The Ultimate Seville Flamenco & Food Experience: What to Expect from Devour’s Tapas & Flamenco Tour
Thinking of booking a tour in Seville? Food and flamenco go hand in hand on Devour’s Tapas & Flamenco Tour.
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Flamenco and food in Seville
Seville oozes culture in its narrow streets, overflowing bars and flamenco rhythms. On my first trip to Spain I so wanted to be part of that! I was a solo traveller and I didn’t speak Spanish. So I had no idea of where to go, and how to get in there and enjoy the experience.
Since then I’ve lived in Seville and experienced life the local way. I’ve been to flamenco shows and tapas bars aplenty!
For me, nothing is more appealing than an evening of sharing tapas over a drink before going to see a flamenco show. It’s a very Seville night out. And that’s exactly what’s on offer from the Devour Seville Tapas & Flamenco Tour.
La Giralda, the iconic bell tower of the Seville Cathedral
Why I love Devour
When I lived in Seville I saw how much joy visitors got from immersing themselves in the local culture. I got to take many visiting friends and family on my own personal tours around the city. And I loved it, which is why I applied to work as a guide with Devour.
Life had other plans for me and instead I was offered experience at a small tablao (a flamenco venue) in Seville’s Jewish Quarter. It’s the very same place where Devour go on their tour! So I ended up working alongside the Devour guides, watching them bring visitors enthused from their tapas tasting into to the tablao ready for the show.
These groups were always smiling and clearly loving the experience. I often heard the Devour guides answer questions about flamenco before the show and they really were knowledgeable. (I did overhear a lot of misinformation from other uninformed visitors waiting in line for the show!)
Ever since then I’ve had huge admiration for Devour and their staff. What I especially love is their respect for local tradition. Devour support small, locally owned businesses on their tours, helping to keep the local culture alive.
What makes Seville ideal for food and flamenco?
Seville has something special. It’s small enough to be walkable but big enough to lose yourself in its historic neighbourhoods.
And tapas and flamenco bars are everywhere! This is not just for the tourists. The locals have their favourite tapas dishes and flamenco artists they love to watch too.
The trick to getting the most out of your trip to Seville is knowing where to go. That’s where Devour comes in.
The Devour Tapas & Flamenco tour takes you to some of Seville’s best spots where you have the chance to try classic tapas dishes before heading to your flamenco show. This tour visits an intimate tablao where you can really see and connect with the artists and feel the emotional energy of the performance.
As I said above, I was lucky enough to get work experience at the tablao Devour visits on this tour and I was always sneaking into the auditorium to watch my favourite flamenco performers! The artists are true professionals and a joy to watch, plus the venue is gorgeous!
Why not a flamenco dinner?
Some of my favourite tapas in Seville
If food and flamenco are such important parts of Seville’s culture, why not do them together?
Some flamenco venues do offer drinks and dinner with a show. But this is a red flag for me. This type of venue is almost always large and unfeeling, and marketed solely at tourists, so it lacks the richness of an authentic flamenco experience.
The menu is often set (or you have limited choice) and the waiters and the bar in the background are an annoying diversion from what’s happening on stage. Professional flamenco artists are mesmerising to watch and I believe a show deserves to be enjoyed without distractions.
It’s no accident that the Devour Tapas & Flamenco tour treats the tapas and flamenco separately. They each have their own joy. By visiting tapas bars and a dedicated flamenco tablao separately you can get the most out of each part of the tour.
Plus, all the good conversation and tips from your guide on what to eat and what to expect from the flamenco show happen while you’re eating. You don’t want to miss that!
What to expect from your tapas and flamenco tour in Seville
The Devour Tapas & Flamenco tour includes a variety of stops so you get to experience the local food and flamenco culture in different ways. At every place you can expect your guide to explain what you’re eating, drinking or seeing. It’s perfect for understanding how food and flamenco fit into Seville life.
First stop is a neighbourhood abacería, a popular type of venue in Seville that is halfway between a grocery shop and a bar. This is an ideal way to get acquainted to the local way of enjoying food and drink. While you get to nibble on traditional delicacies (think cured meats with a glass of vermouth) your guide will give you an introduction to the local culture and flamenco — priceless information to help you get the most out the tour.
From the abacería you move on to a historic bar that serves classic tapas dishes. Here’s where you’ll get all the tips from your guide on tapas culture. While you’re trying Iberian ham and crispy croquetas, you’ll be learning everything you need to know about how to order tapas so that you can eat like a local on the rest of your trip. It’s the inside information I needed when I visited Spain on my own back in 2008!
Next comes my favourite part: the flamenco! If you’ve never seen flamenco, don’t worry. Your guide will cover everything you need to know about the show so you can get maximum enjoyment. It’s an hour-long performance that combines dance and music to transmit pure, raw emotion. You will learn more from your guide about what to look for as the guitarist, singer and dancers perform.
