Go to an authentic flamenco show: Madrid small venues

If you want to go to an authentic flamenco show, Madrid has a good number of relatively small and intimate venues where you’ll experience a passionate flamenco performance.

If you like music and want to discover one of Spain’s greatest traditions, I definitely recommend spending one of your evenings in Madrid watching a flamenco performance.

As soon as the music starts, you’ll understand why flamenco is an art conveying all kinds of sensations. The body movements, the heels and the music (either with one or several guitars or hand clapping) is incredibly captivating.

Whether you want to go to a tablao flamenco, you’re looking for a small venue or you prefer an genuine flamenco show, Madrid offers you a full array of experiences.

And if you don’t know where to go with so many choices, this is the best flamenco show in Madrid.

Experience an authentic flamenco show: Madrid small venues

The best piece of advice I can give you is to look for authenticity, and avoid tourist traps.

Madrileños don’t go to tablaos, it’s true.

But that’s only because they attend to specific flamenco spectacles or events held in the city. Because they don’t have a time limitation like you have, because they live in Madrid.

So if you don’t live here, you’ll have a hard time attending the Festival de Flamenco de Madrid or the Círculo de Flamenco de Madrid events. You would need to plan your trip according to those dates. But what if you can’t? Does that mean that you can’t have the pleasure of experiencing a proper flamenco performance?

Of course not.

Trust my personal advice.

You don’t necessarily need to go to a tablao. There is a good number of small venues where you can have a great time. All are authentic places, and here artists are not amateurs.

My personal selection of the most authentic flamenco shows in Madrid

Madrid offers a wide range of flamenco shows.

With so many choices, I have made a selection of the most authentic flamenco shows in the city to help you decide where to go during your holiday.

My preferred option: Essential Flamenco

Shows: Every day of the year. 1st show at 19:30 or 20:30, 2nd show at 21:00 or 22:00, depending on the season, it also organizes shows at 22:30.

Tickets: Only the show, no food or drinks are included (available online)

Essential Flamenco holds nightly flamenco shows and the performances, featuring dance, singing, guitar and percussion. The idea is to give you an authentic show at a reasonable price.

You will be taken on a journey to the roots of flamenco: from its inception, flamenco has flourished in intimate settings. Artists danced and sang before a small group of friends without any amplification or microphones. This is exactly what Essential Flamenco wants you to experience.

Book your flamenco show at Essential Flamenco in Madrid »

Amor de Dios

Shows: Every day of the year. 1st show from 19:00 to 20:00, 2nd show from 20:30 to 21:30.

Tickets: Only the show, no food or drinks are included (available online)

If you want to discover real and authentic flamenco in Madrid, skip the typical tablao and opt for this cultural experience instead, where you will enjoy a fantastic performance of a group of Spanish artists.

This intimate experience trades the typical staged show for a more intimate gathering, where artists and performers come together for an informal flamenco session. Watch a dancer, musician, and live vocalists demonstrate this historic art form, and encounter passionate flamenco rhythms.

Book your flamenco show at Amor de Dios in Madrid »

Taberna Flamenca El Cortijo

Shows: Every night. The show starts at 20:30 and ends at 21:15.

Tickets: Tapas + show or menu à la carte + show (available online)

Taberna Flamenca El Cortijo is a very small and intimate venue. The owner will give you a behind the scenes education of flamenco (both theory and practical) before the show, which will be very eye opening. The artists know what she they are doing while they exude talent and passion. The musicians are on point and full of passion adding great color notes and are a perfect company for an amazing set of dancers.

The only downside is that the venue is far away from the city center, so you will need to use public transportation to get there. Alternatively, if you book your tickets online, everything will be taken care of.

Book your flamenco show at Taberna Flamenca El Cortijo in Madrid »

Map of flamenco shows in Madrid

Apart from the list that I just shared with you, you can go to many other venues in Madrid and enjoy a nice flamenco show.

Here you have a map where you can locate them.

This article is part of a complete tutorial about flamenco in Madrid where you can read all the information you need to enjoy this typical Andalusian folklore.

Here is a complete summary of all the guide:

1. What is flamenco?
2. Where to see flamenco in Madrid?
3. The best flamenco show in Madrid
4. Flamenco tablaos in Madrid
5. Small flamenco venues in Madrid
6. Flamenco bars in Madrid
7. 6 tips to enjoy flamenco dancing in Madrid
8. Where to take flamenco dance lessons in Madrid
9. Flamenco history and origins
10. Understanding flamenco singing (cante)
11. Understanding flamenco dance (baile)
12. Understanding flamenco guitar (toque)
13. The different flamenco styles
14. A flamenco glossary