Madrid is a city closely linked to flamenco.  Many of the leading artists of the genre live here and some of the world’s most important flamenco houses can also be found here.  This art was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, becoming a universal art.

Although flamenco has Andalusian roots, Madrid has long had close ties with this art.  In the 18th century, flamenco started to gain relevance on Madrid’s streets, partly thanks to Andalusian immigration, and flamenco was firmly consolidated in Madrid’s culture in the 19th century. It is a genre that is starting to be found in theatres, such as the Teatro Pavón or the Salón Olimpia and, thanks to the boom in cafeterias with live music, establishments offering flamenco shows with renowned artists have sprung up.

 For some time now, Madrid is the place of residence of some of the best flamenco artists and is a showcase of this genre on a national and international level. For artists seeking to triumph in any of the styles of this art, they should do so in our city.

The best flamenco houses

In Madrid’s flamenco houses, the popular tradition of cafeterias with singers from classical Madrid lives on.  A diverse audience gathers there, ranging from fans of the genre to senior politicians and tourists.  Corral de la Morería, which opened its doors in 1956, is one of the oldest flamenco houses in the city. Since it opened, it has become a place whose fame has spread and famous personalities from all walks of life have been spotted there, such as Gary Cooper or Rita Hayworth and artists like Picasso and Dalí. This flamenco house boasts two different gastronomic spaces, run by the chef, David García.

On the other hand, the Villa Rosa flamenco house dates back to 1911 and became the most popular establishment in the 1920s. Run by the flamenco singer from Jerez, Antonio Chacón, it became the temple of flamenco in Madrid, a meeting place for consolidated maestros and new generations of this genre. It has an extraordinary façade that dates back to 1927 and its interior structure stands out for its columns and arches inspired by the Alhambra in Granada.  It has re-opened its doors in 2022 with the flamenco dancer, Antonio Canales, as artistic director.

The Torres Bermejas flamenco house is one of the best known with more than 50 years of history.  In the early days, it witnessed the discovery of flamenco song and dance artists, such as Camarón and Paco de Lucía. Its shows include figures of international prestige and a flamenco group made up of more than 20 people. This space also offers flamenco and cookery workshops, specialising in paella and Spanish tapas. Las Carboneras emerged with the idea of recovering the essence of the cafeterias of singers from yesteryear and has known how to combine an avant-garde image and style with the best of contemporary flamenco. It is an establishment that also has a restaurant serving traditional Spanish dishes with a touch of creativity.

At the Cardamomo flamenco house, maestros of the Spanish guitar and percussion, prestigious flamenco singers and dancers give their body and soul to the audience with a unique, live flamenco show. Las Tablas stands out for being the largest flamenco house in Madrid - located alongside the revamped Plaza de España-, with a modern design and shows that maintain the freshness and spontaneity of the genre. It has a gastronomic proposal and offers flamenco classes for groups.

Teatro Alfil offers the unique Teatro Flamenco Madrid, the world’s first theatre devoted to this art with a daily programme and different shows.  It is a space that is set to become a cultural centre and meeting point for flamenco lovers.

The offer is rounded off with the Tablao de la Villa -which is located in the establishment that was home to the popular Café de Chinitas for years-; the  Tablao Corral de la Pacheca located inside the Las Ventas Bullring with a daily show; the Café Ziryab flamenco house; the Tablao Flamenco Torero with a small stage in the city centre; the Tablao Flamenco La Estación de los Porches which offers the best flamenco whilst savouring Spanish cuisine; the Tablao Flamenco La Carmela; and the Tablao Flamenco La Quimera Plaza Mayor with live flamenco shows  accompanied by typical dishes from Spanish cuisine.

Shows and leading artists

In Madrid, it is possible to enjoy the flamenco art any day of the week with shows in theatres and flamenco houses, as well as in small song and dance establishments.  This unique experience can be made even better by savouring a succulent dinner or enjoying a long drink.

The Teatro Eslava hosts OléOlá from Thursday to Saturday, a flamenco and gastronomy show directed by two great names from the genre, such as Cristina Hoyos and José Carlos Plaza. This event also includes a drink or dinner. On the other hand, the Tablao Flamenco Torero offers the Teatro a las 5 de la tarde  show with great works adapted to the flamenco house format.

The Antonio Gades Company continuously and exclusively presents the show, Suite Gades, for the first time in Spain from Thursday to Sunday at the Teatro Magno. It merges the best of flamenco and the dance style of Antonio Gades, one of the most admired dancers and choreographers in the 20th century.   At the Teatro Flamenco Madrid, located inside the Teatro Alfil, you can watch Emotions, a show with performances every day of the week in which all of the styles of this art are performed.

Such a unique venue as the Salón Baile del Teatro Real hosts the Flamenco Real each year. This event fills the theatre for several months with shows featuring leading artists from flamenco song and dance, such as Amador Rojas, Alba Heredia, Antonio Lizana and Kiki Morente.

Year after year, Madrid hosts major flamenco festivals, such as Flamenco Madrid which is usually held in May, bringing together activities related to flamenco and Spanish dance in different venues. At the end of the year, it is time for Suma Flamenca, which is committed to the flamenco art in all of its forms, with the presence of the leading figures on today’s flamenco scene

Within the agenda of flamenco events scheduled for 2022, the première of Alma (Teatro EDP Gran Vía, 8 September-2 October) stands out, in which the dancer from Andalusia,  Sara Baras merges the bolero rhythms with flamenco dance. The veteran flamenco singer, José Mercé, will be at the Teatro Real on 10 July to present his latest album; the singer, Miguel Poveda, is participating in the Nights at the Botanical  festival on 11 June to present his latest album; and Diego el Cigala and Juanito Makandé will give a joint performance on 12 June as part of the Madrid Escena festival .

Purchase typical flamenco products

Are you interested in purchasing products and elements that are representative of flamenco? Madrid has many stores specialised in craft products related to this art, such as, for example, the century-old establishment, Casa de Diego where you can purchase Manila shawls, veils, shawls, ornamental hair combs or castanets.

El Flamenco Vive store which exclusively sells articles related to flamenco, such as Spanish guitars made by the master luthier Ricardo Sanchis, high quality percussion boxes, flamenco dresses, skirts, castanets, shoes, ornamental hair combs and brooches, as well as an extensive catalogue of flamenco music, also stands out. For those interested in authentic flamenco dance shoes, go to the Don Flamenco shoe shop, specialised in handmade flamenco footwear and clothing.