A first-timer's guide
Flamenco at Cardamomo: showtimes, seats and an evening in central Madrid
Showtimes, where to sit in a room this small, and how to build the evening around Puerta del Sol and the Barrio de las Letras.
See Cardamomo dates on GetYourGuide ↗Planning your Cardamomo night
| Earlier show | Later show | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A late Madrid dinner afterwards | A nightcap after a day out |
| Arrive | A little early to settle in | A little early to settle in |
| Runtime | Check your listing | Check your listing |
| Includes | The show, with a drink | The show, with a drink |
| Seats | Front = closest to the feet | Front = closest to the feet |
What a tablao night is like
A tablao is flamenco at close range: a small room, a low stage, and a handful of performers a few metres from your table. At Cardamomo, in the Barrio de las Letras, that means the footwork rings through the floor and the singer's voice fills the room without a microphone doing the work. You feel it as much as watch it, and that's the reason to pick a small room over a theatre.
Choosing your showtime
There are usually a few shows across the evening. An earlier one leaves room for a late Spanish dinner afterwards; a later one works as the end of a full day. Either way, get there a little ahead of time. In a room this small it's better to be seated and settled before the cuadro comes on than to arrive halfway through the first number.
Where to sit
There isn't a bad seat in a space this size, but the front row earns its name. You're close enough to feel the zapateado through the boards and see every hand movement. Seats are generally sorted out on the night, so if being right up against the stage matters to you, arrive early.
Build a night in the centre
Cardamomo is minutes from Puerta del Sol, Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza Mayor, so it slots easily into an evening in the centre. Tapas and a glass of wine in the lanes, a wander past the plaques in the literary quarter, then the show. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, so you can book a night now and rearrange later if your plans move.