Flamenco in Madrid

I'm not the world's biggest flamenco fan, but it's definitely something worth seeing as a tourist (if you go to the right place), and something that's shameful not to see at least once if you're living here.

The best flamenco is typically in Andalucía, where it originated most likely with lots of influence from the Roma (gypsy) people living there. It's a mixture of dance, singing, guitar, and hand clapping. I like the dance element the most (the singing is a little...whiny).

Villa Rosa

In Madrid there are plenty of places to see flamenco, and I've been to three. The first was at Casa Patas near Antón Martín, which I enjoyed but I thought was a little pricey. Currently the price for entrance to the show with a drink included is 38€. The place has a restaurant as well, but the room where the show is performed is pretty small, giving you a good view of the performers.

The second place, and probably my favorite, was at Villa Rosa in the Plaza Santa Ana. It actually is currently around 35€ for the show with a drink, but somehow when a friend and I went, we managed to get a high table towards the back at the price of only what we ordered (this may be a big reason why I liked it the most!). We had great views and a great time!

Villa Rosa

The last place I also enjoyed a lot was at La Quimera, located near the bull fighting stadium. The prices vary depending on if you want to see the show with a drink, with dinner, and most importantly, if you book in advance (it's a lot cheaper). I went with a small group of friends and we had dinner while we watched the show. The food was good and the show was great, as the place is pretty small and we had great views.

There are so many other places to see flamenco here, so it's never a bad idea to do a little research and check out other places as well. But I can vouch that these three places, particular Villa Rosa and La Quimera, are worth the visit.