Sparkles Bar Maspalomas Review
6 Nights at Gran Canaria’s
Best Drag Show

My partner and I recently visited Maspalomas in Gran Canaria for a week-long holiday. As big fans of drag entertainment, we knew this LGBTQ-friendly destination would deliver amazing shows. What we didn’t expect was to spend six out of seven nights at Sparkles Bar Maspalomas – here’s our honest review of why this world-class drag venue became completely irresistible!

Each evening after dinner, we’d look at each other and know exactly where we wanted to go. Sparkles Bar became our nightly ritual, with us only missing one evening due to an early start for our Las Palmas day trip. This wasn’t just casual bar-hopping – we genuinely loved everything about the Sparkles Bar Maspalomas experience.

Having experienced Sparkles Bar drag shows six times during our stay, this review covers everything you need to know about Maspalomas’ premier drag entertainment venue. From show times and drink prices to what to expect from the performers, I’ll share the insider knowledge that only repeat visitors can provide.

Sparkles Bar Maspalomas made our entire holiday. If you’re looking for the best nightlife in Playa del Inglés, read on to discover why this should be your first stop.

The Basics: Location and Getting There

Sparkles Bar Maspalomas (@sparkles.gc) is located in the Playa del Inglés area of Maspalomas in southern Gran Canaria. Situated within the famous Yumbo Shopping Centre, this drag bar sits at the heart of the resort’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, surrounded by gay-friendly bars, restaurants, and accommodation options.

The Yumbo Shopping Centre can feel like a maze for first-time visitors. With shops, bars, and restaurants spread across four floors connected by various stairs and pathways, finding specific venues can be challenging even with Google Maps.

You’ll find Sparkles Bar on the second floor, opposite the main entrance with the iconic neon dinosaur. The easiest way to locate it? Head towards Burger King, then look up and to the right – you’ll spot the Sparkles signage immediately above.

Being in the Yumbo Centre puts Sparkles Bar within walking distance of most Maspalomas accommodation. Our hotel was right next to the centre, making it perfectly convenient, but even if you’re staying elsewhere in the resort, you’re unlikely to be far from this central location.

If you’re planning your trip, check out our complete month-by-month guide to visiting Gran Canaria.

The bar opens 363 days a year (only closing for Christmas Day and Carnival Saturday in March – these queens rarely take a break!) from 8pm until 2am, making it perfect for evening entertainment after dinner. Entry is completely free – you only pay for drinks.

The Sparkles Experience: Venue and Shows

The Venue

Step inside Sparkles Bar Maspalomas and you’re immediately struck by the theatrical atmosphere. The interior embraces classic drag venue aesthetics with shimmering curtains, disco balls catching the light, and dramatic purple and pink lighting that sets the perfect mood for the evening’s entertainment.

The layout is intimate and well-designed, centred around a raised stage with a large LED screen backdrop that displays everything from performer profiles to dazzling visual effects during shows. The seating consists of red plastic chairs arranged at small tables, creating a casual yet focused viewing experience. Most tables seat 2-4 people comfortably.

The venue has a substantial capacity with 40 tables inside and 45 outside, seating around 350 people – which creates a lively atmosphere while maintaining an intimate feel where every seat feels reasonably close to the action. There’s a clear hierarchy of seating: front rows offer the best stage views and highest chance of performer interaction, while tables towards the back still provide excellent sightlines thanks to the raised stage design.

The bar area runs along one side, easily accessible without blocking views, and the whole space feels designed to focus attention on the performance area. Despite being compact, the layout never feels cramped – there’s enough space to move around between shows, and the acoustics are spot-on for both music and spoken performances.

Show Schedule and Format

Show time is around 11pm every night of the year and lasts for approximately two hours. Prior to this, there’s karaoke hosted by four of the queens performing that night. If you’re feeling brave, why not sign up and be the star for the evening? This pre-show entertainment creates a brilliant warm-up atmosphere that gets everyone engaged before the main event.

