Single in New Orleans, LA? 12 Places and Apps to Find a Date
A good friend of mine met her husband back when they both lived in New Orleans. He worked as a photographer for a local newspaper, and she’d just been hired to run the paper’s website. Being new to the city, she didn’t know a soul, so on a shared day off he gave her a tour, walking her along the river and showing her places where he’d covered stories. Neither of them realized it then, but that outing would go down as their first date.
These days they’re married, with two dogs, Nola and Roux, whose names honor the city where they fell in love. Inspired by my friend, we’ve put together 12 ideas for meeting New Orleans singles. Who knows — maybe you’ll be the next person with a romantic story to share!
New Orleans Dating Sites
New Orleans is home to more than 376,000 people, and the best way to figure out which of them are single is online dating. When you set up your profile, you enter your city and state, and you can also choose a preferred distance (say, only people within 20 miles). Online dating is what our experts eat, sleep, and breathe, and they’ve tested dozens of sites so readers like you can land the right partner. The five below are our top choices for black singles, busy professionals, hookup seekers, mature men and women, and daters of every other kind.
Best Singles Site
Match.com is the roux of the dating world. Just as gumbo is nothing without a roux, the dating business would be nothing without Match. It was the first site of its kind (founded 1995), it has a huge user base (30 million+) and impressive features (live events), and it has produced more marriages, relationships, and dates than any competitor.
- 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 »
- Browse Free:View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | Today’s Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles | 49%51% | 14.6 Million | Try Match FREE |
Over 50 & Senior Site
Nearly 20% of New Orleans residents are 55 or older, and anyone hoping to meet singles in that age bracket should head to OurTime. You won’t need to filter by age, so you can put more energy into the other traits and qualities you care about.
- 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 »
- Browse Free:View Photos Now
| 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
Few cities on earth are as diverse as New Orleans. Over 60% of residents are black, which ranks the city in the top 10 for the largest share of African Americans. On BlackPeopleMeet, meeting singles from this community is simple: it draws 1.4 monthly visitors (a number still climbing), and it costs nothing to register, browse, get matches, or flirt.
- 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 »
- Browse Free:View Photos Now
| 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
People often see New Orleans as a place to indulge your desires without being judged, and if casual sex is what you’re after, you’ll find it on Adult Friend Finder. Maybe an affair is more your speed — Adult Friend Finder can help there, too. Whatever you want, this hookup site has 77 million users, and you’re free to be yourself with all of them.
- 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 sites changed how singles meet in a big way, and dating apps pushed that even further. You don’t have to pick between going out and sitting at your desktop at home to date online anymore — you can do both. Browse potential matches as you walk the dog. Send a message to that cute guy while your pumpkin spice latte is being made. Tweak your profile on the subway ride to work. Whatever your situation is. Below are three dating apps known for their reputations, affordability, ease of use, and much more.
- 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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New Orleans Singles Bars
Nola.com says that New Orleans tops every major American city in bars per capita. We’d love to cover every single one, but that would take ages, and we know you’re busy. So we’ve picked our seven favorites, where the fun, drinks, and flirting never stop flowing.
Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29
Named for Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29 focuses on old-school drinks people assumed had disappeared, like the Sean and Juan (crème de cacao, Irish whiskey, tequila, guava, and lemon) and Navy Grog (lime, grapefruit, allspice, and Jamaican and Demerara rums). Since nobody can live on drinks alone, Latitude 29 also serves plates such as Scallop Rillette, Loco Moco, and Doberge Cake.
French 75
Once a gentlemen-only establishment, French 75 occupies a building dating to 1914 and pours select spirits and traditional cocktails (such as the Sazerac, Candelabra, and Bastille Cup) alongside Cajun appetizers with a twist (like shrimp spring rolls, oysters en brochette, and boudin wontons). On Yelp, Chris C. awarded French 75 four stars and wrote: "This is a great place to hang out with colleagues and/or friends and enjoy a few drinks. The staff does a good job with refills and remembering everyone's drink orders."
