Finding romance in the digital age looks a bit different than it did even 5 or 10 years ago, but rest assured that the dating pool is as alive and bustling as ever, so long as you know where to look. That’s why we chatted with dating coach and matchmaker Cher Gopman to get the inside scoop on the best places to meet single women, from the traditional bar or coffee shop to the more surprising meet-cute spots.
Things You Should Know
- Visit a bar, club, party, or casual hangout with your friends to meet people in a relaxed, social setting, where they’re likely to be looking, themselves.
- Make a profile on a dating app to chat with singles in a low-stakes format that lets you see many romantic options at once.
- Join a hobby group or take classes based on your personal interests to meet like-minded people in a more intimate group setting.
Steps
Approaching Women
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Start a conversation by talking about the place, or the context. You always have something in common, which is where you are and what’s happening around you. Approach a woman by asking a question about your location, or what she’s doing, to get her attention in a casual, comfortable way. [5] X Research source For example, try:
- “Do you know what kind of flowers these are?”
- “What breed of dog is that?”
- “Is that the new iPhone? Do you like it?”
- “Do you know what’s going on over there?”
- “What are you eating? Looks delicious!”
EXPERT TIPDating CoachJohn Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.Simple observations can work well, too. For instance, you might notice her outfit or mention an interesting detail of the space. Comments like these show genuine interest and can keep a conversation going.
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Keep your body language open and friendly. Dating coach Cher Gopman says, “a smile allows the other person to feel at ease with you. Make sure you have that strong eye contact…Showing that you're really present in the moment is a signal for flirting.”
- Also, avoid crossing your arms, keep your shoulders loose, and strike a casual, easy pose, like leaning your weight on one leg.
- Always approach from the side or the front. Approaching from the back may startle a stranger, which doesn’t make a great impression, and puts them on guard.
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Relax, don’t overthink it, and go with the flow of conversation. Treat the encounter like making a new acquaintance, rather than kicking off a sweeping love story. That makes it low-stakes and casual, and helps to keep you relaxed. Let the conversation and interaction play out like you’re just bumping into someone, rather than making a romantic advance.
- Even if the conversation doesn’t go as you hoped, you just got some great practice approaching and chatting with strangers. Keep at it!
- Reader Poll: We asked 905 wikiHow readers how they like to show interest in someone without asking if they're single, and only 9% of them said by offering to buy them a drink or food . [Take Poll] This might come across as too forward for some people, so simply have a relaxed conversation to get to know them first.
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Ask for her number just before you leave. If you felt some chemistry during your conversation, don’t hesitate to ask for her number . This is best done toward the end, both to give you time to get to know each other, and to reduce any awkward segues in the conversation. Say something like:
- “I’ve really enjoyed talking to you, and would love to chat or text again. Can I get your contact information?”
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End the conversation after a few minutes to keep it comfortable. It’s best not to linger too long. Sticking around could make things awkward, or make you seem desperate. Remember that this is just a first encounter, and romance can come later, once you’ve laid some groundwork.
- To that, don’t feel pressured to talk about romance, or even to flirt too hard. There’s plenty of time for that later, if things go well now.
- Of course, if you’re really hitting it off, stick around until the conversation fades naturally!
- Say something like, “It was great to meet you, but I’ve gotta run. Maybe I’ll see you around?”
Expert Q&A
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dating, check out our in-depth interview with Cher Gopman .
References
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0003122412448050#fig1-0003122412448050
- ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/06/the-virtues-and-downsides-of-online-dating/
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0003122412448050#fig1-0003122412448050
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201408/how-and-where-meet-women-or-men
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/optimizing-success/202206/9-easy-ways-start-conversation-stranger