Best Hangouts to Meet Single Men and Women in NYC

Known as, “The Big Apple”, New York City is truly a feast of temptations for singles looking to pick up a hot date. With a mind-boggling range of bars, pubs, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, in this city, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to where singles can go to enjoy a nice drink, get grooving and even meet the new girl/guy on the block.

The 40/40 Club

Located at 6 W. 25th St, This two-level nightclub is the place to be if you are among those singles who aim to see and be seen. Singles can expect to spot latest fashions as much as a celebrity or two in their midst which is why this place is believed to be Rapper Jay-Z’s hot spot. Music at the 40/40 Club ranges from R&B to hip-hop but to a large extent, what attracts the crowd is its fantastic décor, replete with beautiful Italian marble floors, LCD flat screen TVs, comfortable leather wrap-around sofas, pool tables, and crème swing chairs suspended from the ceiling.

The Half King

This pub on 505 West 23rd Street is the perfect place for singles who have a thing for the written word. Novelist Sebastian Junger, American Teen director Nanette Burnstein, and writer Scott Anderson own this swanky Chelsea pub and ensure that the ambience is stimulating to creative juices and the grub is good. Apart from this, there is enough beer to drown any hackish jealousy as well as get chatty with the cute thing on the chair beside you. The bar also offers Monday night readings with writers usually thought above the crowded-bar reading circuit, such as Dexter Filkins and Andrei Codrescu.

Bowery Ballroom

Located at 6 Delancey St, Bowery Ballroom is a singles bar that is definitely for the party-goer. Live music and large crowds are key elements of what make this place rock. Since the club opened in 1998, it has been dubbed one of the most popular and best party places in NYC.

Rockwood Music Hall

On 196 Allen Street This intimate Lower East Side venue that hosts performances by musicians daily from 6 p.m. to midnight. Perhaps the best part of this popular singles hangout is that there’s no cover charge. So even if you don’t meet your soul mate, you’ll likely catch a glimpse of the next big thing on the music scene.

Black and White

This East Village favorite on 86 E. 10th St booths for daters and a lively bar scene for singles which are a mix of New York University students and 30-something sophisticates.  Every night but Sunday, you can follow dinner with a tasty dessert of the Clash or Elvis Costello, served up by rotating DJs. However arrive early on weekends, since the crowd can get quite thick as the evening wears on.

Last Exit

Last Exit on 136 Atlantic Avenue is a Classic Brooklyn pub with a very vibrant singles scene which is a mix of young professionals, lawyers from the nearby courthouse as well as smart and sexy swish set.  The pub boasts of a busy schedule of events including weekly live performances and music, ranging from cool jazz to hard techno. With a lovely outdoor garden that serves as lantern-lit retreat in warm weather, Last Exit strikes the perfect balance between being a cozy local bar and a hipster lounge.

Bemelmans Bar

Some bars are for drinking, some are for people watching. Hotel bars combine the two and none more so than the Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel 76th St. the go-to venue in the area for the rich and dissolute, Bemelmans bar has a diverse singles scene, ranging from nearby midtown strollers, ladies of leisure to trysting couples and wide-eyed hotel guests. It is named after Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline books, whose murals of animals mid-frolic adorn the walls of the bar. The drinks - including the addictive Old Cuban, a mojito topped with champagne - are pricey but if people watching is what gets you going, it is more than worth it.

Masa

As one of the major lifestyle centers of the world, New York City is famous for its mind-boggling range of cafes and restaurants where at one extreme you can spend a month’s paycheck on a single dinner or can partake of a hearty meal without emptying your wallet. While famous French haute cuisine restaurants like Le Bernardin and Le Cirque are all very well, if you have the resources and the confidence to attract exceedingly wealthy singles, head to Masa. This is a Japanese and sushi restaurant located on the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle in Manhattan.  Opened by Chef Masa Takayama in 2004, this is considered one of the most expensive restaurants in the world, and perhaps the most expensive restaurant in New York City. Little wonder then that the fine dining destination has only twenty-six seats which are reserved months in advance.

Nelson Blue

Completely opposite in ambience and clientele is Nelson Blue, a New Zealand-centric restaurant by South Street Seaport. This place is a favorite among locals for speedy service and desirable outdoor seating while singles are attracted to it because of its casual vibes and colourful clientele. Sit on the sidewalk patio with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and be sure to try the lollipop lamb chops as you wait for the attractive girl or guy to catch your eye.

Broadway

What list of NYC hangouts can be complete without Broadway which is home to thirty-nine of the city’s biggest theaters? The plays, musicals and performances of Broadway are not only also popular dating venues for its couples but also likely places to meet new people. However keep in mind that the bigger shows like "Legally Blonde", "Wicked" or "The Lion King" require tickets to be purchased in advance, but tickets for off-Broadway shows like "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" can be bought with just a few days notice. Also if a play doesn’t fit in with your requirements, drop in at a comedy club for an evening of fun and laughter and who knows, you may find a nice-looking single in the crowd.

230 Fifth

Finally, end all that bar and nightclub hopping at this swanky rooftop locale. The 230 Fifth is home to New York’s largest outdoor Rooftop Garden. It is open all year and is always packed with an attractive crowd. Spend some time here and once you spot a cute rooftop gazer, ask him/her to take a photo of you against the skyline – if lucky, you may just have found yourself a date for the coming weekend.