Single in Los Angeles, CA? 9 Places and Apps to Find a Date
Romantic movies like “La La Land,” “The Holiday,” and “500 Days of Summer” are like love letters to Los Angeles, showcasing all the city has to offer: the culture, the entertainment, the food, the weather, you name it. Audiences are familiar with the beautiful landscape and cityscape that make Hollywood a special place to call home.
Los Angeles is known as the City of Angels because its name literally translates to “the angels,” and it’s the largest city in California in terms of population (about 3.9 million people). With all LA has going for it, it seems like you’d be tripping over singles left and right, but sometimes that’s not the case — which is why we’re bringing you nine surefire ways to meet potential dates.
Los Angeles Dating Sites
Since Los Angeles has millions and millions of people living there, it can seem daunting if you’re single. Using a dating site is a great way to narrow down your options, getting super specific about the location as well as your age, gender, sexual orientation, religious, and lifestyle preferences. Here are the dating sites our experts have chosen for singles in Southern California.
Best Singles Site
With more than 30 million members and more romantic connections than any other dating site, Match is hands down the top dog in our eyes. More than 13.5 million people visit the site every month, so its user base is only going to grow. You won’t find more LA singles all in one place anywhere else. And with billions of first dates, second dates, relationships, and marriages under its belt, Match will make sure you find what you’re looking for.
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: “Match pairs a large dating pool with search filters specific enough to make that size useful rather than overwhelming.” Our Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles | 49%51% | 14.6 Million | Try Match FREE |
Over 50 & Senior Site
OurTime is exclusively for mature men and women (aged 50+), so that’s one less filter you’ll have to use to find a local date in your age range. It’s 100% free to register, upload pictures, browse, receive matches, like members, send virtual winks, and communicate in a variety of ways. OurTime has a very clean layout, so you’ll pick up on all of these features in no time.
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: “OurTime makes dating after 50 feel simple, with senior-friendly search tools and an easy-to-use layout.” Our Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mature Singles (50+) | 48%52% | 8.9 Million | Over 50? Try It FREE |
For Black Men & Women Only
If you want to diversity your dating list, it’s worth seeking a niche dating site. For Black and biracial singles, BlackPeopleMeet is the place to search. After all, it’s in the name. Over 1.4 million people and counting visit the site every month, and it’ll only take you a few minutes to join them. BlackPeopleMeet also provides icebreaker ideas if you’re nervous about that first message.
- Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
- Match System: Search by location, age, more
- Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month.” Our Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Singles | 47%53% | 5.7 Million | FREE Trial for New Users |
Hookup & Sex Site
Online dating isn’t only about finding someone with whom to get into a relationship with, and Adult Friend Finder understands that. This hookup site caters to those frisky singles (more than 100 million to be exact) looking for a hookup, threesome, affair, swinging partners, or any other casual encounter. Create an account, and you can start getting to know them via email, audio, and video.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun.” Our Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles | 65%35% | 25.5 Million | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
Popular Dating Apps
Dating apps first came on the scene in the mid-2000s, and they completely changed the way people connect — no longer being limited to desktop computers. Whether you’re in line for coffee, walking your dog, having a drink at a bar, or stuck in traffic (hands-free, though!), dating apps allow you to search for dates anywhere and at anytime. For singles in LA, particularly those who are on the go all the time, we’d suggest turning to these three choices.
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
- About the App: Match is built for browsing rather than swiping. You can search by location, age, and interest, then take your time reading profiles before reaching out. The app is free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
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OurTime
- Relationships: Dating and Relationships
- Match System: Search by age as well as zip, gender, more
- About the App: Made just for single seniors, OurTime is one of the most well-known niche dating apps. It’s a fun and straightforward app with simple swiping features. Once two people swipe right on each other, they can communicate. For more match options, visit the ConnectMe and I’m Interested pages.
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eharmony
- Relationships: Long-Term Relationships, Marriages
- Match System: Get daily match suggestions
- About the App: Responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S., eharmony is among our top picks for relationship-minded heterosexual singles. To become a member, add the app to your phone (iOS or Android) and then take its 29 Dimensions® of Compatibility Matching Quiz. It’s absolutely free to do both these things — as well as receive matches and communicate during other special events.
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Los Angeles Singles Bars
Singles have been mixing and mingling at bars for centuries, and sometimes you need a little something to calm the nerves and strike up a conversation with someone who catches your eye. We’ve compiled a list of the top bars that LA daters flock to and that’ll whet your whistle.
Edendale
Located in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles, Edendale is a fire-station-turned-bar-and-restaurant that serves up premium craft beers and wines (such as Wei Chi, a first vintage from Santa Rosa), house-made cocktails (such as a Hibiscus Margarita) and American comfort food with a twist (such as grilled cheese with shallot fig jam). Edendale has happy hours with food specials all night on Mondays and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Good Times at Davey Wayne's
Good Times at Davey Wayne's is a 1970s-themed bar and a tribute to David "Davey" Wayne Houston, a working class man who loved pool and working in the garage with his brothers, and to anyone else who's lost a father. Here, you'll find classic draft beers, like Miller Lite, and fun drinks with names like Purple Polyester. Don't forget to check out back, though, because there's some killer barbecue you don't want to miss.
