Entry No. 53 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: speakeasy
The Racketeer Lounge
The Racketeer is a Prohibition-styled cigar lounge and bar that bills itself as the only spot in the area with a genuine absinthe fountain for the classic absinthe ritual. Bartenders hand-craft original cocktails, and the back bar runs deep with barrel-aged brews, sake, wine, and rare spirits. It carries over 150 cigars and offers lockers and a cigar club for regulars. The owners opened it in Post Falls in 2021 around a Welcome to the Family ethos.
The story
You wouldn't expect a strip-mall suite off 8th Avenue in Post Falls to house the region's only working absinthe fountain, but step through the door of Suite B and the sharp scent of cured tobacco leaf and woodsmoke hits you instantly. Opened in 2021 around a "Welcome to the Family" ethos—taking over what was previously Bulldog Pipe & Cigar—The Racketeer Lounge runs on a low-lit Prohibition aesthetic without leaning into costume gimmicks.
The main draw isn't just the 150-plus cigar options stored in the humidor—ranging from staple brands like Padrón and My Father to boutique rolls from Crowned Heads and Room 101—it's the drip tower on the bar top. Order the absinthe ritual, and the bartender sets down a heavy glass fountain filled with ice water. You adjust the brass spigot yourself, letting cold droplets melt a sugar cube on a perforated spoon until the spirit louches into a cloudy pale green in your glass.
Beyond the fountain, the back bar runs deep with hand-crafted cocktails, rare barrel-aged brews, local taps, sake, wine, and single-malt scotches. If you're a regular, your personal stash rests behind a locked door in the wooden locker room; if you're just passing through on Interstate 90, you sink into a dark leather armchair, order a house-blended pipe tobacco or a dark Maduro, and linger as long as you want.
What it's like
Expect a thick veil of tobacco smoke, warm dim lighting, and deep leather loungers. This is a working cigar lounge, so if you are sensitive to heavy smoke, ask for a drink and head to the outdoor patio seating area instead. Weekends draw a steady mix of locker-holding regulars and curious drink-seekers, but a weeknight visit gives you quieter space to chat with bartenders about pairing spirits with specific leaf wrappers.
The move: Order the absinthe ritual at the fountain and watch the louche cloud up your glasses, then linger over a hand-rolled cigar in the leather lounge.
📍 Before you go It's a cigar lounge, so expect smoke; some areas/perks are membership-based. Post Falls is about 10 miles west of downtown CdA.
- 📍 Post Falls
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 605 E 8th Ave, Suite B, Post Falls, ID 83854
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Treaty Rock — Located just half a mile away in Post Falls, this historic cliff face inscribed with an 1871 land record makes a quick outdoor prelude before heading inside for a drink.
- Old School Liquor Bar — A four-mile drive east brings you to a gutted 1920 schoolhouse turned atmospheric neighborhood bar in Huetter.
- 59:Escape Adventures — Just three miles away inside the outlet mall, this escape room venue offers a fast-paced game before you wind down over a slow absinthe drip.
- Relic Speakeasy — Trade Prohibition smoke for a plant-filled secret bar hidden behind a downtown botanical boutique eight miles east.
Good to know
Is a membership required to visit The Racketeer Lounge?
No, the main lounge, bar, and humidor are open to the public, though the venue offers private lockers and club memberships for regulars.
What if I don't smoke cigars?
Non-smokers are welcome to visit for the craft cocktail bar, rare spirits, or the absinthe fountain ritual, though indoor tobacco smoke is present throughout the lounge.
How far is Post Falls from downtown Coeur d'Alene?
The lounge sits at 605 E 8th Ave in Post Falls, roughly 10 miles west of downtown Coeur d'Alene.
How does the absinthe ritual work here?
The bartender sets up an authentic glass absinthe fountain with spigots, allowing you to drip ice-cold water over a sugared spoon to louche the absinthe at your own pace.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · cigarscore.com
last checked: 2026-06-24