Flamenco, Madrid

This is probable the cheapest flamenco show in Madrid, and not bad. It is located in a street running parallel to the boulevard La Castellana.
The price is very cheap, about 15 euros including a drink, while other flamenco shows in Madrid such as Café de Chinitas, Torres Bermejas, or El Corral de la Pacheca will charge you at least 25 or 30 euros for the show.

Dress Code: no special requirements for dresses

This place was unblievable! The two that were performing had so much energy that they just shook the whole place! I was lucky enough to be sitting right next to the stage and when they started stomping I started bouncing! They were so powerful! The closer she got to me the more afraid I was of getting cracked in the head with those (lovely sculptured) legs! Would have been worth it though! The band that played behind them were made up of four men that were pounding out the notes on their instruments as hard as the dancers were pounding on the stage! We ordered drinks and had two before the show started. I love how the waitress flips out when you give them a tip! It is great and they come back quicker too!

Dress Code: Just like if you were going out for the night! Look good at all times in Madrid cause you never know who you will run into!

Dont forget to make reservations if you are going cause it gets packed! And you dont want to get stuck in the back!

There are several places to see flamenco in Madrid. I like Casa Patas because they feature many well known visiting artists and its a place that Spanish people like to go too. There are generally less dancers than you would see in a typical "tablao" but this place is more authentic. They have two shows a day and also a restaurant with typical spanish food, a little expensive but not too bad. When I was there the flamenco artists and all their friends were dining at the restaurant.
Call for times and reservations, cost is about 25 E per person.
Definately recommended.

As in the whole of Spain, the most loved folklore in Madrid is flamenco, an explosive amalgam of Spanish old singings and dances that were enriched and consolidated when absorbed aspects of gracious Gypsies movements coming from India, Jews chants from their synagogues, Arabs melodies, fragments of remote Byzantine liturgy, and North African rhythms. It was born in a marginal and intercultural Andalusian society (Argentinean Tango emerged under the same social conditions). Flamenco Clubs are called TABLAO. In Madrid I recommend CORRAL DE LA MORERIA, centrally located and probably the best, where Hugh Grant and Richard Gere go every time that they come to Madrid to promote a new film. CAFÉ DE CHINITAS is also OK and centrally located. EL CORRAL DE LA PACHECA is good, in an old wooden theatre of comedies, but far from the centre. FLORIDA PARK, situated inside the huge Parque del Retiro, offers a Flamenco Show with original modern elements, type lasers, vapours and other effects.

If you go to the second show which starts at about 11 you may be lucky enough to see one of the real stars of Spanish Flamenco. You will notice that there are only tourists at the first show but that Spaniards are at the second. Also during the second show there is only a 2 drink minimum in addition to the cover which saves you having to eat the appaling food. This is a pricey place about E25 in but is really worth it.

A wide range of bars offering the finest flamenco atmospheres

With the rise of flamenco bars in the 19th century, flamenco enjoyed its finest hour in the capital. These days, the flamenco bars and clubs are carrying on the tradition, offering a chance to see flamenco at its purest every night, while enjoying a fine meal or a drink.

Dress Code: Our journey begins in the most traditional flamenco tapas bars in Madrid. At 11 o clock every night, the waiters and the audience sing “la salve”, a tradition which “comes directly from Jerez”, according to the venue manager Rafael Cantero. “The lights go down, and candles are lit in order to get the singers in the mood, and the audience is given a song sheet so that they can join in”.
Not only can the audience enjoy the finest local music, but they can also enjoy the traditional tapas and dishes such as gazpacho, potatoes, fried fish and bull tail, and wines such as sherry and manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Flamenco started in Andalusia, but flamenco in Madrid is in high level dancing art too. Professional cante flameco with guitar sounds in the “Casa Patas” club (Calle de Canisares 10). Tablao reputation has “Café – de - Chinitas” (Calle Torija 7) where you can see flamenco dancing.

Casa Patas is a great night spot not far from the Peurta Del Sol. The Flamenco is amazing and very authentic. The performers are very good and equally as dramatic and I witnessed in Sevilla. This is a small night club atmosphere where the performers are right next to you. Be warned that if you are from North America where smoking is virtually banned, in Casa Patas and most Spanish night clubs there will be lots of smoke!! Get used to it because it is not worth missing the great Flamenco over it!

But I should stress again in this tip I guess that this is not touristy flamenco, this is very popular authentic flamenco with lots of local people there.

Dress Code: Casual

I had seen Flamenco shows in other countries but not Spain, that is a crime. I almost went to one in Sevilla, but at the end it never happen. I had been reluctant of going to one in Madrid as I herd they where touristy oriented. (meaninf they are not real traditional)
On my last visit JoseL a VT member invited us to the oppening of a new "tablado" (that is wood, where they dance).

I must admit we all had a great time. For myself and Alexa it was the first time in Spain, for the rest of the crowd it was still very good.

Flamenco show's will usually play songs from different regions. Each region has a slightly different music and dance. Dancer will dress appropiatly for each song.

Not the most authentic around but perhaps not as commercialised as.. can't really remember.. is it called the little china dolls? gosh!

But this was good.. small cosy restaurant.. cost about 25Euros i think

Dress Code: Casual