Where to Meet Men: 15 Places for All of Us Forever-Alones

Who among us has not spent an evening alone, sat on the couch next to a cat named Pinot Grigio while sipping on a glass of pinot noir, wondering, “Where have all the good men gone?”

Many hot, available cat people like yourself believe this narrative that good men are as ordinary as unicorns (the mythical kind, not the sexual kind). You may have some real-life experience to back this up. You feel like you’ve tried everything, from matchmaking to speed dating — even taking poor Pinot to a dog park (which was a bad idea for a few reasons) — yet you’re not getting any less single.

But what if we told you that you don’t have to sit at home and lament over a bag of Lay’s? What if the secret was simply putting yourself out there and seeing what happens? 

It’s not necessarily easy, but it is simple. Sometimes, you just need to be in the right place to find a good man. And that place is rarely at home typing “local singles near me” in the search bar — especially if SafeSearch is off.

Where to meet men: 15 proven places to start 

Want to know how to meet men who are ready to share blissful nights on the couch with your two favorite pinots? Here are 15 excellent places to meet a handsome stranger and kick off the romance chapter in the novel that is your life. 

1. Grindr(!!!)

The online dating app — a tried and true classic. If you aren’t already on our can’t-miss dating site for men, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Here, you can find all types of men looking for all types of relationships, so if you’re not in the mood to snag a father for Pinot Grigio, there’s no pressure.

If you want a place to meet people and strike up a conversation, Grindr’s great for that, too. And yes — many people find the love of their life swiping on dating apps. Sure, it’s a bit of a numbers game, but you can’t play the game if you never take a number, right?

2. Airplanes

Is an airplane the best place to meet a good man? It depends; we can already hear the introverts clamoring back into their shells. To this, we say: Do you, my dear. We’ve got plenty of options for you later.

But for those who feel confident striking up conversations and maintaining eye contact while soaring several miles above the ground in a metal tube, you should ask that gorgeous guy next to you if he’s read any Jodi Picoult. 

3. Art exhibitions

If you’re into the arts, find someone who shares your passion by going to a gallery opening or art installation. There are bound to be at least a few available men there, casually sipping on negronis and arching their well-manicured eyebrows at a cantaloupe glued to a piece of asphalt.

Worst case scenario? You get out of the house, meet new people, and feel like the cultured one at brunch that weekend.

4. Bookstores

Introverts, single men over 50, and Jodi Picoult lovers alike: Rejoice! (We imagine some overlap in that Venn diagram.)

Bookstores are perfect for the meek yet sexy and anyone who’s into the meek yet sexy. Yes, extroverts can like books, too. The nice thing about bookstores is the built-in icebreaker: Just talk about whatever book they’re looking at! 

5. Places of worship

If faith is a big part of your life, you’ll want to find a good man with the same values. Whether you hit it off during after-mass donuts or while volunteering in a more secular manner at your local house of prayer, it’s not a bad spot to meet a cute guy who also goes out of his way to capitalize the G in his dating bio. Hallelu!

6. Coffee shops

Why is the meet-cute so cliche? Because it’s a thing, and it happens more often than you think. The lie Hollywood has sold you, however, is that you have to just let it happen to you instead of taking matters into your own hands. 

Nothing is stopping you from buying a coffee for the cute guy you see every morning before work. Or you could bat your eyes at the barista and see if you can sense any signals. Maybe start waving at everyone who walks through the door? It doesn’t matter; the coffee shop is one of the best places to meet people. Destiny, thy name is Dark Roast.

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7. College

If you’re a college student, this is the perfect time to meet cute guys and get familiar with the dating world. It’s also a great environment to find like-minded individuals — particularly if you have classes together.

The best part? There are endless conversation starters for you to choose from. Go with a classic like:

• “Hey boy, can I borrow your notes from the last class? I was too busy playing with my sexy curls to pay attention, teehee.”
• “Want to go to a party this weekend? Yeah? Me too. Let me know if you hear about any?
• “I heard you ask that question in Physics 101 the other day, and I was intrigued. Wanna talk string theory over an iced matcha sometime?”

You know… stuff college kids say.

8. Dog parks

We know what happened last time; we wrote that narrative for you. But trust us. If you bring an actual dog to the dog park, you’ll probably meet some good men who love dogs. And honestly? You can learn so much about a guy from how he treats his pet, so you’ll gain valuable intel just by watching him play fetch with his Frenchie.

It’s also a fantastic icebreaker to talk about each other’s dogs. Just remember, dogs don’t always make good wingmen, particularly the ones that like to pee or hump at inopportune times. But maybe if the conversation turns to humping, that’s more canine kismet than anything else.

9. Your circle of friends

What if the benefit of your friend with benefits was that you were more than friends? Maybe, just like so many rom-coms at the 70-minute mark, you’ll realize the love of your life has been right there all along. After all, he’s already passed the vibe check. You don’t have to fall in love with all your friends, but you should feel like you’re good friends with your partner.

10. Gym

The gym is a multi-purpose space. It’s perfect for working out your body and meeting guys who will do it for you — if you know what we mean (sex). Working out is also an excellent conversation starter and a much more likely place to have a gay-friendly meet-cute than walking down the street. We’re walking much too fast for those.

11. Parties

You won’t meet new people if you don’t put yourself in the room where all the new people are. One of the easiest ways to do that is to attend more parties. The next time you’ve been invited by a friend, say yes. At worst, you meet a few weirdos and have a funny story to tell. At best, you meet a few weirdos and have sex with them. 

12. Sports clubs

Staying on the trend of going somewhere that isn’t your couch, a good guys’ club for sports provides an opportunity to meet men who share your hobbies. Athletics make for a phenomenal icebreaker:

• “Did you see that shot the other day?
• “Man, I can’t believe he got drafted by that team!”
• “Gym shorts, am I right?”

You know… stuff jocks say.

13. Vacation

Vacation: all you ever wanted. If you really had to get away, you might as well bring back a souvenir! Granted, a vacation is a challenging way to find someone if you want something long-term. But if you’re just looking for someone who likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, this is how you find them.

14. Volunteering

Meeting nice guys with good values isn’t always easy, but it’s much easier when everyone around you is taking time out of their day to help others. Not only that, but volunteering will also make you feel like a rockstar individual. You’re flirting for a cause!

15. Weddings

You don’t have to catch the bouquet to snag a good man. Weddings are already pre-heated with romance, so don’t hesitate to invite someone up to your hotel room after a few at the open bar. Just double-check that he wasn’t the one reciting vows four espresso martinis ago.

Be your own matchmaker

The more you insist there’s no one out there for you, the more you’ll keep yourself from finding them. So, if you really want to know how to meet guys, it starts with keeping your chin up and your teeth brushed. Don’t be afraid to explore new connections and see where things lead. 

If you do anything from this list, download Grindr. It’s a low-stakes, high-yield way to meet like-minded men who want everything from sex to romance — maybe even both! Download the Grindr app now and get started.