Ernest Hemingway drank here. So did Ava Gardner and bullfighter Luís Miguel Dominguin. Tablao Flamenco 1911, on Plaza de Santa Ana, is recognised as the oldest flamenco venue in the world still in operation, and it puts on multiple live shows a day, year-round, in a room whose tiled façade has barely changed in over a century.
What it is
The building opened in 1911 as an open-air Andalusian fried-food eatery on the site of a former chocolate mill. A decade later it became a stage, and the Jerez-born singer Antonio Chacón helped turn it into what was soon known as the temple of flamenco in Madrid — a meeting point between the genre's old masters and its rising generations. Known for decades as Villa Rosa, the venue closed for two years before reopening in April 2022 under flamenco dancer Antonio Canales as artistic director, and was renamed Tablao Flamenco 1911 later that year.
Today's one-hour shows run four times daily and hold up to 120 guests, presenting professional cantaores, bailaores and guitarists in a room that has hosted the genre's biggest names for over a century, in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras.
Why it's worth attending
Few flamenco venues anywhere can claim a genuine, unbroken performance history stretching back to 1911, and the historic tiled interior gives the show a sense of occasion that newer, purpose-built tablaos can't replicate. Reviewers consistently praise the quality of the dancers and musicians.
Practical info
Shows daily at 18:00, 19:30, 21:00 and 22:30 (check the official site, as scheduling can shift seasonally). Duration approximately 1 hour. Prices from €39, with dinner and tapas packages available at a higher price point. Capacity 120. Nearest metro: Sol or Sevilla (both a short walk); Sol also has Cercanías rail access.
FAQ
How long is the show?
Approximately one hour.
How many shows are there each day?
Four performances daily, at 18:00, 19:30, 21:00 and 22:30.
What's the minimum ticket price?
Tickets start from €39 for the show alone; food and drink packages cost more.
Is this really the oldest flamenco venue in the world?
Yes, the venue is widely recognised as the oldest flamenco tablao still operating anywhere, with a performance history dating to 1921 in a building open since 1911.
Is food included in the ticket?
Basic show tickets don't include a full meal; dinner and tapas packages are available for an additional cost, though some visitors note the food offering is modest relative to the price.