Erin Rose
Erin Rose’s wish for you is simple: "Come drink with the locals just steps off Bourbon Street". The vibe is laid-back, and owners Troy and Angie say, "Folks from all kinds of backgrounds meet here and form friendships around differences." The drink deals are killer, too: Miller High Life goes for $1.50 from midnight until 4 a.m., Bloody Marys are $4 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and beer buckets cost $10 when the Saints are playing.
Bacchanal Wine
People call Bacchanal Wine "Nola's backyard party" thanks to its gorgeous courtyard and intimate tables. Open daily between 11 a.m. and midnight, this "wine laboratory" carries hundreds of wines in the Old World style, including the G.D. Vajra ‘Rosabella’ Rosato. Food and music matter just as much here as the vino does. The menu offers marinated olives, confit chicken leg, and whole grilled fish, plus plenty more, and the website has a calendar of live shows by local bands, the Tangiers Combo among them.
Cane and Table
Cane and Table shines at everything from food to drinks. Among the shareables, the black-eyed pea fritters caught our eye; so did large plates like sweet potato curry and sides like Yucca fries. Beyond the classics (Mai Tais, Ti Punch, and Hurricanes), the bartenders create their own cocktails, such as Paint It Gold, Sweet Reaper, and Lucky #2. And don’t overlook the cider, sherry, wine, and beer. Claude S. gushed: "This is one of those places you've got to get to... the place is set in a turn-of-the-century building with beautiful architecture and a great patio for dining. The folks here are great company, and the place was lively."
Napoleon House
The Napoleon House, founded in 1914, ranks among the most beloved bars and restaurants in New Orleans. Its name comes from former mayor Nicholas Girod, who offered Napoleon the residence as a refuge while he was in exile in 1821. The specialty here is the Italian muffuletta, but we suspect anything you order will please you, whether it’s the seafood gumbo, the pastrami po-boy, or the turkey club. Wash it down with a Dark & Stormy, an Aperol Spritz, or a Pimm's Cup.
Cure
Cure sets out to offer a dining and drinking experience unlike any other, drawing inspiration from an era when food and cocktails served as medicine and home remedies. The menu includes the White Snake, 4905, duck liver crostini, and beet tartine. Happy hour runs every day: 5–7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3–7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Cure aims to deliver an eating and drinking experience you won’t find anywhere else, inspired by a time when people used cocktails and food as medicine and home remedies. Among the offerings are beet tartine, duck liver crostini, the White Snake, and 4905. There’s a happy hour every day, Monday–Thursday from 5–7 p.m. and Friday–Sunday from 3–7 p.m.
New Orleans Speed Dating
SpeedDating New Orleans puts its own twist on speed dating events, and that seems to be paying off for both the company and the singles who go. In one night you’ll have 10 dates, five minutes apiece. The following day, you let the team know who you liked, and if the feeling is mutual, you’ll swap contact info. Jennifer, a satisfied attendee, said, “I had a great time at your event. I plan to tell all my friends about my wonderful experience.” Follow the link below for more details:
New Orleans Singles Events
Meetup.com is a great help when you’re hunting for New Orleans singles events. Click the link below to go to the site, enter the city, pick how far you’re willing to travel, and start browsing the results. Within a minute or two, we turned up groups for black women, single parents, sailors, seniors, Catholics, outdoorsy types, and every other kind of person or interest imaginable!
New Orleans Singles Clubs
When my friends and I turned 18, it was a thrill, because the clubs were finally open to us. We’d always been curious about them, and soon most Saturday nights (at the very least) found us at one. We sang, danced, laughed, and — most important — met boys. With music playing and friends at your back, breaking the ice with someone feels a lot less scary. Thrillist keeps a long list of the top clubs in New Orleans (with details on location, pricing, and hours), so have a look:
New Orleans Chat Rooms
The moment AOL launched and brought chat rooms to everyone, I signed up, silly username and avatar included. Most of the time I just talked with my friends after school, but now and then a group of us would pop into a chat room to talk with people around the world. Chat rooms haven’t lost any popularity since then. You actually have more of them to pick from today, along with better tools for connecting. Below, we’ve singled out five chat rooms that suit New Orleans singles perfectly.
