Teatro Flamenco Madrid, Malasaña
One hour of singing, dancing and guitar in a two-floor theatre at Calle del Pez 10, with an option that adds a welcome drink. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.
See dates and seats ↗Why a flamenco theatre
Why see flamenco in a theatre
From café to stage
Madrid's cultural elite of the later 1800s thought flamenco unworthy of a theatre stage, so it lived in the cafés cantantes, where performers turned professional. The first tablao in Spain, Zambra, opened in Madrid in 1954. Today a theatre devoted to flamenco, which describes itself as the first in the world, gives the art form a stage that the elite once thought it unworthy of.
Three arts in one hour
UNESCO describes flamenco as an art that fuses song, dance and guitar. The show on Calle del Pez keeps all three in a single hour: dancers in long-tailed dresses, flamenco in couples, singing and guitar solos, and a finale. The theatre says its cast is subject to change, so the artists you see depend on the day you pick.
A listed art form
UNESCO added flamenco to its intangible-heritage list in 2010. In 2024, the regional government of Madrid declared flamenco an asset of cultural interest of the intangible heritage. Heritage status does not make a ticket better, but it explains why the form is still taught, staged and argued over.
The words behind the hour
The words behind the hour
Six ideas that run through any flamenco show, in the order the ear picks them up.
The cast and the running order change from day to day. Read this as a map of what flamenco sounds like, not as the programme of your session.
- Cante
The voice
Song in flamenco is sung by men and women, preferably seated, with brief, simple lyrics that range from grief to joy. The singer is a cantaor or cantaora.
- Baile
The dance
A dance of passion and courtship, from sadness to joy, with expressive arms and rhythmic stamping. Dancers may use castanets, shawls and fans.
- Toque
The guitar
The guitar is far more than accompaniment. In a small room you hear every string, and the chord changes mark the beats the singer and dancer follow.
- Compás
The beat
The rhythmic cycle of a form. The 12-beat cycle is the most characteristic. Without a guitar, handclaps carry it.
- Palos
The forms
Soleá and seguiriya are solemn, the deep song. Bulerías and tangos are fast and festive. Which you hear depends on the cast and the day.
- Duende
The moment it lands
García Lorca described it in 1933 as a power rather than a work. It is what people mean when a performance lands and the room goes quiet.
The theatre
The theatre on Calle del Pez
A two-floor room inside a building with its own theatre history.
Inside the Teatro Alfil
The show plays at Calle del Pez 10, in the Teatro Alfil building, which opened as a cinema in 1948 and became a small theatre in 1971. The flamenco theatre took over the space in September 2024 after sharing its programme for seven years.
A stage across two floors
The Madrid tourism board describes a theatre on two floors with about 300 square metres, in Malasaña, north of the Gran Vía.
A cast that changes
The theatre states that its cast is subject to change, so the dancers, singer and guitarist you see depend on the day you book.
More than the show
The theatre also runs flamenco classes and, at certain times of the year, special editions of the show.
Madrid around the theatre
Madrid around the theatre
Malasaña, the Gran Vía and a flamenco guitarist's monument, photographed by other people. None of these frames shows the theatre's stage.
Which show
Which one-hour show fits your evening
| Show | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Teatro Flamenco Madrid, Malasaña | One hour of singing, dancing and guitar in a two-floor theatre at Calle del Pez 10, with an option that adds a welcome drink. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. | First-timers who want a stand-alone flamenco hour in the centre, seated in a theatre. |
| La Cueva de Lola, La Latina | One hour in a 17th-century cave near Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, with one drink included. Seats are assigned in booking order. | People who want the cave setting and a drink in the price. Wheelchair users cannot take part. |
| Centro Cultural, Chueca | One hour in a small theatre for up to 54 people, performed without microphones or amplification. Food and drinks are not allowed, and children under 5 cannot enter. | People who want the closest, quietest room and a wheelchair-accessible venue. |
Three flamenco hours in Madrid
Choose your flamenco evening
A Malasaña theatre, a 17th-century cave in La Latina and a small room in Chueca. Press a card for that show's open dates and seats; further down, the rail lists other things to book in the city.
