EL MOLINO BARCELONA

The glowing red windmill on the outside of this building should be indication enough of what’s happening inside. Previously known as the ‘Petite Moulin Rouge’ after its Parisian paramour, Barcelona’s favourite cabaret and burlesque house has been given a razzle-dazzle revamp courtesy of Fernando Salas.

Opened in 1898, El Molino only recently reopened its doors after a closure of almost 15 years. Renovations include a makeover of its black stage, now surrounded by red Swarovski crystallised leather chairs, with ultra minimal balconies illuminated by colour-changing LED lighting overlooking the action with a single row of seats each.

Shows are served with lunch or dinner and the menu is a good’un – think wild asparagus and shrimp, monkfish, veal and rosemary scented fruit – though changes are made according to season. The Adrià brothers’ Tickets is now also open a mere hop and a skip away, convenient for a little pre-show snack instead – if you can get a table, that is.

So will you be coyly dipping your eyes to a line of can-can chicas? The line-up here varies from more traditional tango and flamenco performances to the signature show ‘Made in Parallel’ which pays homage to this theatre district’s history with a mixture of burlesque, disco and pop. You could do worse than catch a lunch show or head to the slick third floor ‘Golden Bar’ afterwards and make a night of it.