Performance Quality and Style

The show is a captivating mix of variety styles that keeps you guessing what’s coming next. The drag queens come from around the world, with performers representing the UK, Ireland, Australia, Belgium, and Gran Canaria during our visit. Expect comedy, live vocals, spoken-word routines, group numbers, intricate dance performances, and of course, plenty of audience interaction.

The quality of every queen is incredibly high. These are seasoned performers who know their craft so well and understand exactly how to entertain an audience. Their costumes are absolutely out of this world and their makeup is flawless, but what really makes Sparkles special is the exceptional quality of the drag entertainment.

You never know what’s going to come next, and everything feels original and fresh. Having watched extensive live drag entertainment, it’s refreshing to feel surprised by so many of the Sparkles numbers – each performance brings something unique to the stage.

Language and Accessibility

Being an English-speaking venue, all numbers and interactions are conducted in English, making it perfectly accessible for British tourists. Many of the pop culture references draw from UK and Irish culture, though this occasionally means some jokes might be lost on international audiences. However, the visual spectacle and energy transcend any language barriers.

The performers are skilled at reading their audience and adapting their interaction style accordingly, ensuring everyone feels included in the experience regardless of their background.

Meet the Performers: The Queens Who Stole Our Hearts

Sparkles Bar has a whole host of different queens who work on rotation throughout the week. Even attending six nights in one week, we kept coming back because we genuinely never knew what they were going to do or perform. Having watched around 12 hours of drag performances over the week, we didn’t see a single repeat number!

Brandy

Brandy (@theeonlybrandy), the venue’s owner, is exceptionally quick on the mic with an unparalleled ability to read her audience. Her numbers ranged from pop performances to utterly absurd pop culture references that had us crying with laughter. Her B&M homage sung to “It’s Raining Men” had the entire venue in stitches – only Brandy could make a budget shop feel glamorous. You never knew what Brandy was going to do next – she kept us on the edge of our seats all night.

Reina Fame

Reina Fame (@reinafame) became my absolute favourite performer over our six nights. This Northern Irish glamourous queen delivered high camp perfection with themed pop medleys that were unique every single night. Her ability to seamlessly link songs through clever themes showed incredible creativity and musical knowledge. Every performance involved audience interaction that felt natural, never forced. Meeting her out of drag after a show one night, she was an absolute sweetheart. This genuine warmth perfectly epitomised what makes the Sparkles experience so special.

Polly Glamorous

Polly Glamorous (@itspollyglamorous) brought powerhouse vocals and brilliant audience interaction from Ireland. Her voice is genuinely stunning – the kind that makes you forget you’re watching drag and just appreciate pure vocal talent. She has this wonderful ability to make everyone feel personally welcomed, creating intimate moments even in a packed room. Polly could be quite cutting on the mic, but it was always tongue-in-cheek and delivered with such charm that even her targets ended up laughing along.

Rosebud

Rosebud (@rosebudthequeen), a towering Irish glamazon, absolutely mesmerised with phenomenal dancing and wonderfully chaotic spoken word performances. Her energy is infectious, and watching her command the stage with such confidence was genuinely inspiring. She regularly left me dumb-founded as to how quick she could move around the venue in the highest of high heels.

Queen Queef

Queen Queef (@queenqueefofficial) demonstrated exceptional Australian talent with genuine powerhouse vocals and incredibly clever pop combinations – her brilliant pop combination that linked religious imagery to Madonna was pure genius. Her voice was incredible and her performances showcased her creative intelligence.

Selina Pearl

Selina Pearl (@selina_pearl), a visiting queen from Belgium on a one-month residency, brought spectacular showgirl glamour with elaborate costumes and impressive dancing skills that showcased years of professional experience. Her performances encapsulated everything from camp pop princesses to heart wrenching ballads.

Dinah Might

Dinah Might (@dinah_might_gran_canaria) brought classic British drag humour with wonderfully crude numbers that had audiences roaring with laughter. Her cheeky wit and perfect timing made every interaction feel spontaneous and hilarious. Dinah was on holiday for the first few days of our trip but we were so glad we got to see her perform live.