La Cueva de Lola, La Latina
One hour in a 17th-century cave near Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, with one drink included. Seats are assigned in booking order.
See dates and seats ↗Centro Cultural, Chueca
One hour in a small theatre for up to 54 people, performed without microphones or amplification. Food and drinks are not allowed, and children under 5 cannot enter.
See dates and seats ↗Other plans in Madrid
Before you go
Before you go
Where to find it
Calle del Pez 10, in Malasaña, inside the Teatro Alfil building. The tourism board lists Callao, Noviciado and Tribunal as the nearest Metro stations.
When to arrive
Doors open 30 minutes before the show, and the theatre advises arriving about 20 minutes early. Your confirmation shows the start time for your session.
How long it lasts
The show lasts one hour, so you can eat before or after it. The theatre stages it every day of the year, with several sessions on most days.
Seats
The theatre allocates seats on a first-come basis. Book early, arrive on time and book your whole party together.
Phones and bags
Your ticket sits on your phone, so nothing needs printing. The tourism board lists lockers and a cloakroom, and filming during the show is best left alone.
Step-free access
The theatre's own booking form has a field for reduced mobility or wheelchair use. Ask the theatre before you book if anyone in your group needs it.
Field notes on Madrid flamenco
Field notes on Madrid flamenco
Which show to book, and how
Teatro Flamenco Madrid tickets
One hour of flamenco at Calle del Pez 10: what the ticket covers, how it compares with two other Madrid shows, and how to pick your day.
Open this note → Finding the door, timing, what to bringGetting to Teatro Flamenco Madrid
The address on Calle del Pez, the Metro stations nearby, when to arrive, how long the show lasts and what to do with your bags and phone.
Open this note → The art form, in plain wordsWhat you hear in a flamenco hour
Song, dance, guitar and the 12-beat cycle that holds them together, explained so the hour on Calle del Pez makes sense from the first note.
Open this note → Cafés, tablaos and a theatreA short history of Madrid flamenco
From a newspaper report in 1847 to cafés cantantes, the first tablao in 1954 and a theatre of its own, how flamenco came to Madrid's stages.
Open this note → Before and after the showAn evening in Malasaña
The district around Calle del Pez: where its name comes from, what Plaza del Dos de Mayo marks, and how to fit dinner around a one-hour show.
Open this note → A short glossaryFlamenco words, explained
Cante, baile, toque, palmas, jaleo, compás, palo, tablao and duende: nine words you will hear before and during a flamenco show, in plain English.
Open this note →FAQ
Questions before you book
How long is the show at Teatro Flamenco Madrid?
The show lasts one hour. Doors open 30 minutes before it starts, and the booking calendar shows the start time for each session.
Where is the theatre?
At Calle del Pez 10, in the Malasaña district, inside the Teatro Alfil building. Callao, Noviciado and Tribunal are the Metro stations the tourism board lists.
Is it a tablao or a theatre?
It is a theatre. The venue describes itself as the first flamenco theatre in the world, and it stages one show, with several sessions a day on most days.
Do I need to know flamenco or Spanish?
No. The show is song, dance and guitar, and the dancing and the guitar need no translation. The notes on this site explain the words you will hear.
Is a drink included?
One option adds a welcome drink. The booking calendar shows which options each session offers, so choose the one you want before you pay.
Can I cancel or pay later?
Yes to both. Cancelling is free until 24 hours before the show, with a full refund, and the booking lets you pay later instead of today.
Can I film the show?
Treat filming as off-limits once the performance starts. Follow any instruction from the staff, and keep your phone away during the show.
Is the theatre accessible for wheelchair users?
The theatre's own booking form has a field for reduced mobility or wheelchair use. Write to the theatre before you book, so it can tell you what is possible.
One hour of singing, dancing and guitar in a Malasaña theatre, with free cancellation up to a day ahead.
Reserve your seat in Malasaña ↗Prices are per person, from the cheapest option. The booking page converts them to your currency and shows the full total before you pay.