Everson Royce Bar
With themed days, including No Names Mondays and Wine Wednesday, Everson Royce Bar is a popular spot in the Arts District of LA — named one of the Best Bars in America in 2017 by Esquire. In terms of libations, the menu has spirits, draught, canned and bottled beers, wine, and shots. And, in terms of food, it has everything from buttermilk biscuits to tostadas to shrimp buns to burgers and cookies.
Upstairs
Upstairs is the Ace Hotel's signature rooftop bar, and everywhere you look, you'll have a breathtaking view of the city. Taking its inspiration from Les Deux Cafe, a staple, hole-in-the-wall Hollywood restaurant, Upstairs puts its spin on traditional California food and drinks and offers fun activities, such as darts, live bands and DJs, pop-up shops, and book releases, every day of the week.
The Roger Room
"The best of everything, nothing but the best," is the Roger Room's motto, and you can find this bar by heading to West Hollywood. Its experienced bartenders whip up seasonal cocktails made with quality ingredients, like Angostura bitters, cucumber foam, and white peach puree, and with a base of whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, or whatever your poison is. Visit the Roger Room Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Little Bear
Belgian beer and food lovers will feel right at home at Little Bear. No matter if you're a Triple and pretzel kind of gal or a Witbier and fries kind of guy, this bar and restaurant has a massive menu that's sure to meet your needs. In 2012, LA Weekly said Little Bear was the Best Belgian Beer Bar, and Cooking Light Named it among the most Delicious Destinations.
Covell
Covell is a unique LA wine bar in that it has no wine list — just 150 wines by the glass as well as eight rotating draft beers. Food complements are also available. Their goal is to help you choose the "perfect" glass of wine for you, and one way they do that is by having a conversation with you and getting to know you a bit. Run by Dustin Lancaster and Matthew Kaner, Covell is a genuine, welcoming, and uncomplicated place you're sure to enjoy.
Seven Grand
If you like a vintage style with a modern flair, Seven Grand is the place for you. Opened in 2007, this whiskey bar says it has one of the largest selections in the West, and it displays its bottles in classic cases from the custom-designed building’s original proprietors. To take your Seven Grand journey a step further, join the Whiskey Society for educational, experimentation, and tasting opportunities with Master Distillers, International Brand Ambassadors, and notable members of the liquor industry.
Los Angeles Speed Dating
Speed dating isn’t something of the past or what you see in movies like “Hitch” or “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” It’s still a fantastic dating resource that you should take advantage of, and it doesn’t just consist of sitting there talking to as many strangers as you can. Some events include games, themed nights, and other fun ways to get to know each other.
Los Angeles Singles Events
From salsa nights to concerts to art walks and group hikes, your choices for LA singles events run the gamut. Not to mention a lot of these activities are either free or really affordable. You’ll meet tons of people who have the same interests without having to break the bank.
Los Angeles Singles Clubs
For those who love a good party, Los Angeles singles clubs are perfect venues for dancing the night away and meeting someone special (and maybe even taking them home if that’s your end game). No matter if you’re into hip hop, EDM, rock, metal, country, or any other type of music, TimeOut has an extensive list of clubs for all tastes.
Los Angeles Chat Rooms
In dating, it all starts with a conversation, right? Get your chat on in these online rooms made just for singles living in LA. Discuss your sexual and romantic desires, life goals, your favorite places to go in the city, entertainment, politics, sports — whatever! Once you’ve really connected with someone, take things to the next level with video or audio chat or go ahead and set up a meeting.
Los Angeles Personals
Personal ads are similar to dating site profiles. You’ll share some information about yourself as well as what you want in a hookup, date, or relationship, and that’s how you’ll get matched up. Many personals sites have pages dedicated to specific locations, like Los Angeles, so within minutes, you can find like-minded people in your area.
Do Something You Love
One of my favorite ways to meet people is by doing the things I already love. For example, if you’re philanthropic, Los Angeles has a variety of places where you can donate your time (Hope for LA, Serve LA, The Compton Initiative, Health the Bay, etc.).
For religious or spiritual singles, check out Pacific Crossroads Church, Reality LA, the Thien Hau Temple, the Center for Spiritual Living, and so much more. Do a Google search for your religion or spiritual beliefs, and see what results come up.
What about intramural sports teams and clubs? The LA Running Club has dozens of members, Urban Sports LA does kickball, flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, and cornhole, and Hollywood Curling pays tribute to a favorite Olympic sport.
Not every group is about sports, religion, or volunteering either. How about the Los Angeles Dumbledore’s Army? Or the LA Chess Club? Or knitting meetups? Seriously, I could go on and on!
The City of Angels — How 'Bout the City of Singles?!
Romantic LA moments don’t have to be limited to movies like “La La Land” or “500 Days of Summer.” Whether you’re new to the area or were born and raised here, with the resources above, you can find someone to kiss in a cable car, draw a skyline of LA on their arm, sit in a park and play the penis game with, take to a jazz club, or whatever you want!
About the Author
By: James Thompson
Editor
James Thompson oversees content strategy and article opportunities at thecandiddate.com.
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