Thinking of dating in New Orleans, Louisiana? New Orleans is charming, sometimes even weird—but in the best way. If you're considering visiting or moving to The Big Easy, this article will guide you to all things Louisiana culture related to love and life.
The New Orleans dating scene is quite diverse, owing to its cultural and historical makeup. The locals here are more open-minded than in other parts of the country, so you'll fit right in if that's your lifestyle.
There's something for everyone in New Orleans, as this article will show you.
What Dating in New Orleans Is Like Right Now
As wild and sexy as the city is, dating in New Orleans is still a numbers game. You must put yourself out there to find the people you want to date, which means investing time, money, and effort.
Here's a snapshot of the New Orleans dating scene: New Orleans has a population of 395,009, 39.10% of whom are single. And among the 342,211 single New Orleanians, there are 71,803 men and 82,645 women. So, if you're a man looking for a woman, you'll have a grand time.
Also, new people are constantly moving to New Orleans. Aside from its fantastic annual festivals, bustling nightlife, and Mardi Gras, there are also big employers like Morgan and Company and Entergy to come work for. Likewise, Tulane University and The University of New Orleans attract young students to the Big Easy every year.
As for hangouts and activities, nothing beats New Orleans' festival atmosphere. There's enough to keep you busy no matter what you like.
Why you should be using at least one app
There are countless dating apps on the market, so it's hard to know which one is right for you. If you're looking for a relationship in New Orleans, we recommend giving one (or more!) of them a try. With such a big city and so many people coming and going all the time, meeting someone new through an app is definitely worth a shot. We've already written a guide to the best dating apps for New Orleans here, although we have two unique recommendations.
If you're looking for a casual relationship, I recommend signing up for AFF. On the other hand, eHarmony is a great app if you want something more serious.
The New Orleans dating scene is a great place to find love! These two dating services have free trials, so sign up and explore.
Where to Meet Someone to Date in New Orleans
Finding a date can be tough no matter where you go in the world. But don't worry; there's no question you'll find some fun in New Orleans.
Before anything else, understand the type of person and relationship you want. Following that, spend time in areas of New Orleans where people like that hang out. The prime spots will always possess specific characteristics:
- Frequented by singles
- Have a fun atmosphere
- Make it easy to mix and mingle with new people
- With enough going on to have a conversation
- Alcohol is a plus
- Relatively inexpensive
The first type of place that comes to mind when most people think about meeting someone new is—what else?--a singles bar.
The best singles bars in New Orleans
If you want to date while living in New Orleans, explore Bywater, Freret, and the Central Business District. You'll find that these areas have the most singles compared to other places. That said, here are some of our favorite places to get a drink, mingle with the locals, and have fun:
- Bayou Beer Garden: 326 N Jefferson Davis Pkwy New Orleans, LA 70119
- Wrong Iron: 3532 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Hot Tin: 2031 St Charles Ave Fl 14 New Orleans, LA 70130
- Tropical Isle: 721 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Polo Club Lounge: 300 Gravier St Windsor Court Hotel New Orleans, LA 70130
- Vandal Hookah Lounge: 3835 Tulane Ave New Orleans, LA 70119
- The Carousel Bar & Lounge: 214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Other great places to find a date in New Orleans
If you're used to the club scenes in New York or Los Angeles, you'll feel right at home in New Orleans. That said, The Big Easy sets itself apart with the iconic Bourbon Street and other pockets brimming with nightlife. Here are some of our recommendations:
- The Spotted Cat Music Club: 623 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- The Maison: 508 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Pat O'Brien's: 718 St Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Ticklers Dueling Piano Bar: 635 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Fourth Wall Coffee: 614 Gravier St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Cafe Du Monde: 800 Decatur St French Market New Orleans, LA 70116
- Rouses Market: 701 Baronne St New Orleans, LA 70113
If you want to date more efficiently and affordably, consider using an app like Meetup.com. You might also find our New Orleans dating app guide helpful for recommendations.
What about speed dating in New Orleans?
If you're curious whether speed dating can work in New Orleans, the answer is a resounding yes! Dating apps and bar-hopping are not the only ways to find a date. Speed dating has certain advantages, such as:
- The people you meet are there for the same reason as you: to network.
- You can speak to up to two dozen people (or more) in an hour
- Since it's a safe and controlled environment, you (and your speed dates) can relax and be yourselves.
