Despite growing up and living in the LA area for 10 years more than El Cid has been in existence, and knowing exactly where it is located -- having driven past it dozens of times -- 2/7/26 was my first time here. My wife found a Groupon special and we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary here. It was an excellent choice! It's a great date-night experience, but not inexpensive . . . the regular price is $85 per person, plus beverage cost (mixed drinks are $16-$19, beers are $9-$10), so things can add up pretty quickly. After navigating traffic to get here, we were blessed to find a parking space directly across the street on Sunset at exactly 5:45 pm, although this is about 1/4 mile in either direction to the nearest crosswalk. So we carefully crossed mid-block, thankful for a couple of drivers who stopped on the east-bound side to let us finish our trek. Entering the restaurant, you have to travel down several sets of steps, so this is not an easy place for those who are physically challenged. Additionally, the handrails are rather low (I'm 5'9") which is yet another challenge. Once downstairs, there is one step up to the dining area and, dimly lit, it's easy to forget it's there when you leave, and several folks stumbled on the way out (but none actually fell). The dining area is intimate . . . with seating for only about 100 persons, and all seats have a pretty good view of the stage where the flamenco performance takes place. Not a good idea to try your luck and hope there are seats available if you haven't made a reservation. (Note that making reservations can be a little tricky. It doesn't seem like anyone answers the phone live, but they do respond to voice messages and are very pleasant to speak with over the phone). Shortly after being seated, we were served a bowl of vegetable lentil soup which was hot and tasty. Not long after that, our arugala salads were served. The citrus vinaigrette dressing was excellent, although we both agreed that we were disappointed that wasn't more salad on the plate -- there were two slices of fresh orange and a snip of apple underneath the arugala. We both ordered the salmon entree, and it was delicious! A generous 6 ounce (skin on) portion that was hot and perfectly finished. It rested on a small portion of lentils and the plate was decorated with what appeared to be a couple tablespoons of a Green Goddess type of sauce. The paella for two looked good, but mussels just aren't one of my "things." Dessert choices were churros with chocolate sauce, flan, or chia seed pudding. My wife chose the flan, and I had the chia seed pudding. Both were great, not overly sweet, and just the right portions. The hour-long flamenc show started exactly at 7pm and we were captivated by the dancers, the guitarist, and vocalist. These were not "spring chickens" and their routines were physically demanding. It was a delightful experience, and we would recommend it to anyone. The Groupon savings was significant, so look for it before making reservations. read more

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Food, service and ambiance is great. The show and performers were good. Will recommend it. read more

A must for LA residents and tourists, El Cid has endured. The stars of this venue is the show; if this rating were only for the dancers then it'd be a 5 . Their commitment to showcasing flamenco and their drive was spectacular to watch! On the other hand, the food, although plentiful, was underwhelming. No to the cauliflower soup (and I like cauliflower, but not burnt); and the salmon, a bit dry at the edges. The sangria... weak, with large fruit chunks and too much mineral water. Also, our table for six was petite and service was unenthusiastic. With so many " Meh s" all I could look forward to was the show. Did it and may come back but please give care to your space and dining. read more

El Cid Restaurant - Chicken and asparagus - Music Venues Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Our sever was amazing, so friendly. Everyone was very attentive. They did amazing!! I highly recommend this place. Support the arts!! read more

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I went to a flamenco show at El Cid back in the 90's. I remembered my impression of the food and show was just mediocre. It's been so long and I wanted to give it another try and found a Groupon that was a good deal for 3 course dinner and show. We were greeted by a friendly host and he gave us a quick interesting history about the place. Our server was also friendly and always refilled our waters without us asking. The food was very good! My friend had a juicy ribeye and I had a flavorful halibut. You get soup and salad. The salad was a good size with lots of slices of apples and some mandarins with the mixed greens. My friend got cheesecake and I got a delicious chia pudding that had strawberries and coconut. The flamenco show was wonderful, entertaining, and impressive from the dancers to the guitarist and singer. Some of the dancers as someone put it are no spring chickens but their energy, passion, and artistic talent were amazing. Because of their experience this is the reason why they were so great. One of the dancers gave us a great 101 tutorial overview on flamenco. It helps to understand it better and appreciate it more. I did not see valet this night. Got lucky and found street parking fast in the neighborhood. So glad I came back to El Cid for their dinner and flamenco show it was a fabulous experience. read more

