Entertainment in Seville
-
A
Casa de la Memoria de al-Andalus
This flamenco tablao in Santa Cruz is probably the most intimate and authentic nightly flamenco show, offering a wide variety of flamenco styles in a room of shifting shadows. Space is limited to 100, so reserve tickets in advance.
reviewed
-
B
Casa Anselma
If you can squeeze in past the foreboding form of Anselma (a celebrated Triana flamenco dancer) at the door you’ll quickly realise that anything can happen in here. Casa Anselma (beware: there’s no sign, just a doorway embellished with azulejos tiles) is the antithesis of a tourist flamenco tablao, with cheek-to-jowl crowds, thick cigarette smoke, zero amplification and spontaneous outbreaks of dexterous dancing. Pure magic. Anselma is in Triana on the corner of Calle Alfarería about 200m from the western side of the Puente de Isabel.
reviewed
-
C
Empresa Pagés
From the start of the season until late June/early July, nearly all the fights are by fully fledged matadors. Seats cost €32.50 to €110 but only cheap sol seats (those in the sun at the start of proceedings) may be available to those who don't hold season tickets. Most of the rest of the season, novilleras (novice bullfights) are held, with tickets costing €4 to €26. Tickets are sold in advance at Empresa Pagés and from 4.30pm on fight days at the bullring itself.
reviewed
-
D
Bar Ego
In terms of hipness and trendy places to go out, La Alameda is where it's at. The slightly run-down feeling of the area adds to the exclusivity and repels the more posh sevillanos, so the boho lot get to keep the place more or less to themselves. Bar Ego is a strange hybrid of a DJ bar, restaurant, clothes shop and art gallery, and strives for something completely different in predominantly traditional Seville. It's newly opened, Barcelona-hip, and original, and we are hoping it'll survive.
reviewed
-
E
Teatro Alameda
Alameda de Hércules was once a no-go area reserved only for the city’s ‘painted ladies’, pimps and a wide range of shady characters, but the parklike strip has undergone the ‘Soho makeover’ and is now crammed with trendy bars, chic shops and the popular Teatro Alameda, which is one of the city’s best experimental theatres.
reviewed
-
F
El Perro Andalúz
A bar dedicated to the eponymous surrealist film by Buñuel and Dalí, with suitably odd decor, such as stand-up hair dryers as lamps, chairs with a large eye printed across them (but, thankfully, without being sliced by a razor, like in the movie). Live music is on most nights, just ask in advance what they are staging.
reviewed
-
G
Antique Teatro
Notorious for turning foreigners away, get your hair slicked back Sevilla-style, if you're a man, and look drop-dead gorgeous if you're a woman, and try getting into this top club, located at the Expo '92 Olympic Pavillion. In the summer, there's a torch-lit garden and cocktail sipping under the stars.
reviewed
-
H
La Otra Orilla
If you're lucky enough to be spending some of your summer in Seville, relaxed drinking in a terrace bar by the banks of the Guadalquivir is one of the best ways to see the sun go down. La Otra Orilla is blessed with a great outdoor terrace and music that buzzes hypnotically into the night.
reviewed
-
I
Casa Morales
Founded in 1850, not much has changed in this defiantly old-world bar, with charming anachronisms wherever you look. Towering clay tinajas (wine storage jars) carry the chalked-up tapas choices of the day. Locals sweat it out on summer nights like true sevillanos.
reviewed
-
J
La Carbonería
During the day there is no indication that this happening place is anything but a large garage. But, come after 8pm and this converted coal yard in the Barrio de Santa Cruz reveals two large bars, and nightly live flamenco (11pm and midnight) for no extra charge.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Café de la Prensa
Dedicated and decorated in honour of all things in print (prensa is 'press' in Spanish), the walls are stuck with yellowed, printed paper and create a warm (and highly flammable) effect. The bar is relaxed and people come to have a beer and a game of cards here.
reviewed
-
L
El Garlochi
Named after the gitano (Roma) word for ‘heart’, this deeply camp bar hits you with its Semana Santa iconography: clouds of incense, Jesus and Virgin images, and potent cocktails with names like Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ).
reviewed
-
M
Bar Levíes
The ultimate student tapas haunt (read: cheap), crowded Levíes is actually two bars in one, serving a mixture of raciones (large tapas servings), beer, pizzas and desserts. The food’s average, but the atmosphere’s electric.
reviewed
-
N
Los Gallos
A tablao above average. Some top-notch flamenco artists have trodden Los Gallos’ boards in the early stages of their careers. There are two-hour shows at 8pm and 10.30pm nightly for €30, including one drink.
reviewed
-
O
Bestiario
In the revolving merry-go-round of Seville clubs, Bestiario makes claims to be the funkiest. The cafe-bar keeps going till sunrise and has a penchant for retro ’80s sounds. It’s right next to Plaza Nueva.
reviewed
-
P
La Rebótica
Calle Pérez Galdós, off Plaza de la Alfalfa, is frequented for its hole-in-the-wall places including the ’80s-themed La Rebótica, with 50 or so alcohol-infused concoctions to choose from.
reviewed
-
Q
Naima Café Jazz
f you’re getting tired of the flamenco then you can jazz out at this intimate place, which sways to the sound of mellow jazz (live at weekends). Ask the bar staff for details of who’s playing and when.
reviewed
-
R
Avenida 5 Cines
This is the best cinema for v.o(versión original; foreign-language) films in Seville, with around 14 film options from which to choose. It has around three showings per day.
reviewed
-
S
La Imperdible
This epicentre of experimental arts stages lots of contemporary dance, theatre and flamenco, usually around 9pm. The bar here also hosts varied music events from around 11pm Thursday to Saturday.
reviewed
-
T
Café Bar Las Teresas
Always busy, an inviting cool, tiled inner decor, and a location at the nexus of the Santa Cruz district; all this bodes well for the hard-to-miss Las Teresas. The tapas aren’t bad either.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
Teatro Duque la Imperdible
This is Seville’s epicentre of experimental arts. Its small theatre stages lots of contemporary dance and a bit of drama and music, usually at 9pm. Wednesday night is flamenco night.
reviewed
-
V
P Flaherty Irish Pub
Its location right next to the cathedral makes this one of the busiest – and biggest – bars around. If there’s a football game on, the atmosphere here revs up a notch.
reviewed
-
W
Cabo Loco
Calle Pérez Galdós, off Plaza de la Alfalfa, is frequented for its hole-in-the-wall places including the tiny Cabo Loco, with plenty of cheap shots.
reviewed
-
X
Café Central
One of the oldest and most popular places along the street, Central has yellow bar lights, wooden flea-market chairs and a massive crowd that gathers at weekends.
reviewed
-
Y
Nao
Nao is one of a handful of pulsating bars off the Plaza de la Alfalfa. If you're in a party mood, you should find at least one with a scene that takes your fancy.
reviewed
