Palau Dalmases Flamenco Barcelona

Is Palau Dalmases Worth it?

In the heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter lies Palau Dalmases, a historic palace-turned-venue that hosts one of the most riveting flamenco shows in the city.

As Spain experts and flamenco enthusiasts, we have been visiting tablaos (venues) from Seville to Barcelona and everywhere in between and sharing which ones we think are the best.

How does Palau Dalmases rank on our list of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona? Is it worth it or is there a better option? Spoiler alert – we definitely think it’s one of the best. But continue reading on to find out why.

Patricia Palacios, co-founder of España Guide
About
PATRICIA PALACIOS
España Guide Co-Founder
Patricia is an engineer turned content creator who for over a decade has been helping travelers navigate her native Spain. In addition to her own website, her tips and recommendations have been featured on BBC Travel, CNN, El País & Lonely Planet, just to name a few.
Patricia Palacios, co-founder of España Guide
About
PATRICIA PALACIOS
España Guide Co-Founder
Patricia is an engineer turned content creator who for over a decade has been helping travelers navigate her native Spain. In addition to her own website, her tips and recommendations have been featured on BBC Travel, CNN, El País & Lonely Planet, just to name a few.
Couple dancing flamenco at Palau Dalmases – One of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona
Couple dancing flamenco at Palau Dalmases
© ESPAÑA GUIDE

Of all the flamenco venues (tablaos) in Barcelona, Palau Dalmases definitely takes the cake for having the most beautiful setting and ambiance. After you check-in under a covered portico, you will enter into the spectacular open-air patio of the palace.

This Baroque styled gem dates back to the 17th & 18th centuries and features an ornate relief sculpture of the capture of Princess Europa by Zeus. The setting definitely sets a great tone for the show.

Picturesque Baroque patio at Palau Dalmases in Barcelona
Picturesque Baroque patio at Palau Dalmases
© ESPAÑA GUIDE

GET YOUR DRINK & RELAX IN THE PATIO

Along the side of the patio you will find the bar where you can buy a drink or exchange your voucher if you purchased a ticket with a drink included.

We recommend to arrive a little bit early so that you don’t have to wait in line for a drink and you can grab one of the few tables in the patio. We really love the ambiance of this spot and can’t recommend it enough.

Grab a drink at the inviting bar of Palau Dalmases
Bar at Palau Dalmases
Passionate dancer during the flamenco show at Palau Dalmases in Barcelona
Passionate dancer

The show is held in an adjacent room to the patio and once it starts, you will be unable to access the bar. You can however, take your drinks with you. So make sure to top off beforehand, if needed.

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Our thoughts on the Palau Dalmases Show

Passionate female dancer during the flamenco show at Palau Dalmases in Barcelona
Flamenco show at Palau Dalmases
© ESPAÑA GUIDE

Palau Dalmases hosts some of the best flamenco artists from all over Spain. However, like most flamenco venues in the country, the artist lineup changes frequently.

When we visited, we had the pleasure of seeing local Barcelona artist Iván Alcalá perform. He basically stole the show. The other musicians were highly skilled, the singers were soulful and the 3 other female dancers were mesmerizing.

Our only real complaint from the show was the stage lighting, which similar to City Hall Theater Flamenco, was too darkly lit. This can be somewhat remedied by making sure you book a seat close to the stage.

Live flamenco show at Palau Dalmases

We really liked the position of the stage in relation to the audience. It’s elevated and really gives you good views of everything going on, especially the footwork which is a huge part of flamenco.

We also liked the setup of the room which didn’t have any obstructions or areas that we thought would make for a bad seat. Even the last rows are on a slightly elevated platform. This definitely helps so that you aren’t staring into the backs of heads.

Palau Dalmases – The Final Verdict

Tablao right before the show at Palau Dalmases in Barcelona
Tablao at Palau Dalmases
© ESPAÑA GUIDE

We really enjoyed the show and the entire experience at Palau Dalmases. When considering you can see an emotion-packed show from talented performers in a breathtaking setting, it’s no wonder we think it is one of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona.

The price is hard to beat, especially the VIP ticket that allows you to sit in the first two rows. You get so close to the performers that you could literally reach out and touch them.

The venue is medium sized and is a nice middle point between some of the larger theater-style shows (City Hall Theater Flamenco) and the very intimate and packed-in traditional tablaos (Tablao Flamenco Cordobés).

Singer and guitar player during the flamenco show at Palau Dalmases, Barcelona
Singer and guitar player at Palau Dalmases
© ESPAÑA GUIDE

Compared to the aforementioned shows, we find that the City Hall Theater has more beautiful dresses than Dalmases but in a less intimate environment – it is a large theater setting.

And, Tablao Flamenco Cordobés has a better show than Dalmases but at the cost of less personal comfort and a much higher price point. In addition, Tablao Flamenco Cordobés reserves the best seats for those that dine with them before the show.

Which flamenco show is the best in Barcelona? There is no clear winner in our opinion and it will depend on a person-to-person basis. With that said, we think that overall Palau Dalmases puts on a fantastic show at a great price & it’s definitely worth a visit.

Food options at Palau Dalmases

During the booking process and independently of the ticket type, you have the option to add on a tapas menu for 15€.

The tapas are served either before or after the show in the patio or gallery room. We didn’t eat anything on our visit so we cannot speak to the quality. We can note that we didn’t see any other guests with food, for what it’s worth.

The tapas menu includes assorted cured meats, cheese, Spanish tortilla, etc. There is also a vegetarian option.

If you are looking for a real sit down dinner and flamenco show, then we would recommend to check out the Tablao de Carmen.

See a live flamenco show in Spain
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