Flamenco, Sevilla

Pretty much every tablao claims to have the "purest" flamenco in Seville. But many of these shows are targetted towards tourists who often don't know any better. They usually charge a high admission price and though the music and dancing can be average to good, it's not what you would call "pure flamenco".

Fun Alternatives: If you want to see pure flamenco, the best thing to do is go to a bar like La Carboneria late at night and watch the locals jam. Pure flamenco doesn't require a guitar, you'll often see the gypsies knocking out a beat on the table and singing along to it.

As for actual shows/tablaos that have good flamenco, Casa de la Memoria was my favorite place to see them. There are different artists every night, and all the shows I saw were quite impressive. My flamenco teacher (Felipe Mato) performs there often and he is one of the most amazing dancers I've ever seen.

A guitar sounds near the Guadalquivir, a few meters away from Triana, next to the Maestranza Bullring, and in front of the Golden Tower. Patio Sevillano opens it doors. Tourists want to know about everything that surrounds this art, that's why they come here, to make the hairs of their bodies stand on end in the vicinity of the Sevillian river.
This flamenco stage also stands out for having a significant presence in the Andalusian city. It started out being called Cortijo “El Guajiro”, after that it was known as El Patio Andaluz, when it was located in Duque Square, right in the historic distict of the city. Now, after a history of almost fifty years, the stage presents flamenco by the river banks of the Guadalquivir.
Every afternoon, when the sun says goodbye and leaves way to the evening, El Patio Sevillano begins its day. One showing at 7pm and another at 10pm. The show hall is almost always packed, which already says alot for the performance. There’s barely enough time for the show to begin. The stage lights dim. And the silence begins the show…
Ruth Majó, together with the Patio Sevillano management, emphasizes that the performances that the hall offers isn’t just “flamenco” but other original Andalusian styles like “classical, regional, and Spanish song…”.
In this context, Majó remarks that El Patio Sevillano provides “ an artistic cast of approximately 15 individuals ”, among them prestigious dancers such as Ann Maria Bueno or Juan Martín are spotlighted.
come to El Patio Sevillano.
Adrián H. Maesso

... That's their version, now when you go to the restaurant (which I don't recommend going to) and feel like seeing the show; well just realized that you've probably paid 30 euros per person for the meal and will now have to pay another 30 euros a piece for the show. The show isn't bad, but it's not worth 30 euros.

Unique Suggestions: Just don't do it

Fun Alternatives: La Madruga, Las Niñas, El Carmen, and there's a good one on Calle Pages de Coro across from a Bingo and next to a pottery shop.

The "Tablaos" are often wonderful shows of flamenco music and dance, however they are expensive and entirely geared for a tourist audience. Probably worth it if you don't have the time to find the "real thing." If this is the case, I think that Tablao El Arenal is probably the best show in Sevilla.

Unique Suggestions: Accept it for what it is, a tourist show. The talent is truly extraordinary.