Gula Gula Gay Club / Restaurant

Sol (El Centro), Madrid –

Although the clientele may be ambiguous at Madrid’s premier drag show venue, the unstoppable energy at Gula Gula – which translates to "gluttony gluttony" – certainly isn’t.

Situated right on Gran Vía, the posh venue attracts a diverse crowd ranging from bachelorette parties to older visitors who stop by to experience a parallel dimension.

The mood is immediately set by the small entry room with its elegant furniture and exotic velvet wallpaper, as well as by the winding staircase that leads to the exquisitely lit dining hall on the second floor.

Before the show, customers enjoy a generous buffet while a DJ and the outlandish waiters...waitresses?...waitSTAFF create a lively, good-humored atmosphere.

When the house lights go down, deep red and blue spotlights fire up, and the drag queens begin their hour-long show, complete with go-go dancers, musical interludes, and brash humor – all set to the clamor of show tunes and an enthusiastic audience clapping in rhythm.

It doesn’t matter whether patrons are single straight males or unable to understand a word of Spanish – Gula Gula’s drag culture creates a fun night for anyone.