If you want to work with agencies that focus on speed dating in New Orleans, these are the best ones:
Our Best Date Ideas in New Orleans and Why They're Great
Suppose you're ready to transition from the dating scene to building a relationship with someone special. What are some appropriate date night ideas in New Orleans?
You'll want to try something new to keep dinner dates from becoming tiresome and dull. To do this, you'll want to go places that:
- Have fun and upbeat energy
- Have things going on around you that you can talk about
- Don't involve you sitting face-to-face for long periods
- Have you both moving around a bit
- Aren't too expensive
- Won't last for hours and hours, so you can cut it short if there isn't any chemistry
- Allow both of you to feel comfortable
- Have a little friendly competition
These places and activities come to mind quickly:
- Ice skating
- Take a dance class together
- Shoot some arrows at an archery range
- Go to the driving range
- Check out a street fair (we have tons)
- Axe throwing
- Escape room
- Roller-skating
- Take a walk with your dog somewhere fun (if you have one)
- Painting class (preferably with booze)
- Museum
- Botanical garden
Because New Orleans is constantly evolving, there are plenty of new activities to do on a date. Be sure to explore and find something new together!
The first date idea that we always recommend
The ideas above can be great first dates, but we have a better idea. When people ask our team what the best first date in New Orleans is, we always tell them the same thing, meet up at a laid-back lounge or coffee shop and get to know each other a bit.
A full-blown date is a lot of pressure and isn't cheap. It takes time to plan and might involve you taking a bus around town to get there. Before making that investment, you want to know that you and your interest have at least some compatibility. The last thing you want is to get stuck for hours on a date that you knew 10 minutes in, wasn't going anywhere.
Instead, tell them you're really busy but would love to meet up for a drink to get to know each other a bit. If things go well, you can always extend the date to one of the activities above. If it doesn't, you haven't lost much. This also takes a lot of pressure off both of you so you can relax and be yourselves.
Best Date Bars in New Orleans
It's an excellent idea to take your date to a bar in New Orleans! Most bars here have unique features that make each experience more memorable— that's key if you want to make a good impression.
What's great is that each bar has a unique selection of drinks, so you can try something new every time. And if you don't like a particular bar, there are plenty more to choose from nearby.
New Orleans bars are, according to tourists and locals alike, "weird"—and they like it that way. The only way to see what they mean is to experience them firsthand. Here are some of our favorites:
- Sea Cave: 3000 St Claude, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Shamrock: 4133 S Carrollton Ave New Orleans, LA 70119
- Bar Tonique: 820 N Rampart St New Orleans, LA 70116
- Peacock Room: 501 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- The Dungeon: 738 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Three Legged Dog: 400 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Best Date Night Restaurants in New Orleans
When it comes to restaurants, you'll never get bored in a city like New Orleans. But if you're considering bringing your date to a romantic dinner spot, is that a good idea?
Whether or not to go to a restaurant on a first date will depend on how close you are to the person. If this is your first date, having it at a restaurant is probably not advisable.
The best first dates happen when you're trying new things and having many original experiences. Dining out may seem like a great option, but it's not always the most exciting thing to do on a date.
Meanwhile, restaurants are date night gold if you're already in a relationship. You can't go wrong with pleasant conversation and food when you already know each other well.
If that sounds like you and you're looking for some options, here are our favorite date night restaurants in New Orleans:
- Café Amelie: 900 Royal St New Orleans, LA 70116
- Mister Mao: 4501 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
- Irene's: 529 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Mambo's: 411 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Cochon: 930 Tchoupitoulas St New Orleans, LA 70130
- Domenica: 123 Baronne St New Orleans, LA 70112
- Costera: 4938 Prytania St New Orleans, LA 70115
- Tito's Ceviche & Pisco: 5015 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
More Date Spots in New Orleans We Love
We have some great ideas for you if you're considering meeting people and going on dates during the day. New Orleans has countless gorgeous date spots that are perfect for daytime activities, and here are some of our favorites:
- New Orleans City Park: 1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
- Louis Armstrong Park: 901 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Audubon Park: 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
- The National WWII Museum: 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- New Orleans Museum of Art: 1 Collins Diboll Cir New Orleans, LA 70124
- Ogden Museum of Southern Art: 925 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Airborne X Adventure Park: 901 Manhattan Blvd Harvey, LA 70058
- Fulton Alley: 600 Fulton St, New Orleans, LA 70130
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