Flamenco Show at Tablao El Cortijo with Optional Tapas Madrid

Tablao El Cortijo, a neighbourhood flamenco tablao

A tablao is a small flamenco venue with a wooden stage and tables close around it, the modern heir of the cafés cantantes where flamenco first found a paying public in the 19th century. Madrid became the capital of tablaos in the 20th century, as artists from Andalusia came to perform in the city every night. Tablao El Cortijo keeps that spirit: a warm, traditional room whose name recalls the farmhouses of Andalusia, away from the busiest tourist streets.

Because the audience is often made up of Madrid locals, the atmosphere is relaxed and genuine, with friends sharing plates and clapping along. If you have been searching for an authentic flamenco show in Madrid rather than a big theatre, a tablao like this is the place: every seat is close enough to see the dancers' footwork and hear the guitar without amplification.

The show: guitar, song and dance

Flamenco, listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, grew from the music of Andalusia and unites three arts: cante (song), toque (guitar) and baile (dance), driven by rhythmic hand-clapping called palmas and often a box drum, the cajón. Each piece follows a style, or palo, from the deep and solemn soleá to the bright alegrías and the fast, playful bulerías.

The one-hour show brings together professional guitarists, singers and dancers from Madrid's flamenco scene. Expect moments of complete silence before a dancer's heels explode into rhythm, and long improvised exchanges between singer and guitarist. There is no need to understand Spanish: the emotion, called duende by flamenco artists, speaks for itself.

The tapas dinner at your table

On the default option, a traditional Spanish tapas dinner is served at your table during the evening. It includes a Spanish omelette (tortilla de patatas), made with potatoes and eggs and served in generous wedges; a plate of Iberian cured meats; grilled squid with olive oil; olives; and bread, with one soft drink per person. The dishes are prepared in-house using local produce.

Tapas are the Spanish way of sharing small plates, and eating them while the music plays is part of the tablao tradition. The Iberian cured meats are pork-based, so please tell us about any dietary needs or allergies when you book. Additional food and drinks can be ordered at the venue and are paid on site.

Planning your flamenco evening in Madrid

Shows run at 18:30 and 21:00 on the dates shown in the booking panel; the early show suits families and travellers with an early start the next day, while the later show has a livelier, more local feel. Arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before the start, because to protect the artists' performance, late arrivals may be refused entry once the show has begun.

Your Madrid flamenco tickets are also available as other options: show only, with seating that may be at shared tables; premium seats close to the stage with a soft drink; a 21:00 ticket for solo travellers seated together; and, on 31 December, a four-hour New Year's Eve evening with a set dinner and the show. Take a metro or taxi to the venue; the address is in your confirmation.