New Orleans Personals
Mention personals and most people picture newspaper personal ads, which singles used to rely on for finding dates. Now that nearly everything has moved online, though, personals are far more convenient. Enter your gender, age, and zip code, and you’re good to go. Among the most successful, best-known personals sites are Craigslist, Backpage, DoULike, ClassifiedAds, and DateHookup, and each has a section just for New Orleans singles.
Attend Saints, Green Waves, or Pelicans Games
Take away its sports teams — the Saints, Pelicans, and Green Waves, to name a few — and New Orleans wouldn’t feel like itself. Whether you’re into basketball, football, hockey, boxing, baseball, or lacrosse, you’ll easily find a game or event to catch.
In a sports mecca like New Orleans, is there a better place to bond with fellow fans than a packed, fun-filled game?!
And because you already share something with everyone in the stands, conversation should come pretty naturally. Talk over Drew Brees’ last throw with the person beside you, trade a high five with the guy or girl in the beer line after a great play, or find out where someone got their old-school jersey.
Take an Educational or Fitness Class
My dad always told me never to quit learning new things, even once high school and/or college are behind you. That alone makes adult classes worth considering — and you’ll have a whole group around you as you learn!
You’ll find New Orleans classes in rock climbing, drawing, sewing, dance, and we could keep going.
Being out of school doesn’t mean your learning has to end. An adult class does a great job of broadening your horizons and introducing you to lots of new people.
For a class that appeals to you, browse Noafa.com, Eventbrite.com, or NewOrleansOnline.com. You can also do your own Google search for “New Orleans adult classes.” Before long, your calendar will be packed!
Get Involved in the Community
A big part of what makes New Orleans so wonderful is its people, who love the city and its charm and put in the work to keep it wonderful. Donate your time and resources to local nonprofits and community members if philanthropy is something you’re passionate about. Most likely you’ll be working alongside a group, which gives you a chance to bond while giving back.
Volunteering lets you do some good for New Orleans while getting together with people who share your values.
The SPCA, Hands On, Habitat for Humanity, and the Audubon Nature Institute can always use an extra hand. Got a different cause close to your heart? Google, your trusty friend, can point you there, too.
Have Your Dog Play Wingman at the Park
About a year ago I got my first dog, and whenever he comes out with me, loads of people walk up to ask about his breed, his age, and whether they can pet him. Striking up conversations with strangers couldn’t be easier: I answer their questions, ask if they’ve got a dog of their own, and then we swap stories. If you’ve got a dog, too, you won’t find a better wingman/woman.
Hardly anyone can resist a dog, so if you own one (or know someone who does), let your four-legged friend get the ball rolling with a cute girl or guy.
Everything you could want to know about New Orleans dog parks — Wisner Dog Park, the Dog Levee, Lafreniere Bark, and NOLA City Bark (pictured above) among them — is on BringFido.com.
Meeting Singles In The Big Easy Is, Well, Easy!
My friend and her husband don’t live in New Orleans anymore, but they go back whenever they can, and the city will always be close to their hearts. New Orleans is one of a kind, and there’s no shortage of dating opportunities. We’ve handed you plenty of ways to get started, so all you have to do now is pick any tip in this guide and get moving!
Photo sources: neworleanssaints.com, curbed.com, eventbrite.com, timetravelturtle.com, groupon.com, meetup.com, bestofneworleans.com, tikiroom.com, peiyinbbs.com, onlyinyourstate.com, imbibemagazine.com, neworleans-food.com, neworleansonline.com
About the Author
By: James Thompson
Editor
James Thompson oversees content strategy and article opportunities at thecandiddate.com.
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