Speed dating in Sydney: Meet someone in person, properly
Twelve six-minute dates. One weeknight after work. A host who keeps it moving, real names on the cards, and your matches in your inbox by 9am. Phones stay in your bag.
What is Oh Hi speed dating?
Oh Hi runs hosted speed dating evenings in Sydney, always on a weeknight after work: doors at 6:30pm or 7pm, home by about 9. Each evening is one age bracket in one suburb: in November 2026 that's Surry Hills, North Sydney, Newtown, Neutral Bay, Bondi and Chatswood, for ages 22–30 up to 55+, and in December an LGBTQ+ night in Newtown with one open room. You have twelve six-minute conversations in a reserved room at a bar, with twelve women and twelve men and a host keeping time. Mutual matches get each other's first name and email at 9am the next morning.
Seats are $45 early bird, $55 standard and $65 for the last few, through Humanitix or Eventbrite, with a full refund if you cancel any time before the evening. Here's how an evening runs.
Upcoming evenings
All dates
Built for real conversation, not swiping
Four promises. Written for the women in the room first, because when they're comfortable, everyone has a better night.
How an evening works
The full evening, minute by minuteBook your seat
Pick your bracket, your suburb and your price. Each evening lists its bar, and your booking email has the entrance to use and your host's name.
Meet your host
Grab a drink. Your host has your name card ready and introduces you to whoever's there. Nobody stands alone.
Twelve conversations
Six minutes each. A little brass bell. Then a fresh seat and a fresh face.
Matches by morning
Tick who you'd see again. If they ticked you too, you'll both hear at 9am.
Your card, your call
At the end of the night you tick the seats you'd like to see again. Nobody sees your ticks. Only mutual ones turn into an introduction.
Can I go to speed dating on my own?
Yes. It's designed for it. Your host meets you at the door, hands you your name card and introduces you to whoever's already there. Within a few minutes you're sitting opposite someone new, and for the next two hours you never have to start a conversation cold. The bell does the hard part.
Rather bring a friend? Book the bring-a-friend pair on Eventbrite: two seats on the same side, $45 each. You won't sit together, but you'll have someone to debrief with at the interval.
- Bring photo ID: it's a licensed venue
- Arrive fifteen minutes early
- Phone in your bag
- We bring the pens and the cards
- Drinks at bar prices, alcohol optional
Six minutes is longer than you think.
and shorter than a bad first dateFind your room
One bracket per evening, so you're meeting people at the same stage of life. The brackets overlap, so nobody falls through a gap.
Inner west, weeknights. Relaxed, a little louder, very good playlists.
City and the east, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Straight from work, home by nine-ish.
North Shore and city. Calmer rooms, earlier finishes, no shouting.
6:30pm starts and quiet rooms where you can actually hear yourself think.
Unhurried and sociable. Seated all evening, music low, nobody rushing anyone.
Close to the train home
We host in reserved rooms at good bars, picked for three things: you can hear each other, it feels safe arriving alone, and it's easy to get home.
Never run out of things to say
Press start and practise a six-minute date with a friend. Or browse our guide of first questions that get past “so, what do you do?”.
Press start, then ask the question that appears.
From the journal
All articlesFirst date ideas in Sydney that aren't dinner
16 first date ideas in Sydney, mostly free: harbour walks, ferries, gardens, galleries and markets. Cheap, unique, easy to leave, easy to extend.
First date questions that don't feel like an interview
32 first date questions to ask, from easy openers to deeper ones, plus what to save for later and how to follow up so it never feels like an interview.
Does speed dating actually work?
Does speed dating work? What it's good at, what it isn't, and how to give yourself the best chance at a Sydney evening, from people who run them.
Not this month? Stay in the loop.
Leave your details. When a new Sydney evening opens in your bracket, you'll hear first.
- One email per new evening, nothing else
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See you on Instagram
New dates, the monthly calendar, first-question ideas and the occasional relatable meme. @speed.dating.sydney
Good questions
Can I bring a friend?
Yes. Book the bring-a-friend pair: two seats on the same side (or two seats at the open-room LGBTQ+ evening) at $45 each, booked together in one order. For now it's on Eventbrite only, and every event page links to it. You won't sit together, but you'll have someone to debrief with at the interval and on the way home.
How much does it cost?
Early bird $45 · Standard $55 · Last seats $65, plus a small booking fee. Every tier is on sale at once and the early-bird seats go first. A seat covers a reserved area, your host, name and match cards, twelve conversations and your matches by email. Drinks are at bar prices.
How long does it go for?
About two hours. Arrive fifteen minutes before the start, conversations begin shortly after a two-minute welcome, there's an interval at halfway, and cards go in around the two-hour mark. Stay and mingle afterwards if you like.
What should I wear?
Whatever you'd wear to drinks with a friend after work. Comfortable beats impressive. More on what to wear.
What if I don't match anyone?
Nothing is shared and nobody knows. You've still had twelve real conversations and a good night out.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. Cancel any time before the evening for a full refund. Booked on Humanitix? Cancel from your order email and it's automatic. Booked on Eventbrite? Request it through Eventbrite up to the day before, or message us on the day. Refund policy.