Barcelona’s Tablao Cordobés, on La Rambla, has been named the “Best Flamenco Tablao in the World 2025” by the Escuela de Flamenco de Andalucía. The award recognises more than five decades of work in the city’s flamenco scene.
The venue opened in 1970 and has space for 150 people. It is run by María Rosa Pérez Casares, who has continued the legacy started by her parents, guitarist Luis Adame and dancer Irene Alba.
Pérez Casares described tablaos as the “flamenco ecosystem” in an interview with Metrópoli. She said they help artists grow and earn a living from the genre, and noted that the venue has kept going through difficult periods, including the pandemic. For more on the city’s live scene, see our Sport and Community pages.
She also said tourism plays a major role in the tablao’s survival. Around 90% of the audience is made up of foreign visitors, and she argued that this support helps flamenco stay active and gives artists work and fair pay. Flamenco is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Despite its profile, Tablao Cordobés receives little public funding. Pérez Casares called that situation paradoxical, saying the artistic level is high and many young performers are emerging, but public administrations offer limited support. She also said there is poor recognition of flamenco’s value in Catalonia.
The venue has hosted major names over the years, including Camarón, Farruco, Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera, El Chocolate, Miguel Poveda, Israel Galván and Eva la Yerbabuena. It also serves 40 traditional Catalan and Spanish dishes across two dining rooms. In April 2024, the team opened El Duende at number 33 La Rambla, a new club-style space focused on younger artists. Looking ahead, the venue plans to create a Flamenco Cultural Centre in the next few years.
Pérez Casares also said ongoing works on La Rambla have affected local businesses, including the tablao, although reservations have softened the impact. She said the remodelling of the main Barcelona street is necessary and welcomed it.
Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.