Miss Ash

Miss Ash delivered beautifully seasoned traditional drag with timeless Shirley Bassey and Gloria Gaynor numbers, proving that classic drag never goes out of style. Her polished performances brought elegant sophistication to the evening’s entertainment.

Miss Foguen

Miss Foguen (@missfoguen), the talented local Thursday night specialist, impressed with exceptional dancing and lip-sync skills. Her connection to the local Gran Canaria scene added authentic island flair to the international lineup.

Heather Phetish

Heather Phetish (@heatherphetish) brings captivating cabaret charm with killer lipsyncs and incredible looks that perfectly blend fashion, personality, and performance. Known for her engaging stage presence and theatrical flair, she delivers memorable performances that showcase her versatility as a complete entertainer. We didn’t get to see her perform but would have loved to experience her talents firsthand. One of the many reasons to return to Sparkles.

The extraordinary variety and consistent talent across all performers made every single night feel completely different, which is exactly why we kept returning to Sparkles Bar Maspalomas night after night.

Drinks

One of Sparkles Bar Maspalomas’ biggest draws is its exceptional drink prices. The bar offers happy hour prices on a wide range of drinks including beers, alcopops, and pitchers of cocktails until 10:30pm. The cocktail pitchers were our weakness at just €13 for 1.6 litres during happy hour – we couldn’t resist this brilliant offer night after night.

What truly sets Sparkles Bar apart is the outstanding staff. Table service operates throughout the venue, with ‘Please Serve Me’ cards on each table to attract attention when needed. The staff are incredibly friendly and make you feel like a regular from your very first visit.

By our final night at Sparkles Bar Maspalomas, we were greeted like old friends, with multiple staff members coming over to wish us a safe flight home. This personal touch made us feel genuinely welcome and added to the overall experience.

Service and Payment

Payment is straightforward – you can pay by either cash or card, with each waiter carrying a portable card machine. If you’re concerned about staying hydrated during your night out, our Gran Canaria water safety guide covers everything you need to know about drinking water on the island.

If you want to purchase shots directly from the drag queens during their performances, these are cash only, though regular shots from the bar accept card payments.

Sparkles Bar offers incredible value for money. Our nightly spend averaged around €56 for both of us – three cocktail pitchers at the happy hour price of €13 each, plus one at the regular price of €17. This worked out to approximately 10 drinks each, or roughly €2.80 per cocktail.

Compared to nights out back home where we can easily spend over £100, Sparkles Bar Maspalomas represents exceptional value. When you add two hours of world-class drag entertainment on top of these prices, you simply cannot go wrong.

The Crowd and Atmosphere

Sparkles Bar Maspalomas welcomes everyone regardless of age, race, gender, or sexuality. Although primarily an LGBTQ+ venue, there’s often a roughly 50/50 split between gay and straight visitors, creating a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable.

The vast majority of the audience are English-speaking tourists, with very few locals in attendance during our visits. Many of the jokes reference UK and Irish pop culture, which creates brilliant moments of recognition for British visitors, though the queens work hard to ensure everyone feels included regardless of nationality.

As for dress code, anything goes at Sparkles Bar. We saw everything from casual holiday wear to full glamour – some guests clearly enjoyed dressing up for the occasion, while others came straight from the beach in shorts and flip-flops. The beauty of Sparkles is that everyone fits in perfectly.

The energy levels throughout the evening are absolutely electric. The drag queens work incredibly hard to put on a show and fully involve the audience in every moment. This isn’t passive entertainment you watch through a screen – it’s an interactive experience where the entire venue becomes part of the performance.

By the end of each night, the crowd feels like one big, fabulous family united by laughter and incredible entertainment.

Insider Tips from Six Nights

Now you know exactly what to expect at Sparkles Bar Maspalomas, here are my insider tips from six nights of drag show entertainment to ensure you have the best possible experience.

