already smoked a bowl of the Bay beforehand. I’ll try it again on it’s own next time. And I can’t wait to try the Nob Hill for my first taste of Latakia.
This place is a gem and I hope they stay in business! Because I spotted a Torini pipe I want and I will be back to buy it!

Great selection of cigars! And was helped by Mr. Telford himself! Can’t wait to get back to Mill Valley!

I’ve been back since. Service has improved. I’m not sure whether the employee I had trouble with even works there anymore.

I’ve been in Telford’s dozens of times as I’ve attempted to advance beyond total cigar newbie. Every step of the way I’ve found someone helpful and knowledgeable at Telford’s. They have offered candid and thoughtful advice on humidor issues, finding a rare cigar or making a suggestion for a great value cigar they enjoy themselves.
I take exception to all the comments about rude staff and would suggest good customer service is a two way street. If you approach the staff in a friendly manner looking for help on a selection or choice, I’ll be you my best cigar that you’ll get exactly what you’re looking for. Conversely, if you know exactly what you want when you walk in and just want to get in and out w/​your cigars without some cheesy sales pitch, I’ll again bet you my best cigar that you’ll get that too.
Echo all the comments on great selection and FYI the prices are fine if you have any understanding of what it takes to operate a business in Marin County, CA.

What a great shop. I needed some tobacco for my pipe (I’m a once or twice a month smoker) and their selection was fantastic. When I saw their selection of house blends I was blown away. What a great experience.
The Great:
+ Amazing selection of pipe tobacco.
+ Tons of pipes for sale — from new to estate.
+ A huge cigar selection.
+ Helpul, friendly staff that knew what they were talking about.
+ Fair prices.
The Average:
o The parking lot was a little tricky since it was so full.
Overall an awesome experience.

Great selection of cigars and pipe tobacco and a knowledgeable, friendly staff.

Outstanding selection, decent prices, and easily the largest and most knowledgeable tobacco shop in the Bay Area. It’s worth noting that the people here won’t please everyone, as Mrs. Telford seems to employ people who are a little nerdy and old-​fashioned about their tobacco. This is a good thing in my eyes because you can really hone in on what you want here, be it uncommon cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, even a small selection of shisha. But know what you’re looking for, and expect a little old fashioned hard sell on their social events and mailing list if you are into the more esoteric things.
I used to be much more of a cigar smoker and found that a good reading pipe is a much more cost-​effective and reliable way to smoke. So while I can’t comment on the cigars outside of their gigantic selection, I have to call out their 40-​some blends of pipe tobacco as truly outstanding. You can have a sweet, mellow smoke or a Latakia-​heavy blend for the smokers who can out-​grizzle Tom Skerritt.

I’ve been in here a few times with experiences ranging from ‘OK’ to ‘really bad’.
The last time I stopped in will be the last time I stop in. I find it really frustrating when I’m in a retail environment and the numerous employees treat me like I’m not welcome there. When I went in, there were three people standing behind the counter and I had to ask twice to get someone to unlock the case to show me a pipe. Then, when I wanted to see one in a different case, he gave me a heavy sigh before he made a big production of locking the first one back up in the case and walking over to the next one. Seriously?
I’m the only person in the store, there are three of you there and you’re going to treat me like you’re doing me a favor by selling me your heavily marked-​up pipe?
But wait, it gets even better. I decide on a pipe, which I hadn’t seen anywhere else, (good selection, which is why they get two stars instead of one and why I spent money there in spite of being treated like a fart at a garden party,) and as the unpleasant man is ringing me up, I see a tamper in the case and ask to see it. His response was, «You don’t want that.» Um, Ok, then. I guess I don’t.
I’m not impressed.
Update:
Went in last week because we were passing by, traffic was bad and we thought, «What the heck? Lets get some cigars.» The same guy who had been unpleasant last time was working at the pipe counter and was, no surprise, unpleasant again. Seriously, how hard is it to memorize the words, «Hi. How are you today?» The visit was saved by the owner, Brian, who came out of the back and was really very pleasant and helpful. He showed me a few pipes and offered to give me a call when new stock came in. He was definitely nice enough to earn another star, but the guy he had working the pipe counter is still enough of a pill to keep it at three.