El Cid should've been an insanely cool venue, but it ended up being my least favorite concert experience thus far. The door opening times were incorrect, so some of us showed up an hour and a half early and were left waiting outside on the patio (with no food, drink, or water) until they were ready for us (20 minutes after the incorrect opening time). We figured we'd order food and drinks with our ample, ample time, but unfortunately the food was very underwhelming. I'm hoping they use a different kitchen than the primary restaurant, because the chicken empanadas were abysmal (and served with watery ranch as a pair). The fries were woefully lacking in salt. The bathrooms were gross upon opening even though there were only like 5 of us there total. Toilets clogged, seats broken, terrible smell coming from men's side... Would not recommend! read more

Horrible experience at El Cid. The staff were all super rude. Attended a show here recently and they were pretty much barking for us to get out of the venue 5 min after the show ended which was around 10:30pm. No time to look at merch or get water/go to the restroom before leaving. I will never recommend anyone go here unless management makes drastic changes which is a shame because this spot is so gorgeous and has so much potential to be an epic venue. Huge bummer. read more

I went to El Cid to attend the Uncabaret comedy show on a Friday night, so not sure I had the typical experience. There seem to be several areas, both inside and out, and it seemed like a very cool place. We were in a room downstairs, which incidentally is reached by a rather treacherous stairway where the railing is about knee height. I'm kind of klutzy, and I was a bit nervous! We had time for food & drink before the show began. We had the chips & guacamole, which was good and the charcuterie platter which had a very generous amount of cheese & salami. Friends had the fish tacos and enjoyed them. The wine choices were limited, and not recommended by others at my table. I had a spicy margarita, which didn't seem to have much alcohol in it at all. So not a place for drinks! The service was friendly, food came out quickly and the atmosphere is cool. The comedy show was terrific! read more

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Came for the dancing and had a beautiful time! We rideshared so idk about parking. The restaurant is beautiful at night with indoor/outdoor spaces, fireplaces, and mood lighting. Service was quick and they paced the meals with the show. Our server was kind. Food and drinks were only okay, but we read the reviews before and expected that. Still a cool experience or date night! read more

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Delicious food, the service was wonderful even on a super busy day, and the ambiance was so romantic and intimate. We loved the performers and dancer. I loved how they explained and gave background on flaminco dancing and instruments. We are definitely going back. read more

Everything was on point food service, and the ambience the entertainment 100% the dancers hands down best performance. staff is very attentive & made everyone in our party so welcomed. read more

El Cid Restaurant - Chef choice of dessert - Music Venues Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Rude staff, and rude management. I will never return, every time I've been I've had an awful experience. So disappointing because a lot of artists I like play here. read more

What a FUN & cool experience! My husband took us here for a date night. The food was great, the service was very accommodating, and the flamenco performance was so engaging. I loved how the brought you along culturally and was getting the crowd to participate. Highly recommend!!! read more

Had a great night, nice experience. Would recommend for anybody that hasn't been to a flamenco show before. I experienced great service.

