Casa Anselma
Casa Anselma is a flamenco bar in Triana run by its namesake owner, a force of nature who sings, dances, claps, and orchestrates the room until the early hours. There's no set program, no schedule posted online, no ticket to buy. You show up, hope there's room, and surrender to whatever happens. The door might open at 11 PM or midnight; Anselma decides. Once inside, the small room fills with locals and visitors sitting along the walls while performers take turns in the center. Anselma herself leads the singing and dancing, pulling reluctant audience members to their feet and directing the energy with the authority of someone who's been doing this for decades. Drinks are served from a simple bar: wine, beer, and basic spirits at EUR 3-5. The space holds maybe 40 people at capacity, and when it's full, the door closes and nobody else gets in. There are no fancy costumes, no spotlight, and no curated tourist experience. This is flamenco as social activity, not performance, and the distinction matters enormously.
What to Expect
A small room where the owner leads spontaneous flamenco singing and dancing. You'll sit along the wall, drink cheap wine, and watch as performers and audience members merge into a single experience. Anselma will probably pull you in at some point. The energy is raw, joyful, and completely unpredictable.
Raw, spontaneous, and emotionally powerful. Flamenco as community rather than show.
Spontaneous flamenco: singing (cante), clapping (palmas), guitar, and dance.
None. Come respectfully.
Anyone seeking authentic, unscripted flamenco. People who prefer experiences over performances.
Cash only
Price Range
No cover. Drinks EUR 3-5
≈ $3-5 drinks
Hours
Mon-Sat approximately 11 PM to 3 AM (no fixed schedule, doors open when Anselma decides)
Insider Tip
Arrive by 11 PM and wait outside. There's no guarantee of entry; the bar is small and fills quickly. Don't ask for flamenco shows or take photos with flash. Participate when invited. Bring cash.
Full Review
Finding Casa Anselma requires asking locals on Calle Pages del Corro in Triana. There's no sign, no website, and no social media presence. A heavy wooden door is the only marker. You knock, you wait, and if there's room, Anselma or someone she's appointed opens the door and waves you in.
The room is small and plain: whitewashed walls, a few framed photos, a simple bar, and chairs arranged along the perimeter. The center of the room is empty because that's where everything happens. Within minutes of my arrival, Anselma was singing a sevillana at full volume while three regulars clapped complex rhythms. A man I'd been standing next to at the bar suddenly broke into dance with a skill that suggested years of practice.
The experience is communal in a way that tablao shows can never replicate. There's no audience and no performers; everyone participates at whatever level they can. Clapping along is the minimum expected contribution. When Anselma grabbed my hand and pulled me to the center, refusing wasn't really an option. I clapped badly and she corrected my rhythm with a laugh.
Casa Anselma is not a guaranteed experience. Some nights the door never opens. Some nights the magic takes longer to build. But when it works, and it usually does, this small room in Triana delivers something that no amount of money can buy at a professional tablao. Go with patience, humility, and a willingness to participate.
The Neighborhood
Casa Anselma is on Calle Pages del Corro in Triana, the historic barrio across the Guadalquivir from central Sevilla. Triana has its own flamenco tradition, distinct from the tourist-oriented tablaos in the Santa Cruz quarter. The surrounding streets have tapas bars and late-night spots.
Getting There
Cross the Puente de Isabel II (Triana bridge) from central Sevilla and walk south along Calle Pages del Corro. The bar is about a 5-minute walk from the bridge. From the Alameda de Hercules, it's a 15-minute walk southwest. No reliable public transport at the hours when the bar operates.
Address
Calle Pagés del Corro 49, 41010 Sevilla
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