Nightlife in Gran Canaria is lively, noisy and fun! It does start late and goes on all night with most bars opening until 02.00 am and discos and clubs usually until 06.00 am in the morning. Very little happens before midnight.
Like anywhere else, discos, clubs and bars fall in and out of favour very rapidly, so things may be changed when you come to Gran Canaria. But if you are staying in Las Palmas, the place to go is Plaza de España in the Mesa y Lopéz district, which is always lively until early morning hours. Here you will find the old Heineken, where many locals start their evening. Then there is also the Cuasquias, the El Coto – for those who love the music of the 60s, La Floridita and the ‘Rum Museum’, La Ronería, which only opens in the evening from 21.00 to 02.00 hrs and serves all kinds of rum based drinks.
And even more action is happening all along the south coast, you won’t get bored here! There are hundreds of bars, clubs and discos for all different tastes, especially in Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Just head for the big shopping centres and choose what’s best for you. On your way to the main nightlife areas you will always encounter people on the street handing out flyers and trying to take you to their bar/disco/club.
In Playa del Inglés look out for the Yumbo Centre (famous for its gay scene), Kasbah Centre (where the youth meets) and Plaza Shopping Centre and dance to the latest international music hits!
If you prefer it more quiet and you would like to tempt your luck, there are two casinos in Gran Canaria, the Casino Las Palmas situated inside the Hotel Santa Catalina in the city of Las Palmas, and the Gran Canaria Casino, which you will find in the Hotel Meliá Tamarindos in San Agustín.
Gran Canaria’s gay and lesbian scene is mainly located in the south of the island – in particular in Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. At night you’ll find the main gay life revolving around the Yumbo Centre (Playa del Inglés), a massive multi-level complex of restaurants, bars, and clubs for all tastes - with over forty of them catering for the gay scene. By day it is just a big tourist shopping centre, by night possibly the largest collection of gay bars, clubs and restaurants anywhere in Europe. The liberal atmosphere and the life for one another and with one another between heteros, homos and other minorities is the basis of the special charm of the YUMBO.
Maspalomas, in contrast to Playa del Inglés, is renowned for its daylight offer – the famous gay beach and the amazing dunes. Maspalomas offers seclusion in abundance. There's a gay section at the rather windy beachfront, but there's also a large gay zone in the vast dunes behind it. It's no coincidence that the gay area is adjacent to the naturist area – both groups crave privacy and many gay men like to sunbathe naked.
Informations about YUMBO Center
The YUMBO is one of the greatest and most well-known shopping and leisure centers on the island of Gran Canaria. More than 200 shops, pubs and bars, service and trade companies as well as the many small stands of the "travelling hawkers" create an international atmosphere enjoyed by our visitors. In addition to everyday necessities the YUMBO offers you a wide and selected range of fashion, jewellery, accessories and electric goods.
The multitude of nations is very clearly represented by the restaurants and, many individually designed and lovely furnished bars invite you to have a fresh beer or enjoy a delicious cocktail. All over the year the YUMBO not only presents numerous small attractions, but also big events. Every spring the famous Carnival of Maspalomas makes the YUMBO become the stronghold of the Carnival Celebrations. But actually the YUMBO is always a bit of a mad-house ... We are looking forward to seeing you!
Architecture:
The four-storeyed YUMBO is built in a rectangular shape around the main area and the spacious park which is the central point of the YUMBO and invites visitors to have a walk, stroll along or just rest for a while. Despite the extent of the center the open architecture enables the visitor to always keep the orientation and not to lose one´s bearings.
Restaurants:
You are really spoilt for choice if you want to go out to eat in the YUMBO. For every day and every taste you will find the right cooking as it ranges from appetizing snacks to exquisite menues and from Chinese, Italian, Indian and Spanish cooking to German, English, Belgian or Danish food. Bon Appetit!
Bazaars:
Rummage about in a variety of goods for sale of the many small bazaars. With a little skill to negotiate you will certainly do a real good bargain with fashion, leather goods or shoes. But beware: bazaar traders are very business-minded... ;-)
Fashion, Jewellery & Perfumes:
On the island of Gran Canaria a lot of goods and luxury articles are often substantially cheaper than in your home country due to the special tax advantages, so going on a shopping spree is mostly worthwhile, no matter if you are doing it for yourself or for beloved persons at home. In our section "OFFERS" you will frequently be informed on special offers from our renowned shops in the YUMBO.
Supermarket:
The Spanish word for supermarket is "supermercado". In the supermercados of the YUMBO you will be offered an extensive range of basic necessities from bread or bread rolls, sweets, savoury biscuits, vegetables, meat products to tooth brushes and baby nappies.
Bars & Pubs:
The bars and pubs of the YUMBO are well-known far beyond the borders of the Canarian archipelago. Many bars have been lovely furnished with lots of remarkable details by the managers, mostly being homosexual, so each bar has its own specific character. Some bars are already open in the early afternoon, others normally open their doors between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The terraces of the bars are an excellent location for enjoying a fresh beer, a fruity sangria or a yummy cocktail while watching the lively hurly-burly on the "catwalk".
Show & Entertainment:
Pull up the curtain - Put on a play: "The Whole World is a Theatre Tonight". This motto well describes the shows being offered in the YUMBO. Parody, singing, slapstick, karaoke, travesty or drag show, - you shouldn´t miss any of these. We will not say more here but we just wish you a lot of fun with these amazing shows. Be assured!
"Travelling Hawkers":
All around the main area you will see travelling hawkers and artists every night. Nice souvenirs, costume jewellery and craft objects are offered for sale and the artists do paintings and portraits or other artistic tricks. The small sales stands are quite welcome and an enrichment for an evening walk throughout the YUMBO.
Leisure & Fun:
Playing pinball or pool, gambling machines, Formel-1 driving, bull-riding or bungee-trampoline. There is so much fun for everyone in the YUMBO. The latest YUMBO attraction can already be admired from a distance. The "Skyrider" catapults you in a ball 70 metres towards the moon. Have fun! Or let´s say it with the words of the Skyrider´s manager: "And the brain goes blob..."
Nightlife:
The nightlife in the YUMBO is mostly characterized by the gay scene. Beside leather and fetish bars, gays will also find dark rooms. Some of the bars are restricted to only men or only women. However, in the discotheques or in the sex shops normally all kinds of visitors have a good time: with lots of fun and joy!