We booked their venue for a small birthday party for one of our closest friends. They communicated with us professionally, helped us make this event memorable for all of us. Even their staff contribute to the birthday party. They decorated the place brilliantly for us. read more

honestly, zero stars so rude. They do not have good communication skills.. me and my friends came inside a little bit tipsy, but they were so rude to us and that's honestly not how you communicate with people . they told us we were not allowed and to stop being sneaky and go to another place. honestly communicate with people better. So rude , get better training for staff. read more

Drove three hours to see a concert here tonight. They said "doors are closed" and refused to let me in even with proof of purchased ticket. Absolutely insane. Don't even bother coming here. read more

So...I visited back in July 17th for the Carter Vail show. But I just visited this Yelp page just to see how it was doing and I was kinda appalled by the recent one star reviews, because...in some of the reviews they're lying. (Like them having a "big empty gated/fenced parking lot"....they don't and that's why you had to find street parking, get outta here with your entitled self.) Security was friendly, actually had a conversation with them while waiting in line to get in. After getting in I was greeted by Stevee who was so nice and energetic. Got a drink from the bartender, Mitch, who did their thang and me and my friend went in. So staff was great! Design of the place is very unique. And it's a lot bigger than how you'd think it would look from outside. Show started promptly, no issues with sound, and it was just a fun time. After the show, we went to the courtyard and took a photo with the artist. A really good experience. I could see why up and coming artists book shows here. read more

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It's a great venue for concerts. I was there when Stela Cole headlined and I had a blast. The acoustics were great - sounds didn't saturate in just one corner of the room. The performers are on an elevated stage and everyone else is on the dance floor. Folks were kind enough to give each other space. Parking is a bit difficult but you can easily find little alleyways nearby within walking distance of El Cid. Didn't try the food but the bar is a bit limited - they don't make cool girly drinks like mojitos, but their bites and finger food looked interesting. It's a pretty venue with stairs and steps, so for the mobility-impaired, keep that in mind. A guy in a wheelchair was with us on the dance floor, which I thought was cool because it meant that management wanted to be inclusive and made accommodations for him so he could enjoy the concert too. read more

A classy spot where you can enjoy a show while dining -- the perfect place to try something new or for a memorable date night.

Came all the way from Long Beach/OC just to have the headliner cut off halfway through their set due to poor planning on the venues part and security kicking everyone out at 9:30. There were sound issues all night, causing further delays for the bands, you had to basically shuffle through equipment just to get to the bathroom, and then when they pushed everyone out like cattle, I asked security if they were closing early, for them to tell us they booked another show and "unless you're buying another drink, you gotta go" And to add insult to injury, the drinks were overpriced and the food wasn't good, with the croquetas being the most passable. Such a shame to see the performers being mistreated when they work so hard to put on a good show for their fans. read more

This individual working the front could not be more hostile, sarcastic and unwelcoming. Her attitude was so terrible the night of April 5, 2025 that the security guards who roughly patted me down seemed friendlier in comparison. read more

El Cid Restaurant - Rude employee - Music Venues Near Me - Los Angeles, California

came here with spanish class for a field trip... they messed up the reservation, we had to eat outside in the cold in 40 degree weather, they only had 6 things on the menu and still left out a lot of things from the entrees, they didnt give a choice of appetizers, we waited 45 min for water, we were scheduled to have a dinner with the flamenco show, however they said only dinner, photo booth is $6.50 and horrible quality.... however, the female server with blonde hair & bangs was super nice!!!! overall, our experience was terrible.. written by dorothy, anousha, carlos, isabella read more

Terrible management. My friend got kicked out for absolutely no reason. They believed we brought alcohol in which we didn't (three people of color, mind you) and nonetheless targeted us and our group and kicked out the person who paid for the cover charge. When we asked to speak to a manager nothing was taken seriously. I will never waste my time or money on a lackluster environment and unaware staff again. Pointless establishment with bad service and drinks. Note: they DONT even have a security guard to check to see if you even bring in drinks or outside beverages. They'd rather let you know, and assume that you have something than check prior to making a purchase. They'd rather make money than have a good return of investment. The two gentlemen at the front were kind but I highly suggest they reframe their business model and think first before they judge someones appearance. read more

I left my phone at the bar the previous night, came back the next day and I can't tell you how AMAZING the security was absolutely so supportive and positive towards us and took us seriously and the crowd was so big and didn't matter they made the most happen for us. I'm seriously so grateful and as a woman it's huge to feel supported and respected. Thank you Scott and Damion cocoon sophia read more

