Where to go to see a Flamenco show in Seville
You say Seville, you say flamenco, this small but sure. No visit to the city is completely satisfying without attending a performance of this traditional dance that has ancestral roots.
In addition to the architecture and food, the music and dance are also cultural aspects that must be known in order to immerse yourself in the local culture, to fully understand all its facets.
Each flamenco show has its own unique qualities, so which one to choose depends on the type of experience you are looking for.
Do you want an intimate experience where you can watch the show up close? Or maybe you just want to go see flamenco in the most traditional way possible, stopping at a local bar?
Or do you prefer a show with dinner included?
I know, as travelers we always look for the most "genuine" and less touristy shows. That's why I tried to find some lesser known shows for you, although in the end, all shows are now quite popular.
In spite of this, here you find the best flamenco shows in Seville (with the advice of a local friend, unfortunately I have not seen them all) and I really hope you can find the one that best suits your needs.
Warning: in spite of myself, things change. A flamenco show I saw that was very intimate in between reviews of shows on Tripadvisor and blogs can get very touristy. As much as I try to keep the articles up to date, there is nothing more important than your help. If you find something that has changed, let me know in the comments.
- A brief history of flamenco in Seville
- 1 - Triana Flamenco Theater
- 2 - House of Memory
- 3 - Casa del Flamenco
- 4 - El Palacio Andaluz
- 5 - Los Gallos
- 6 - Tablao Flamenco Pure Essence
- 7 - El Patio Sevillano
- 8 - Flamenco Dance Museum
- 9 - Casa de la Guitarra
- 10 - CasaLa Teatro
- 11 - La CarbonerĂa
- 12 - Peña Cultural Flamenca Torres Macarena
- 13 - Mantoncillo (usually from Thursday to Sunday)
A brief history of Flamenco in Seville
I know, you are looking for the best flamenco shows in Seville, but believe me to understand exactly this dance you also need to know a little bit of its history, since this "art form" was born here in Andalusia, between Cadiz, Seville and Cordoba.
Flamenco is a dance that developed among the gypsies as a way to express the sadness of their oppressed lives, but we don't know much more about its origins as this art form has only been documented in the last 200 years. Everything we know about flamenco comes from stories and tales passed down from father to son.
Flamenco only began to have a firm presence in dance halls between 1765 and 1860. The first flamenco seems to have been purely vocal, accompanied only by rhythmic clapping, and only later was the guitar introduced.
During its heyday (1869-1910) flamenco developed in the numerous musical cafés (cafés cantantes) and from 1915 onwards flamenco shows were organized all over the world.
1 - Triana Flamenco Theater
Address: Calle Pureza 76
The drinks and music are spectacular at the Teatro Flamenco Triana. It is not by chance that it is the number 1 flamenco show on TRIPADVISOR. The modern 100-seat venue offers a wide range of performances with great artists, many of whom come from the Cristina Heeren school, the most prestigious academy in the region.
Come see the show, grab a bite to eat and take a brief dance lesson.
It's a truly authentic flamenco show, done in an intimate way in a nice, cozy theater. I love it because there are different artists every night, so it's always a different show!
Flamenco was born in Triana so it's also the perfect place, this theater is the mecca of flamenco.
⇒ You can buy your tickets HERE on Tripadvisor (from 20 €).
2 - Casa de la Memoria
Address: Calle Cuna, 6
When someone asks for a flamenco recommendation in Seville the Casa de la Memoria is without a doubt one of the best places. For me it is one of the most beautiful experiences: the atmosphere is small and intimate, the show a balance of guitar, singing and dancing.
Since the setting is small and the show at Casa della Memoria is very popular, if you want to go, book in advance and show up for your appointment early!
⇒ Discover or book the flamenco show at CASA DELLA MEMORIA.
3 - Flamenco House
Address: Calle Ximénez de Enciso, 28
The Casa del Flamenco is a magnificent place and I put it in this post for you because my dear friend Nicoletta was there and came back enthusiastic: the show takes place in the inner courtyard of a building in the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
Besides the fantastic location, the show is wonderful: it is one of the few shows in Seville that does not use any microphones or amplification.
Expect to see all aspects of flamenco here: different styles of dancing, singing and guitar playing, and be prepared for an energetic performance!
Try to arrive 15 minutes early to get one of the seats with the best view.
4 - El Palacio Andaluz
Address: Calle de Maria Auxiliadora 18
Il Palacio Andaluz is located in the heart of Seville's emblematic La Macarena neighborhood in an old 19th century building, whose structural design is a typical Sevillian palace-house.
This building is a completely renovated warehouse of more than 500 square meters with a large stage, a bar and a dining room (you can dine and honestly the dishes they offer are not bad at all). Upstairs there is an amphitheater with tables and an upstairs balcony area.
I didn't put it at the top of the list simply because you won't get the best view and acoustics from everywhere, but it's definitely one of the best flamenco shows in the entire city, as indicated by Tripadvisor Reviews that put it third in the rankings.
⇒ BOOK the flamenco show at the Palacio Andaluz.
5 - Los Gallos
Address: Plaza Santa Cruz, 11
Among the flamenco shows, that of a Los Gallos, a tablao hidden in the Santa Cruz district, is very famous, I would say a real institution!
Caution: the fact that this show is more expensive than the others is due to the fact that the shows they organize are of the highest quality and also to their history, as they have been organizing shows here since 1966!
