Sevilla Travel Forum

Hi,
I guess I'm not the first one asking this question but I read the first two pages and couldn't find the answer. We'll stay in Sevilla in June in hotel Monte Carmelo. We'd like to go to an original Flamenco evening. Not the ones only made for tourists, but the real Flamenco. Where can we go to see this?
We would also like to make a "tapas-tour" on our first evening. Is it better to book this via our hotel or tourist information center or is it better to arrange one ourselves? And if we do so, which tapas-bars do we have to visit?

We stayed in Arenal district, near the cathedral, and there was a wonderful tapas bar right opposite our hotel, and half a dozen others clustered within that area - all a few minutes walk from each other. Casa Morales, Garcia de Vinuesa 11, was the first one we tried, an ancient place and quite beautiful. Enrique Becerra, Gamazo 2 is nearby. I have a picture of another on my Sevilla pages. The paseo or communal stroll is something that you will see Sevillians doing, so it is natural to wander around moving from tapas bar to bar trying a little bit of something at each.
For Flamenco and tapas try El Tamboril in Santa Cruz. Although this is in a tourist area it is a local place as well as being welcoming to tourists. They say that to see real flamenco you have to go to Triana district, but I can't advise on that.

Why pay for being taken around to eat tapas ? There are so many all over the city, just walk around the corner, but don't get lost, streets are narrow, not suited for cars -

Hello, I'm from CA, living in Sevilla right now. If you want a REAL flaminco show, go to the Carboneria. I went on a Thursday night, and it was packed with many locals and students, ranging from ages 18-60. It is free entry (it is really only a bar), and believe that the Flaminco is from 11-12.
The place is a little stuffy,warm, and smokey, but I believe that it is worth a visit. It is NOT a tourist place...it has a local feel.

For tapas: You don't need a tour. Tapas are everywhere. Some tapas places I'd recommend: Pepe Hillo (If you sit outside, you can't get tapas portions, so go inside). 5 Jotas is also very good...Los Principes, Sierra Mayor, Becerra (more expensive).

They sound great - do you have addresses for the person asking (and in case I go back!) thanks

Many many thanks!
This information should get us started.

I definitely recommend La Carboneria (Levies street in the Barrio Santa Cruz) - and I especially recommend staying after the show to see if the locals will do a random jam session (that is pure flamenco). Most of the tourists are gone by then, and the locals just play music on their own and anyone who is still around can watch (or even participate - I often danced to their music when I went).

Casa de la Memoria is also a good one, and not too expensive (I usually paid about 11 Euros, but I had a discount because I studied dance at a local flamenco school so I'm not sure of the original price). There are different performers each night, and the venue itself is small and intimate. One of my teachers sometimes dances there, and he's amazing so if you have a chance to see Felipe Mato dance there, definitely buy a ticket for that night!

Casa Carmen is also good but I only went once (I preferred the other venues).

As for tapas, there are lots of good places in Santa Cruz (Levies and Aula Magna were my faves), Arenal, Triana (lots of restaurants on Betis street by the river) and on the Alameda de Hercules (Casa Paco is a good one).