The majority of the gay scene is based in the Yumbo Centre, Playa del Inglés - the main shopping centre by day and den of iniquity by night. Dining begins from around 7pm but, as most of the bars don`t open until 10pm, the serious drinkers don`t arrive before then.With around 40 gay venues shoehorned into the infamous Yumbo Centre, there’s something for everyone - whatever your tastes and preferences -and, let’s face it, with all those simply divine men around the sensational, throbbing resort of Playa del Ingles and its prettier neighbour of Maspalomas, it’s almost impossible not to have a good time.

Head for the cabaret bars on the ground floor, enjoy the shows and get in the spirit before moving up the levels to hit the bars. They`re all situated in a circle and so are ideal for a pub crawling.

Many of the gay bars warmly welcome lesbians but if you want a bit more exclusivity head for the First Lady bar. The night clubs are all grouped together and you`ll happily find yourself dancing `till 5 in the morning, if you can handle it!!

The famous Pub Nestor (ground level) is known for its spacious terrace which affords great views of all the comings and goings of Yumbo Center. Owner Holger Haerich has made sure your seat will keep you entertained by street performers, sexy Spanish passers-by, or their eager staff just having fun! Almost a community centre, the bar opens from 3 pm and offers food. Open the Box game shows at midnight Wednesdays and Thursdays. Gay catamaran trips Fridays. Heaven Gran Canaria (upper level) is the biggest dance club around, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Kink is a popular fetish night the first Thursday of each month. Heaven's White Parties continue all weekend, until the Sunday pool party finale. Other themed events. For Heaven and Hell parties, the place is decked out for adult fun and debauchery with darkrooms and play areas, go-go dancers, and video screenings. Qe2 Show Bar (Yumbo Center) is an entertainment lounge and bar with live singers and cabaret shows.

The upstairs Centre Stage has cabaret in the "grand manner" every night from 10pm at Yumbo's longest running gay bar. Cafe La Belle, a legendary show bar since the early days of the resort, is in limbo for now as new owners sort themselves out.

Sparkles is a show-bar addition to the upstairs floor here. Nightly shows begin with light variety acts and culminate with popular drag performances headlined by Tammy Pax. A large seating area provides uniformly good views of the stage, and the attentive staff here are lively and cute.

The Gallery brings a touch of class to Yumbo. Their modern decor features large and comfortable sofas, and they have wi-fi access and computers for use. Open all day and night they offer beer, wine, tea, coffee or cocktails, plus snacks and roasts. Sundays are busy as people arrive for the shows with Asa and Missee.

Desire has cute, young and friendly barmen who on Wednesdays wear their sailor suits. Steve, an ex-Brit who runs the place, enjoys a chat. Big-screen TV shows all the big events, particularly in sports and other British television favorites with a large crowd for "Factor," early Saturdays. Desire also has a weekly boat-trip starting with a champagne reception before departure.

Fiction, with an appealing South American quality, is a ground-floor music and video bar with sexy waiters in even sexier clothing, including thongs. Seats both outside and inside fill up quickly, and they're particularly busy late at night, with hours until 4am.

Construction Bar (first floor) is full of local and international guys. The outside bar area has a large terrace. Inside, the cruising area has large darkrooms and private areas too, where just about anything goes.

Mykonos and Tubos host the late shift in the Yumbo Center at upper levels. Filling up after 1am they have friendly and cute bar staff who serve various local and international spirits and beers, inside or on their balcony.

Buddies is a busy bar day and night and popular, too for their pub food. They serve a variety of drinks, local beers, spirits and cocktails, as well as chilled wine and bubbly. Large bungee trampolines nearby offer free entertainment. And they're known for their great home-style food for big appetites.

Among the bars of Yumbo Center, many reflect the very international flavor of the resort. These include: Adonis, a terrace-level cafe and pub with wi-fi access and German ambience; Junior Cafe & Pub, also with terrace, plays gay hits in English, Dutch and German; Barra Onda serves excellent Italian food and coffee; Meicker is the only Danish owned bar in Yumbo; Cafe Peppermint open daily from 11am for coffee and cake, sorbet or milkshakes, or for cocktails, beer, and sandwiches served on their year-round heated terrace.

Eden Cafe, serves flavors of France with your drinks; Diamonds representing the English county of Yorkshire with a sunny south-west facing patio; Rendezvous is by Brit expats Adam and David; Macho Macho brings a bit of Holland to Yumbo; Macho Macho promises good-looking German and international staff and a party atmosphere; and ZaZa, with terrace, serves Spanish Caipirinha (wine and Champagne) specials. The Block, The Box,, Prison Bar,, and The Cellar are exclusively men's bars, and Jackies has an international mix of women. Ricky's Cabaret does drag and shows, and Lux Bar & Cafe is a very international terrace bar and cafe with English, Dutch, German and Spanish wait staff who speak their own languages plus French and Italian.

Bars & Clubs (rest of Playa del Ingles)

After a day on the beach or in the dunes, Cafe Wien is a popular retreat in the nearby Cita Shopping Center. This stylish teashop serves a selection of hot and cold drinks and tempting sweets and gateaux -- busy from 5pm.

Also in Cita Center are Rumpelkammer with drag shows, comedy and songs in German, Come Back cafe and cocktail bar, and Man's Lounge, with porn videos, dark room, play areas and private cubicles.

Detox Retox (Avenida de Tirajana 9) is modern and chic, with comfy sofas and a welcoming ambiance. They serve a huge selection of exotic drinks and international beverages. Tip: try their "Lick My Butt-a-scotch" cocktail, a sinfully sweet temptation.

Chapters (Avenida de Tirajana 4) is another nearby gay bar and cafe with a friendly crowd of regulars.

PuntoNet (Avenida de Tirajana 3) is a gay-run, modern internet shop with a host of high-speed internet services, including wi-fi and webcams. There's a cool vibe here and you can have a drink and chat with staff who can help with advice on almost anything from techie stuff to the best parties in town.

In Meloneras, about five minutes taxi from Playa del Ingles, the Vegas Legends Black and Red Casino Show takes place at the Gran Casino Costa Meloneras (Mar Mediteraneo 1), with dinner theater and cabaret shows that pay homage to classic Las Vegas styles, open year-round. Performers here aren't shy as they serenade and sashay out among the audience. Dinner is served before the show and there are drinks during the performances.

Although most gay nightlife is found in the Yumbo Centre, nearby Avenida de Tirajana is now up and coming. First Lady (Avenida de Tirajana, Edificio Taida, no phone), Gran Canaria’s small but friendly lesbian bar and Detox/Retox (Avenida de Tirajana 9, Edificio Tenesor, 34-928-767-459) is just down the avenue with a hip cool queer lounge atmosphere—the perfect place to have a beer after the beach.

In the Vegueta area of Las Palmas, check out the “Homopol Terrace” next to the Biblioteca Insular on Calle Juan Quesada, where queer students and local gays hang out at the adjoining sidewalk café-bars Taberna Las Ranas and Heineken Café (34-928-49-2585).