Best Arrival Time

Whilst the drag shows don’t start until 11pm, Sparkles Bar fills up well before then. There’s plenty of seating, but I recommend arriving between 9pm and 9:30pm for prime seats. They have karaoke every night and happy hour until 10:30pm, so if you enjoy singing and drinks offers, get there nice and early for the full Maspalomas nightlife experience.

Reservation Recommendations

If you want front-row seats or you’re a larger group, you can reserve a table by speaking to the bar staff. This can be done the night before if you’re planning multiple visits, or even just after opening at 8pm.

What to Wear

There’s no strict dress code at Sparkles Bar, so dress as you feel comfortable. As you’re on holiday attending drag entertainment, it’s nice to dress up slightly, but there’s no obligation to wear anything fancy. Just be prepared that the drag queens may call you out if you’re wearing something outlandish – but that’s part of the fun!

Photography Policy

You can take photos and videos of all performances throughout the night and upload them to social media – just remember to tag the performers and Sparkles Bar. They regularly re-post guests’ videos on Instagram and other platforms.

At the end of each show’s finale, there’s an opportunity to have your photo taken with the drag queens at no extra cost. It’s a brilliant holiday souvenir!

Tipping Etiquette

While tipping at drag performances isn’t as customary in Spain as it is in the US, these world-class performers absolutely deserve recognition for their incredible talent. There are QR codes on each table making it easy to show your appreciation.

You can choose to tip all the queens, individual performers, or bar staff. Being a drag queen isn’t cheap – the costumes, makeup, and sheer talent on display represent significant investment and skill. These performers are offering some of the best LGBTQ+ entertainment in the world, and any tips are genuinely appreciated and help support their craft.

Consider tipping if you’ve had an amazing night – which, based on our six visits, you absolutely will! It’s a lovely way to say thank you for an unforgettable experience.

Busy vs. Quiet Nights

Sparkles Bar was busy every night we visited, with most tables full even mid-week. The busiest nights are definitely Fridays and Saturdays. On the Saturday we attended, six queens performed in a blockbuster show and the place was absolutely packed – we were lucky to secure a table.

Our Honest Verdict

If you couldn’t already tell from this review, we absolutely loved Sparkles Bar Maspalomas. We watch drag entertainment regularly, and the performers here are genuinely world-class. I witnessed some truly exceptional drag shows during our six nights.

With different queens performing each evening, excellent drinks offers, an electric atmosphere, and performers who make everyone feel welcome, there was nowhere else we wanted to spend our Maspalomas evenings.

If you’re a fan of drag entertainment, Sparkles Bar should be your number one destination in Maspalomas. Even if you’re not a massive fan but are open-minded and want brilliant nightlife, head to Sparkles Bar for one of the best nights of your holiday. Planning your visit? Our Gran Canaria travel guides help you make the most of every day.

The venue welcomes everyone, though the performances include adult humour and LGBTQ+ themes. If this doesn’t appeal to you, Sparkles may not be your ideal choice – though if you’ve booked a Maspalomas holiday, you’ll find the entire resort celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

Located in the central Yumbo Centre, Sparkles Bar Maspalomas is THE premier evening destination. Whether you visit once or become nightly regulars like us, you absolutely won’t regret it.

Final Thoughts: Sparkles Bar Maspalomas

Sparkles Bar Maspalomas truly made our holiday unforgettable. From world-class drag entertainment and welcoming atmosphere to unbeatable location in the Yumbo Centre, it’s everything you want from Maspalomas nightlife. Our six nights of incredible shows, laughs, and memories prove this venue deserves its reputation as the resort’s premier drag destination.

Whether you’re planning one night out or making it your regular evening ritual like we did, Sparkles Bar won’t disappoint. We only skipped one evening for an early night before our Las Palmas day trip – and we definitely missed the entertainment!

Ready to explore more of what Maspalomas offers? Check out our other guides to make the most of your Gran Canaria adventure.