Madrid Performing Arts

Sights Shopping Nightlife

1. Flamenco La Quimera

Prepare for a soulful, invigorating show at this old-school, not-too-kitschy flamenco tablao adjacent to the Plaza Mayor. The start times are 8 and 10 pm...Read More

Prepare for a soulful, invigorating show at this old-school, not-too-kitschy flamenco tablao adjacent to the Plaza Mayor. The start times are 8 and 10 pm nightly, and the festivities spill over into a flamenco-fueled foot-stomping party that starts at midnight (€12).

2. Teatro Flamenco

Less traditional tablao and more modern performance venue, Teatro Flamenco hosts a variety of classical and modern interpretations of flamenco dance and song. Check the...Read More

Less traditional tablao and more modern performance venue, Teatro Flamenco hosts a variety of classical and modern interpretations of flamenco dance and song. Check the website for upcoming acts.

3. Teatro Real

This resplendent Neoclassical theater is the city's premier venue for opera and dance performances. Built in 1850, it fell into disuse from 1925 to 1966...Read More

This resplendent Neoclassical theater is the city's premier venue for opera and dance performances. Built in 1850, it fell into disuse from 1925 to 1966 because of political upheaval. A major restoration project endowed it with golden balconies, plush seats, and state-of-the-art stage equipment. Opera buffs rave about the choir, said to be one of the best in the world. The theater sometimes hosts flamenco on Friday evenings in the smaller auditorium.

4. Auditorio Nacional de Música

This is Madrid's main concert hall, with spaces for both symphonic and chamber music....Read More

This is Madrid's main concert hall, with spaces for both symphonic and chamber music.

5. Centro Cultural de Conde Duque

This massive venue is best known for its summer live music concerts (flamenco, jazz, pop) and has free exhibitions, lectures, and theater performances. The quiet,...Read More

This massive venue is best known for its summer live music concerts (flamenco, jazz, pop) and has free exhibitions, lectures, and theater performances. The quiet, well-lit library is a good place for studying or working. The wing at the southern end of the complex is dedicated to contemporary art.

6. Cine Doré

A rare example of Art Nouveau architecture in Madrid, the alternative Cine Doré shows movies from the Spanish National Film Archives and eclectic foreign films...Read More

A rare example of Art Nouveau architecture in Madrid, the alternative Cine Doré shows movies from the Spanish National Film Archives and eclectic foreign films often at budget rates (you frequently get a short film or two in addition to a feature). The pink, neon-trimmed lobby has a sleek café-bar and a bookshop.

7. Círculo de Bellas Artes

Concerts, theater, dance performances, art exhibitions, and other events are all part of the calendar at this performance and entertainment venue. There is also an...Read More

Concerts, theater, dance performances, art exhibitions, and other events are all part of the calendar at this performance and entertainment venue. There is also an extremely popular (and overpriced) café and rooftop restaurant-bar with breathtaking views of the city.

8. Corral de la Morería

A Michelin-starred dinner followed by a world-class flamenco performance in the same building sounds too good to be true, but at Corral de la Morería,...Read More

A Michelin-starred dinner followed by a world-class flamenco performance in the same building sounds too good to be true, but at Corral de la Morería, the food (Basque with an Andalusian twist) is as invigorating as the twirling and stomping bailaoras. Opt for an elegant, market-driven prix-fixe menu to be enjoyed during the show, or splurge on an exclusive tasting experience at the four-table Gastronómico restaurant that earned the venue its coveted star. Wine pairings, which hinge on rare back-vintage sherries and other vinos generosos (fortified wines), are well worth the extra euros.

9. El Corte Inglés

You can buy tickets for major concerts online....Read More

You can buy tickets for major concerts online.

10. Entradas.com

This website sells tickets for musicals and...Read More

This website sells tickets for musicals and big-name concerts.

11. La Casa Encendida

Film festivals, alternative art shows, dance performances, and weekend events for children are held here. In summer, check the website for outdoor concerts on the...Read More

Film festivals, alternative art shows, dance performances, and weekend events for children are held here. In summer, check the website for outdoor concerts on the rooftop, which is open to the public and a pleasant place to unwind with a book when nothing is on. A coffee and pastry at the laptop-friendly Pum Pum Café outpost on the ground floor is always a treat.

12. Ticketea

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13. Yelmo Cines Ideal

This is your best bet for new releases. ...Read More

This is your best bet for new releases.

14. Café de Chinitas

This touristy spot fills up fast. Make reservations because shows often sell out. The restaurant, which specializes in paella and rice dishes, opens at 8....Read More

This touristy spot fills up fast. Make reservations because shows often sell out. The restaurant, which specializes in paella and rice dishes, opens at 8. Performances run Monday–Saturday at 8:15 and 10:30.

15. Casa Patas

Along with tapas and Andalusian-inflected entrées, this well-known space offers good, authentic flamenco. Prices are more reasonable than elsewhere. Shows are at 10:30 pm Monday...Read More

Along with tapas and Andalusian-inflected entrées, this well-known space offers good, authentic flamenco. Prices are more reasonable than elsewhere. Shows are at 10:30 pm Monday to Thursday and at 9 pm and midnight Friday and Saturday.