Hidden on a backstreet in the seedy Barcelona neighbourhood of El Raval, in the Ciutat Vella district, lies a tablao, a flamenco club, that attracts hundreds of aficionados each week. Despite the lingering prostitutes and pickpockets, 23 Robadors offers a great preview of the city’s emerging musical talents. There is no space for luxury in the small seating area: artists and spectators are packed into a 20 sq metre room. This intimacy makes the flamenco experience even more unique.
The venue’s jam sessions are particularly special. Established and amateur performers play together, young and old, Andalusian and Catalan, Gypsy and non-Gypsy. This fusion of talent results in an incredible explosion of raw art.
During the jam sessions, despite the artists’ concentration, the bar is alive with Spanish banter. The venue’s tapas and pinxtos cost just €1 apiece, making the night out fantastic value.
Informal, original and exhilarating, 23 Robadors is definitely an address to tick off on your way through Ciutat Vella, next to Barcelona’s Barrio Gótico. You know when you have arrived: the number 23 is lit up bright and bold, just like its flamenco.
- Carrer d’En Robador, 23, 08001, Facebook