I haven't been here in years; but it left an impression on me and I plan to visit again soon. What I remember is that we enjoyed the food, the entertainment experience. Though if I recall the service wasn't so good. The atmosphere was nice. read more

Super cool bar with great atmosphere and layout, and accessible to a super trendy area. I've had good luck with parking right on the street, even on busy weekends, which is crazy. They host several live shows and screening events which have been a blast to attend. It's a great place to enjoy a show and network on the generous outdoor patio. I've hosted events there and found the managers to be accommodating and easy-to-work with. Very friendly staff who do a lot of good work. I've found the table service during a show can be a little pushy (with placing orders quick), but it's appreciated when it's time to get the check (especially on a busy night); the food is high quality (though not the biggest portions), and the drinks are generally pretty well-mixed! Super fun spot to stop into in the Silverlake area! read more

While the flamenco show was nice the food was terrible. The gazpacho was like a flavorless tomato pure. The salad was arugula and a slice of orange. And the paella tasted like burned food. Not worth the money. We paid around $250 for the paella/flamenco night and two wines. The liquor quality was also poor. Service was ok. Do not recommend. Don't waste your money. read more

El Cid Restaurant - The only part worth it. And even the acoustics were not the best. PS I dance flamenco. - Music Venues Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had not been to El Cid in Hollywood on Sunset in 36 years. It was a pleasant surprise. I had forgotten just how many stairs you need to go down to get to the restaurant. It's all old school. Set seating time. Four course meal and a show. Flamenco. (excellent show!!) Loved the environment. We had a really great server. Funny, engaging and timely. The food was good. We shared the seafood paella. Really nice flavor. Plenty of seafood. Shrimp clams etc. parking is on the street when you can find it. No valet. It's dark out front when you exit. El Cid would benefit by cleaning up the outside (street level sidewalk and plants. ) It was unkept and dusty. We had a fun evening. read more

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The show and performers is the only thing worth here. When you reserve the show it states a pre-fix menu is the option, but come to find out some tables were getting items not on the menu. Apparently the waiter thought it best to not show us the menu to be able to order other appetizer options to supplement the very sad "gazpacho" which tasted like Mexican restaurant salsa of which we came to find out chips and salsa are on the menu so no way that was gazpacho and a salad of bagged arugula with slice of Orange. We added calamari and gambas which were better tasting but the appetizer options which they want to just slap the tapas name on it were far from real Spanish tapas options. The entrees were also a joke. We ordered paella and steak. The ribeye was bland and they tried to make up for it by adding some salsa verde on top of it and hiding the potatoes under the steak. The seafood paella was the biggest scam - made with the wrong rice so it was just a doughy clump of mess served almost cold because it was pre cooked and scooped onto the little paella pans where it clearly wasn't cooked since it had no crunchy bottom layer, the mussels and clams clearly not cooked with the paella and just placed on top to make it look nice and they then added some gambas a la plancha on top to make it more seafood tasting. To make it even worse they waste adding a bunch of wedges of lemon on top to hide even more how bad it is. Then the dessert - flan, chocolate cake or chia pudding as options. We avoided the pudding because don't want to know how they made that given the paella experience. The flan was so bland and just a clump of custard with very runny caramel - most definitely not made there. The cake was comical, the minute we all saw it we were like "is that Vons chocolate cake?" Lastly, the venue itself looks in disarray. Bathrooms were visually clean but once you went in floors were all sticky. read more

Some of the rudest staff ever and cut off the headliner even though they promised the band a certain amount of time. This is the third time I've been here for a show and it's the third time I've had an exceedingly terrible experience. If you don't want psychic damage then stay away from this place fr lmao read more

