Airedaleamiga

I haven't been to a flamenco show in Madrid for about five years. What would people recommend? We used to go to Las Chinitas, but don't know if it's still good.

kimhe

Café de Chinitas might still be perfectly fine, but it hasn't been on my radar for the past ten years of frequent flamenco trips to Spain (several to Madrid) neither have the artists mentioned on their website. It also seems they have a regular dance troup, and in general this could often mean very uninspired performances repeating more or less the samt thing over and over again night after night. The few clips I've seen on youtube definitely strenghten my suspicions that this place have turned into a tourist trap. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPI648wJTNI

Casa Patas, Las Carboneras and Cardamomo are of a totally different calibre. They all attract today's top artists which also tour the most important flamenco scenes both in Spain and abroad, and these artists only perform for a few nights in a row (or one night only), often using the best tablaos to test out things in close contact with an up front audience.

Casa Patas would definitely be my no. one bet: http://www.casapatas.com/
Cardamomo: http://cardamomo.es/
Las Carboneras: http://www.tablaolascarboneras.com/web/index.html

All these tablaos are close to Plaza Santa and Plaza Mayor.

Some of the artists that have recently performed in these places:

Thunderstorm up and coming dancer Belén López: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbhkIWSX-Q

Pastora Galván, voted best female flamenco dancer by Spanish critics 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Vy9tKW3U

Olga Pericet, voted best female flamenco dancer by Spanish critics 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55waEsaBzjM

Cutting edge Israel Galván, several times best male flamenco dancer and National Dance Prize winner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9Wav9v7Jc

Marco Flores, the revelation at last years flamenco festival in Jerez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-FVsvGBsR4

Already legendary guitarist Tomatito: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgVoxrBHzLw

Wonderful Estrella Morente, the world's best known female flamenco singer today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1i7cJms6Gc

One of my absolute personal favourite flamenco dancers, Concha Jareño from Madrid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ORMp_E2AY

The greatest artists also tour Madrid theaters on a frequent basis. Updated info here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...en-madrid.html

Airedaleamiga

Wow! Thank you so much, Kimhe! Which are you favorite tapas places? I used to like Lateral, but the last time we were there in May, the service wasn't great.

kimhe

I like many of the abundant tapas bars in and around Calle Cava Baja, only a five-ten minute walk from Casa Patas.

But Casa Patas itself has got a nice bar in the restaurant part outside the performance area. At least great for a glass and a tapa before the flamenco, and I've heard people say that the dinner option isn't bad either.

ekscrunchy

I have some ideas for tapas in La Latina in this report from 2011; we also like the area east of Retiro Park.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...k-in-spain.cfm

kimhe

ekscrunchy has got great suggestions, and the area in and around Calle Cava baja is in "La Latina". More about tapas in this area: http://tapastalk.wordpress.com/tapas-bars/

I very much recommend the fried bacalao and the squid in its own ink in Casa Revuelta just off Plaza Mayor and very near the beginning of Calle Cava Baja. Small and always packed:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ta-Madrid.html
http://11870.com/pro/revuelta

Airedaleamiga

Thank you so much. I just joined this forum and I really appreciate everyone's comments!

minimemom

Will visit Madrid in August, do I need to make reservations now for Casa Patas to see the flamenco dancers?

kimhe

minimemom,

Make reservations at least some two-three weeks in advance.

jbenavides

Hi,
There is a more intimate and less pricey show in Lavapies on Sunday nights at the Juglar. It costs 15€ with a drink and is less touristy than the regular tablaos but the show is great and since it is a small place, seating is perfect.

kimhe

Candela is also an excellent place for flamenco in Lavapies: https://www.facebook.com/barcandela

Agree that many of the regular tablaos are touristy, but IMO that wouldn't include Casa Patas with their seperate performance room, their record of staging the absolute best artists and now also with the excellent Sala Garcia Lorca program added: http://www.casapatas.com/garcia_lorca.asp

jbenavides

www.flamencoenmadrid.es

a cool show, less touristy, only on Sundays...a lot cheaper than the regular tablaos.

kimhe

Would't call for example Israel Galvan, Fuensanta la Moneta, Olga Pericet, Farruco, Concha Jareño, Diego Carrasco, Carrete, Pastora Galvan or Estrella Morente in Casa Patas for touristy. That's just way off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9Wav9v7Jc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbO_lw2xWtU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55waEsaBzjM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS9Bc06p2FA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ORMp_E2AY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoeAZtDEiPI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYYLS2SDwE0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Vy9tKW3U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sejSYMSQDZo

Revulgo

Some tapas bars nearby Cardamomo and not far from Casa Patas
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...4.kigdje759WYI