Tablao etiquette and visiting tips

Finding Sala Temple

Sala Temple is at Cuesta de San Vicente 40, Local Derecha, 28008 Madrid. The street runs from Plaza de España to the Paseo de la Florida, and it is named after the Puerta de San Vicente, an old gate that stood on the road to the river. The venue's own site places it near tourist areas such as the Sabatini Gardens, and the Royal Palace is a short walk south of Plaza de España. There is no hotel pickup. Use the full address, including Local Derecha, when you search a map, and go straight to the door.

Metro, slope and step-free access

Plaza de España, a large square at the western end of the Gran Vía, has a Metro station at the start of the street, and the venue's own site says Sala Temple is well connected by metro and public transport. Cuesta means slope, and in the 18th century the street was recorded as the road that climbs to the new palace, so expect a gradient. The booking page lists the venue as wheelchair-accessible. It doesn't describe the route to the door, so ask Sala Temple about step-free access before you go if you need it.

How early to arrive

Sala Temple recommends arriving 30 minutes before the show starts, so you can settle at your table, enjoy your drink or dinner and not miss the opening. Its site says tables are assigned in order of ticket purchase. Leave luggage and large bags at your hotel, because the booking page doesn't allow them. The start time for your date is in the booking calendar and in your confirmation, and some days have more than one show on the venue's own timetable.

How long the evening takes

The show is listed as one hour. Add the 30 minutes the venue suggests for arriving, plus any time you spend ordering food or extra drinks, which are paid for separately. If you plan to eat at a restaurant before or after, build that around the start time on your confirmation. Because the venue lists more than one show on some days, you can often pick the session that suits the rest of your day. Check the date in the booking calendar before you build other plans around it, because the timetable differs from one weekday to the next.

What to wear

Sala Temple publishes no dress code on its site or on the booking page, so there is no rule to break. You will sit at a table in a small room for about an hour, so choose clothes you are comfortable in. The venue describes its atmosphere as intimate and welcoming, which is a reason to dress for comfort rather than for a formal night out. If a dress code is ever added, your confirmation or the venue's own site is where it would appear. A large bag is the one item to avoid: luggage and large bags are not allowed.

What you will hear

UNESCO lists castanets, hand-clapping and foot-stamping alongside song, dance and guitar. Sala Temple's own site adds the cajón, a box drum from Peru that entered flamenco in the 1970s, and describes two kinds of palmas, soft ones called sordas and clear ones called claras. The guitarist, called a tocaor, usually sits with legs crossed and the guitar neck near horizontal, and the playing differs from classical guitar. Dancers wear hard-soled shoes, so the footwork, called zapateado, works as percussion. Castanets are not present in every style, so don't expect them from every dancer. Our guide to flamenco's instruments goes further.

Read next: Flamenco's Instruments and the Dancer's Footwork

Palmas, olé and joining in

Jaleo is the encouragement shouted to performers, such as olé, arsa and vámonos. Sala Temple's own blog says jaleos tend to land when the singing or dancing calls for them, and it invites first-timers to try one. Palmas, the hand-clapping, hold the compás, the rhythmic cycle that keeps a piece together. When no guitarist is playing, the compás can be kept by palmas or by knocking on a table. If you are unsure, listen first and join in after the room does. Talking over a singer is another matter: no house rule is published, but the performers are the point of the hour.

Phones, photos and house rules

The booking page lists one restriction: no luggage or large bags. Sala Temple's site publishes no rules on photos, video or phones that we could find, so ask the staff when you arrive. Whatever the rule, a lit phone screen in a small dark room is visible to the performers and to the people around you. Keeping it away during the show is the polite default.

Children and accessibility

Sala Temple's own FAQ says it admits audiences of all ages. Its own tickets have a reduced category for children aged 4 to 14, and children under 4 are free but have no seat, drink or dinner. The booking page here states no age rule, so check with the venue if you are bringing young children. The booking page lists the venue as wheelchair-accessible. For anything specific, such as a stroller or a mobility aid, contact Sala Temple before you book.

Language and following the show

You don't need Spanish to follow the guitar and the dance. UNESCO describes cante lyrics as brief and simple, so the voice carries much of the feeling. Neither the booking page nor Sala Temple's site mentions subtitles or translated programmes. If you want context first, our palos guide explains why the mood and tempo shift from one piece to the next, and Sala Temple's blog explains styles in Spanish.

Read next: The Palos of Flamenco: From Soleá to Bulerías

Who this isn't for

If you want to eat a full dinner while you watch, this ticket won't give you that: it covers the show and one drink. If you need subtitles or a translated script, none is mentioned. If sitting in a small room for an hour doesn't suit you, or you need a hotel pickup, plan around that. And if you want to dance rather than watch, the venue's classes and masterclasses may suit you better. If you prefer a fixed programme you can read in advance, note that the booking page describes this show as improvised.