Best selection I have ever seen in a cigar shop! I have been smoking cigars for years and this place takes the cake for awesome places to be an aficionado! The specialize in rare and hard to find cigars, with some that date back to the 50’s, so cool!
The staff is also extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. They dont beat around the bush at all, the tell you how they really feel about the cigars and dont try to sell you based on price but based on what you individual needs and tastes are. When I first go to a cigar shop I always try to find something new and exciting and Telfords was filled with it! Scott, the manager, helped me to find 3 well balanced medium cigars all of which I sincerely enjoyed.
Beyond the amazing selection and knowledgeable staff I love the feel of this place. It is set up like a real cigar lounge should be with big comfy chairs, a nice patio, and no gimmicky crap like a head shop would have. This place is classy and I always try to take me friends who come into town to Telfords just for the experience.
If you love cigars Telfords is the place for you!

You walk into this place and it is a MANS shop. It’s nice to go to a shop that’s there’s just as many pipes as cigars. When I went in I asked about their selection of pipe tobacco and was shown an amazing selection. They also had a huge selection of pipes of every material, shape, size. It’s nice because I was able to smoke a small sample. I ended up finding this tobacco that is one of their own blends of dark tobacco and the smoke tasted of blueberries. It was hypnotic. I enjoyed that bowl walking around the store. Owner and staff are very friendly. They even took a look at my pipe and appreciated the Peterson I have. It is nice to not be a lonely pipe smoker. Sometimes feel like we’re a dying breed.

I like this place. Being from San diego, we have really one old school lounge left (Liberty) and this lounge is a great place to comfortable from the moment you walk in. There warm and wonderful owners and beautiful staff to assure your needs are met and then some. Unbeleivable selection of cigars and pipes great prices and top self products as well. Go in and you will be treated like a king… and check your attitude at the door

Excellent selections of cigars and cigar accessories.
Great patio for outdoor smoking. Light up a cigar and browse the many limited editions cigars they have to offer.

Best selection in the area as far as I know. Truly massive, diverse selection of cigars. If you’ve never been to a true cigar shop like this, you are in for a surprise. Many other «cigar shops» have a tiny walk-​in humidor at best compared to the top of the line shop like Telfords.
They also have a huge selection of accessories, lighters, humidors, and much much more.

I’ve been to Telfords a bunch of times. So many times, that you would think the 4 – 5 guys that work here would remember me. They don’t. You would think that they would be cordial and helpful. They aren’t.
I like Telfords a lot for their gigantic cigar selections, it truly is massive. But I really can’t stand the people that work there. It always feels like I’m bothering en employee when I ask them a question. Their customer service sucks, unless your a wealthy d-​bag spending lots of doe; then you get their attention.
I’ll give this place 4 stars only for their selection.

Unparelleled selection of cigars and well presented in a clean, well lit, well decorated shop. I don’t get to stop by very often but I am always happy when I do. I thought the original store was wonderful but have had the chance to visit the «new» store several times over the past however many years.
Except for the last visit, I have been very impressed with the customer service. I have been smoking cigars for 15 years and when I purchase cigars from a retail store in CA, I tend to ask questions and advice before making my selection and have always found the Telford’s staff to be courteous and knowledgeable. Hopefully Mr. Crankypants was just having a bad day, but the experience will make me hesitant to brave the weird Mill Valley intersections the next time I am passing by on 101.

Telford’s used to be located in the shopping center up the road. They got thrown out after many decades there because the on-​site smoking was disturbing the delicate neighbor businesses.
Until 3 years ago, I used to smoke 3 premium cigars per day. I was an addict. I used to shop at Telford’s occasionally. They have a good selection of premium cigars. But the prices often shocked me. For a cigar that I would purchase on line for $ 5 at
, Telford’s would charge $ 14. Quite a price mark-​up. Partially blame California tobacco taxes, but a generous profit margin was in the price as well.
If you are just an occasional tobacco smoker, Telford’s is a good place to shop. They got a great selection. Smart & experienced sales people will guide you to product that will satisfy.
Yes, you can smoke in the store. Cool! Visit before the health police shut this place down forever.