We're going in early October and want to see an authentic flamenco show - I've seen most on TripAdvisor say great show but ok food.... any other recommendations? We'll be staying in the Villa de Gracia area using public transportation....
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
219 posts
We really enjoyed Los Tarantos. We thought it was pretty authentic, however it's not a "dinner show". It's like a night club and only costs about 6 Euros, may have had a one drink minimum. It's in a little square in Placa Rieal off La Rambla. Shows are at 8.30pm, 9.30pm and 10.30pm. Here's the website: http://www.masimas.com/en/tarantos
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
Are you going to be anywhere else in Spain? Flamenco is Andalucian and Barcelona is the capitol of Catalonia, so asking for authentic flamenco in Barcelona is kinda like asking for authentic Tex-Mex in Oregon. Most (all?) of the flamenco shows are strictly for tourists. If there's a flamenco performance at the Palau de la Musica Catalan, it would probably be very good. The dinner shows, even in Sevilla, are pretty touristy.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
Totally agree with Chani... probably not the right place to see flamenco... if you're looking for something 'blended' in the place that is. "Line dancing" is something natural in Texas, but you can also find it in Moscow (Russia), you know?, literally, at Rythm and Blues for example, at a stone throw away from the Kremlin, but I guess you'd agree it's not the first place that comes to mind when one talks line dancing, is it? :)) A bit similar goes with flamenco and Catalonia. Flamenco is a dance and music typical from Andalucia and brought to these shores by the successive waves of migrants for the past 100 years or so. It is not however weaved into the Catalan society, and while there are a few places which offer reputable shows, note that, without demeriting their artistic value, the setup is rather 'touristy'.
http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/
http://www.palaciodelflamenco.com/
http://www.tablaocordobes.es/en/
http://www.masimas.com/en/tarantos
PS. Avoid eating in the shows: it's expensive and the quality is rather poor... have dinner elsewhere.
Posted by
TOKYO
145 posts
PALAU DALMASES--amazing and reasonable flamenco in a super cool surroundings. It's like stepping through a portal and slipping back in time. Apparently this is an old palace from the 15th century (if I am not mistaken). Most people do not know about it and you might easily pass it by if you were not looking for it carefully. http://palaudalmases.com/home/en http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187497-d2717850-Reviews-Palau_Dalmases-Barcelona_Catalonia.html I found the ambiance adding greatly to the enjoyment of the show. I didn't want to have a typical "dinner + show" type of deal, so this was great for us. You get entrance plus one drink. Sit down and enjoy an hour of amazing performance. PALAU DALMASES , 20EUR including one drink.
There are two of my favourite restaurants within 1-3 min walk from the flamenco venue -- Tapeo and La Tinaja.
best Tapas restaurant TAPEO DEL BORN / ANEM DE TAPEO. http://www.tapeoborn.cat/home-page.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-MKRTSzEmI
Tomato, burratta cheese salad
Fideua black catalan cuttlefish pasta/paella (really tasty)
Pork ribs (were amazing...but i do not see them on the menu right now)
Eggplant fritters with lime juice sauce
Veal burger with foie gras (we had no room for it, but everyone raves about it.)
Roast sausage and wild mushrooms (just like veal burger could not try but wanted to)
Chocolate cream with bread, salt and olive oil (sounds a bit weird but was very tasty)
Catalan cream dessert
Cava sparkling wine sangria. Yum!
BODEGA LA TINAJA, I think it's like a wine shop/restaurant. the atmosphere in this place was really amazing. I found it by accident while doing Google Map research. I think it used to be the old cellar of a nearby church. Tapas and wine. It's just a few meters away from Tapeo place, the Picasso Museum, and the flamenco place. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d717300-Reviews-La_Tinaja-Barcelona_Catalonia.html
at this place you must must MUST... try the PAN CON TOMATO!!!! bread with tomato, garlic, salt and olive oil. Topping with Jamon ham if you want. it's my go-to recipe since I got back from Spain :)))
Catalan cheese
Jamon
Cod fish spread.
everything was pretty good! But the Pan con Tomato was the BEST..... worth going just for that.