Post-show there’s one last stop at a traditional tapas bar. Time for a drink and chance to appreciate all the passion that goes into Seville’s local food and flamenco scene.
Why a guided tour adds value
When you book on Devour’s tapas and flamenco tour, you’re getting more than just the food and the show. What really makes the difference is the personal interaction with your guide.
When I first visited Spain I did not speak Spanish, I had no idea what to order at a tapas bar, and I even turned up late for my first flamenco show because I didn’t realise where the entrance was! I really cringe about that now!
Being on a tour means that your guide will facilitate all of that for you. And better than that, you’ll get so much inside information about how the local food and flamenco scene works. For that reason I highly recommend booking on a tour early on in your trip, even the first night if possible. After that you’ll be tapas bar hopping like a local. And if you want to take in another flamenco show you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Let’s not forget, your tour is an evening out on the town! It’s great to be informed about the local culture but your tour guide is not just there for information. Food and flamenco are all about pleasure and this tour is designed for you to have fun and enjoy life the Seville way.
Me reluctantly smiling whilst enjoying a glass of sherry wine in one of Seville’s many tapas bars
Key information about the tour
Looking for a little more detail? Here it is…
The Devour Seville Tapas & Flamenco Tour is a 3 hour long evening tour.
If you have young kids I suggest looking at Devour’s other tours as this one is not suitable for small children due to age restrictions at the flamenco venue.
This tour is not suitable for vegans or people with celiac disease but it can be adapted for certain dietary restrictions or for those who don’t drink alcohol. Devour recommend that you note any restrictions when you make your booking so that they can adapt the tour to your needs.
All the venues on this tour are within close walking distance to each other. That said, make sure you do wear comfortable shoes so you’re not worried by sore feet!
I also recommend taking an extra layer regardless of the time of year as temperatures do vary when you’re moving in and out of different venues and on the streets.
Lastly, do reserve in advance! This is a popular activity and it does book out.
Who the Devour Tapas & Flamenco tour is best for
This tour would have been ideal for me when I first visited Spain!
If you’ve spent time in Spain before, speak some Spanish, and are comfortable navigating on your own, you might prefer to build your own itinerary. But for many visitors, this kind of tour makes sense.
I particular recommend this tour if:
it’s your first time in Seville.
you love food but you’re not familiar with tapas.
you want an introduction to flamenco but you’re not sure where to start.
you’re only in the city for a few days.
you don’t want to figure things out as you go.
you want to experience the local culture and get the most out of your trip.
Why this tapas and flamenco experience works so well
What makes this tour stand out is the way it brings together food and flamenco in an authentic experience, the way the locals do it.
Tapas and flamenco are two essential parts of Seville’s culture so this tour works particularly well as a first night in Seville. It gives you an orientation to the city as well as key information about how and what to order when you’re eating out in Seville.
From my perspective as a flamenco enthusiast, it’s an experience that translates well for first-timers. If you’ve never seen flamenco before, you’ll enjoy it so much more when you know what to expect, and what to look and listen for.
An evening of tapas and flamenco is a wonderful introduction to the local culture, leaving you better equipped to explore Seville’s food and flamenco scene more deeply on your own.
FAQs
Can I organise a flamenco show and tapas night myself?
Absolutely! Seville is full of tapas and flamenco options and I thoroughly recommend getting out and exploring them! If time is limited then taking a tour will help you to get more out of the experience. You’ll discover some special spots at the heart of Seville and enjoy it all so much more thanks to the extra information you get from your your tour guide. Plus, if you don’t speak Spanish or know Seville then its nice to let someone else facilitate the whole experience for you.
What food is included on the Devour Seville Tapas & Flamenco tour?
Over the evening you’ll enjoy more than eight food tastings, enough for a full dinner. The stops and the menu on each tour varies according to the night but you can expect to taste classic tapas dishes like traditional jamon, spinach and chickpeas, and crunchy fried croquetas. Options can be adapted for vegetarians, pescatarians, gluten free (not celiacs) and dairy free but you will need to note this when you make your booking.
Do Devour offer tours just on food?
Yes, Devour offer other tours with more of a food focus. Check out their other Seville food tours.
Devour also offer tours in Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastián.
Is it worth going to a flamenco show in Seville?
Yes! Flamenco is such an emotive part of the local culture. A flamenco show can be the highlight of your trip when you experience it in the right setting. I’ve written a guide on what first-time visitors should know before they attend a show.
A guided experience like the Devour Tapas & Flamenco tour will give you inside tips and answer all your flamenco questions. When you know what to expect it makes the show a much richer experience.