La Carboneria is a special place. Unlike the tourist spots for flamenco, this feels alive. There is a buzz of energy, a sense of place as friends call out to each other before the show starts, the stone floored room smells of woodsmoke,and the performers have an authentic intensity that makes the evening soar. The performance doesn’t begin until 10:30, and your €5,00 ticket price gets you a €5,00 drink. The drink is not memorable, I dare you to take your eyes off the stage.
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Flamenco at La Carboneria
La Carboneria is sort of a tourist trap. But I love it all the same. This was one of my favourite things to do when I was in Sevilla for 2 weeks. I would come here every night I could. The musicians would put on an amazing show. The sangria was great. And after the show, the musicians would sit and chill with you.
Experience the Duende
Duende is a Spanish word that has no translation, but there’s no mistaking what it is. It gives you the chills, it makes you smile, or it compels you scream “Ole!” It’s an indescribable feeling identified by the gitanos who introduced this artform to Spain. The city of Sevilla is the center of flamenco in all of Spain. The best shows, tablaos, and culture surrounding flamenco exists in southern Spain. There is a hidden bar that draws tourists and locals alike called La Carboneria. No signs, directions, or indication that it exists except for a big red door in an alley way. The locals here enforce the rules of a flamenco show - no speaking during the actual performance. You’ll be shushed if you talk during the songs. But there are plenty of opportunities to meet locals and chat it up in between performances. It’s a great way to engage in an authentic, improv flamenco tablao - dancers, singers, and guitar players are all included. Tourists pass through this bar frequently, but locals still adore it as well. Understanding duende is often overlook part of experiencing the southern Spanish culture.
