If you're tired of meeting people through a screen, Sydney has plenty of ways to meet singles in person. Some are built for dating, like speed dating and singles parties. Others are just good places to meet people, where something might happen. Both work. They suit different people.
Here's a plain guide to the main kinds of singles events in Sydney, and how to choose.
Events built for singles
Speed dating
A series of short conversations with everyone of the opposite side, then you privately choose who you'd like to see again. Best if you want to be certain everyone is single and there for the same reason, and you'd like a host to do the work. Oh Hi runs speed dating evenings around Sydney by age bracket.
Singles parties and mixers
A bar or function room booked for singles, often with name tags or an icebreaker. More freedom than speed dating, but you have to approach people yourself, and it can be hard to hear in a busy room.
Activity-based singles events
A shared activity takes the pressure off talking. Good if you find standing at a bar with a drink a bit much. Check the age range and the ratio before you book.
Places to meet people that aren't singles events
Social sport
Weekly games mean you see the same people again, which is how most friendships and relationships start. Mixed social leagues run all over Sydney.
Run clubs and walking groups
Running or walking side by side makes conversation easy, and there's usually a coffee afterwards. The harbour and coastal paths are full of them on weekend mornings.
Classes
A term-long class gives you weeks to get to know people slowly. Pick something you'd enjoy even if you met nobody.
Volunteering
You meet people who care about the same things you do, which is a better starting point than most profiles.
Your friends' friends
Still one of the most common ways people meet. Say yes to invitations, and tell people you're open to being set up.
How to choose a singles event in Sydney
- Check the age range. A good event tells you who'll be there. Oh Hi evenings are one bracket each: 22–30, 28–38, 32–45, 45–60 and 55+.
- Check the balance. Ask how they keep numbers even. We cap each evening at twelve women and twelve men, and if it's uneven on the night the extra guests come back free.
- Check the refund policy. Plans change. Ours is a full refund any time before the evening.
- Check you can hear. A room you can talk in matters more than a great playlist.
- Check getting home. Pick somewhere near a station so the end of the night is easy. Our venues are in Surry Hills, North Sydney, Newtown, Crows Nest, Bondi and Chatswood.
Going alone
Most people go to singles events on their own, and a well-run event is designed for that. At Oh Hi your host meets you at the door, gives you a name card and introduces you to whoever's already there. If you'd rather bring a friend, book two seats at the same evening: you won't sit together, but you'll have someone to debrief with at the interval.
Quick answers
What are the best singles events in Sydney?
It depends on what you want. Speed dating is best if you want structure and certainty that everyone is single. Singles parties suit confident mixers. Social sport and classes suit people who'd rather meet slowly over weeks.
Are there singles events in Sydney for over 40s and over 50s?
Yes. Oh Hi runs 45–60 and 55+ speed dating evenings with earlier 6:30pm starts and quieter rooms.
Is it weird to go to a singles event alone?
No. Most people do. A good host makes sure nobody stands alone for long.
- Surry Hills, ages 28–38, Thursday 5 November at 7pm
- North Sydney, ages 32–45, Thursday 12 November at 7pm
- Newtown, ages 22–30, Tuesday 17 November at 7pm
- Crows Nest, ages 45–60, Thursday 19 November at 6:30pm
- Bondi, ages 28–38, Tuesday 24 November at 7pm
- Chatswood, ages 55+, Thursday 26 November at 6:30pm