El Cid is by far the most whimsical, magical bar and club for an outing in Silverlake. Perched on a hill, to get into the bar you have to walk down the stairs and weave in between red-draped and candle-lit hallways. The decorations are Spanish and sporadic, with high walls and gum trees overhanging the bar and providing a sense of privacy. There are 2 outdoor sections and 2 indoor sections, which makes the bar feel segmented and larger than it is. The decor and thoughtfulness in this venue is what really makes it pop. I have frequented El Cid for concerts, comedy shows, queer nights (L word parties) and their commitment to a diverse array of events makes it a go-to spot and a cornerstone in the community. The bar is also flanked by other small bars, good for bar-hopping. It is also about a 10 minute walk from the Bacardi, El Condor and the downtown Silverlake area that is a food and shopping hub Ratings: Ambiance: 10/10 Pricing: $$ Parking: not bad, allow 5 minutes for street parking Liquor License: yes read more

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I just want to start off by saying everyone has different experiences. Some nights are great, fun and memorable and some not so great but it's about how you want to experience it. All these negative reviews seem like personal attacks and if you really want to know how it is here then come experience it for yourself. Wether you're a customer or a performer. My personal experience from all the times I've been here has always been good. All the people who work there have been nice, the food is super duper good depending what you like, and they have a good selection of drinks. Yes, the restrooms are Hella small but not impossible to go do about your business (hopefully they change it soon) All the performances, dj, and band sets have sounded great and I will continue to keep coming back to party on and create more experiences. ((: read more

Food is mediocre and the "Flamenco" show is anything but authentic. The prices are exorbitant, $75.00 per person minimum for dinner & show. It would be ok if food and show were top notch, but neither is. The venue is charming but parking is very challenging. I have not tried their Sunday Brunch option. read more

The one star is being generous. What a joke of a concert venue. How are you going to cause delays for the acts then cut their set early? Not only that but push everyone to the patio then shortly after usher them out completely because you double booked the venue?! Treating paying customers like an inconvenience and treating the acts that brought in those paying customers like squatters is such a weird way to run a business. I know I will not be attending anything hosted there again, and honestly I will be warning any acts I'd like to see to steer clear. The music was great, we enjoyed what we did get to see of the show and I look forward to seeing these bands again in a better/more professional setting. read more

My Valentine and I came here on a whim. Trying to make reservations anywhere on a whim, we found this jewel. With only two time slots available, we were successful at making a reservation here thr night before Valentine's Day. We had a four course meal wich was delicious. First course was a coconut bean soup which was just a tease 'cause we were so hungry and the cup was so small. Our second course was chicken empanadas. Not a huge fan of empanadas, but the dipping sauce was excellent! Our main course was Pollo al Horno which was so delicious. I seriously could've ate more of this, not even kidding. Last but not least, a carmel crumb was served as a dessert. No complaints with this, the food was great. Service was "meh," or just okay. We were seated "on the other side" which could only mean we're further away from kitchen and bar. Exactly what I understood this to be, we were seated far, as you're likely to not get much attention seated in this area of the restaurant. I was correct. Drinks were not replenished, as servers were not in sight unless serving something. Even then, you're likely to have to ask for a refill, as we did. During pandemic times, they've had to improvise with what they have here for seating, so it's understandable tables and chairs are located in spots that typically wouldn't have seats. read more

El Cid Restaurant - Music Venues Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Best flaminco show in town!! Food is also amazing. Must go here!! Thank you for an amazing experience. Also great for bands to pwrform

I went here for a drag show last night. The stage was nice and open and It felt like I was in a very cool atmosphere. The service was great and was constantly checked up on us. The food was yummy too. I ordered the ceviche and the steak burger. A fun place to hang, eat, and enjoy good entertainment . read more

Nice place super fun and good food. Service was excellent. Show was a lot of fun to watch. Fun experience. Enjoy.

headlining band got cut short, bouncers were rude, the crowd AND the bands were abruptly shooed out of the venue at 9:30 because they had another event booked after with a separate cover weird and bad! read more