The show is quite long (at least when I went): it lasts almost 2 hours so if you have kids it might not be the most suitable.
I'll be 100% honest (as I always do on this blog)... it wasn't one of the best shows I've seen, plus it's more expensive than the others, maybe if I went back I wouldn't go there .
That said, it is the show that locals have recommended the most to me as the most "real" and least touristy show (and they certainly know a lot more than I do).
6 - Flamenco Tablao Pura Esencia
The Tablao Flamenco Pura Esencia is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, in the authentic neighborhood of Triana. When you are here you can enjoy Flamenco first hand and, arriving 20 minutes before the show starts, you can also enjoy a glass of Manzanilla wine, typical of SanlĂşcar de Barrameda.
In addition, you can take pictures with the artists once the show is over!
The Pura Esencia show is ranked as the second best show on Tripadvisor(you can read the reviews HERE).
⇒ You can book tickets for the show PURA ESENCIA here (from 20 €).
7 - El Patio Sevillano
Address: Paseo de Cristobal Colon 11
Another of the best places to see a real flamenco show is El Patio Sevillano.
You will have to arrive early for front row seats as "first come, first served, best to stay" as they say.
That said, even if you arrive late, you will still enjoy the show.
El Patio, along with most other tablaos in Seville, are better if you want an entire evening rather than just a flamenco show, so consider eating tapas as well!
⇒ You can buy tickets for the show at Patio Sevillano here (from 38 €).
8 - Flamenco Dance Museum
Address: Calle Manuel Rojas Marcos 3
Unlike many others on our list, the Museo del Baile Flamenco is not a bar or tablao, but an unconventional museum. This not only makes it a unique setting for performances, but also a place to understand and learn more about this dance as an art form.
If you don't want to see the show, you can also enter the museum and I assure you it is well worth it.
However, when it comes to "flamenco", the Museo del Baile Flamenco is one of the most famous places in Seville and, as such, attracts many tourists. Despite this, the show is exciting and visually stunning, even if it is not very intimate.
This is undoubtedly one of the best places to see flamenco in Seville and is included in the PASE SEVILLA along withAlcázarde sevilla, Para Catedral and Giralda.
Here you have the option to book the museum alone, the show alone or the combined ticket for both:
- Museum with online ticket only
- Online ticket for the show only
- Combined ticket museum + show
9 - House of the Guitar
Address: Calle MesĂłn del Moro, 12a
Casa de la Guitarra not only offers an intimate evening show, but also has a collection of guitars worth seeing.
This space is very small and intimate and the atmosphere in my opinion is absolutely unbeatable.
You must book in advance!
⇒ You can buy the ticket for the show at CASA DELLA GUITARRA (from 35 €).
10 - CasaLa Teatro
If you're looking for another intimate show, head to CasaLa Teatro in the heart of the famous Triana neighborhood. This theater guarantees to bring out the artists innate emotions and pure energy that will leave you spellbound the whole time.
Why see flamenco at CasaLa Teatro?
The physical and emotional closeness to the flamenco artists will give you goosebumps!
There are not many places here either.
11 - La CarbonerĂa
Address: Calle Cespedes 21
This is one of the flamenco shows I have attended and I can only recommend it to you. La Carboneria is a busy bar with three shows a night. Admission is free, just buy a drink (try the sangria) and sit at the long tables. The roar of conversation is cancelled by the revered silence when the dancing begins and all eyes turn to that corner of the room.
Very few places can offer this level of authenticity, but beware. From tripadvisor reviews it seems that lately, precisely because of its authenticity, it has been filled with tourists.
While completely different from the more comfortable environments (singing can become a scary scream at times), this place remains one of the best because of its passionate atmosphere and dedication to authenticity.
12 - Peña Cultural Flamenca Torres Macarena
Address: Calle Torrigiano, 29
Peñas flamencas are cultural associations that often gather in honor of specific flamenco artists, genres or venues.
Here, talented local artists have the opportunity to perform and perfect their craft. The purpose of a peña is not to make money, but to maintain the flamenco tradition in its purest and most authentic form.
This unique setting offers visitors and locals alike the opportunity to witness extraordinary performances by local talent.
Among the most famous peñas in Seville is Torres Macarena, which takes its name from the street in the Macarena area where the organization was inaugurated in 1974.
The peña has recently moved to a larger venue in the same neighborhood and the charming and intimate performances require the utmost respect and attention from guests.
This respectful environment offers a unique and unforgettable experience.
Some of Seville's most famous flamenco singers and dancers have performed here. The current 120-seat building hosts weekly shows every Wednesday.
There is no entrance fee, but rather a donation of 6 € that goes directly to the financing of the peña itself.
13 - Mantoncillo (usually from Thursday to Sunday)
Address: Calle Betis 29
Triana is the old gypsy quarter of Seville, which means that if flamenco was really born in Seville, it was probably born here.
For this reason, I think Triana is the best place to go to experience traditional improvised flamenco. Sometimes there is no full show, just flamenco aficionados, who spend the night singing and dancing.
Sometimes you don't find a proper dance, just a singer and a guitarist and lots of people sharing two or three simple flamenco moves while having a drink.
Nothing is more authentic than this quaint little bar. Even if they don't have shows every day, when they do it's great.
