In 2012, a 25-year-old single was considering moving to the Newport News area for a job, but the college grad worried her social life would suffer. She said she was tired of living in small college towns and craved the big-city life, and she wasn’t sure Newport News, Virginia, with its 181,000 residents, fit the bill.
The 25-year-old posted under the username Marliglas in a local discussion forum to see if anyone had any suggestions about where to meet 20-somethings.
“I am willing to be outgoing [and] actively join things in order to try to meet people,” she said. “But that can be draining… I don’t need some kind of crazy club scene… just looking to see how hard it would be to meet other young professionals.”
Marliglas’ post was read over 3,000 times. However, only four people responded, and none of them were very encouraging. One suggested traveling to Richmond to make friends, while another said Newport News was “mostly families.” We thought we could do a better job of helping singles like Marliglas find dating resources in Newport News, so they don’t have to travel all over Virginia to land a date. Here goes!
Newport News Dating Sites
Online dating is the best way to meet singles no matter where you live. Unless you live somewhere without WiFi — in which case, get out of there. Joining a dating site is free, and it allows singles to search for dates based on their own criteria. They can join a niche community based on their interests or background and then filter their search results by age, location, appearance, religion, and other important traits. Online dating is like the free-for-all buffet of the dating scene — you can show up and take your pick.
Best Singles Site
Match is the top dating site around because it’s been around the longest and has more success stories to its name than any other dating company. Match has spent well over 20 years honing its match algorithm, and its personality-driven matching system has helped millions of singles find love and happiness.
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Over 50 & Senior Sites
As you get older, you may find that it’s harder to meet singles in your everyday routine. However, OurTime can take seniors out of the everyday and provide them with a world of dating opportunities. The mature dating site excels at making singles over 50 feel comfortable with the online dating scene, and it supports a safe, friendly environment to meet an age-appropriate date.
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
For Black Men & Women Only
Newport News is a diverse city in Virginia. Around 40% of residents identify as African-American, and 4.3% identify as biracial. So, singles in the black community should have plenty of viable options in town, but they can always use more. BlackPeopleMeet can offer black singles a place where they make up the majority and can find dates who share common family values, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds.
- Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
- Match System: Search by location, age, more
- Our Experts Say: BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Hookup & Sex Site
Finally, Adult Friend Finder is the best dating site for singles who are solely interested in getting laid. No relationships. No strings. Just sex. This adults-only community facilitates short-term hookups between singles and swingers looking for a wild time with an adventurous partner.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Popular Dating Apps
Once upon a time, Virginians had to rely on the James River to carry their messages and trade goods to distant lands. Now, locals can rely on mobile technology to help them travel the world without actually traveling anywhere. Today’s singles use dating apps to voyage across the dating scene from the comfort of their own homes. Thanks to dating apps, you can view matches from around the corner or across the country, and find the mutual match who’s right for you.
Match.com
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
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About the App:
Available via the App Store and Google Play, Match is a fantastic app for dates and relationships. With a user base of 30 million singles, Match is where you’ll have a high chance of success. It’s free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
eharmony
- Relationships: Long-Term Relationships, Marriages
- Match System: Get daily match suggestions
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About the App:
Responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S., eharmony is among our top picks for relationship-minded heterosexual singles. To become a member, add the app to your phone (iOS or Android) and then take its 29 Dimensions® of Compatibility Matching Quiz. It’s absolutely free to do both these things — as well as receive matches and communicate during other special events.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
OurTime.com
- Relationships: Dating and Relationships
- Match System: Search by age as well as zip, gender, more
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About the App:
Made just for single seniors, OurTime is one of the most well-known niche dating apps. It’s a fun and straightforward app with simple swiping features. Once two people swipe right on each other, they can communicate. For more match options, visit the ConnectMe and I’m Interested pages.
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Newport News Singles Bars
Newport News has an edgy downtown strip where singles can mix things up and meet new people. It’s a colorful and rowdy place to share a round of drinks and land a hot date. You can challenge your crush to a game of darts or pool, or you can listen to live music while whispering sweet nothings in someone’s ear. The bar scene invites flirtation and excitement. If nothing else, you’ll at least come away with a good story.
Brickhouse Tavern
Brickhouse Tavern is a low-key pizzeria and bar where you can share a New York-style pizza or a plate of wings while listening to live music or karaoke. This place is cheesy in all the right ways. The bar's daily deals keep locals coming back for more pizza and wings, and its open-mic nights usually end in raucous laughter. This local Italian restaurant gets pretty crowded around dinnertime, so be sure to show up early if you want to grab a table. Otherwise, you can always pull up a chair at the bar.
Sandbar Grill & Pub
You don't need a formal invitation to show up at Sandbar Grill & Pub and start playing darts or throwing back cheap drinks. This midtown dive welcomes newcomers and regulars alike. It's always time to party here. The bar hosts karaoke nights five nights a week and stays open until 2 a.m. seven nights a week. You can try your luck on the slots machine or test your skills at pool. Or you can just sit back, order a beer, and have a conversation in a friendly, neighborhood hangout.
The Cove Tavern
The Cove Tavern has created a tropical paradise in the heart of Virginia. Its fruity drinks, indulgent dishes, and breezy atmosphere make visitors feel as if they're on vacation. Anyone visiting the City Center at Oyster Point can't help but gaze with longing at the bar's colorful drinks and the kitchen's imaginative sandwiches and subs. If you're looking for a taste of island life, you can stop by the Cove Tavern for a refreshing and relaxing meal.
My Neighbors' Pub
With rows of pool tables and shelves of liquor, My Neighbor's Pub keeps singles over 21 entertained all night long. It feels more like a friend's basement hangout than a bar. The atmosphere is chill, and that makes it easier to get in your comfort zone and make new friends. This neighborly spot serves classic pub grub, including homemade chips and juicy burgers, and has a jukebox in the corner to help locals set the mood.
Craft 60 Ale House
Craft 60 Ale House is a popular sports bar with a rotating craft beer list that has, you guessed it, over 60 different types of ale. The house draft list showcases flavorful beers you won't find anywhere else. Whether you're in the mood for something light and sour or dark and sweet, the menu has a little something for everyone. On the weekends, the bar often invites bands to play upbeat music and get everyone feeling good.
Circa 1918
Circa 1918 is an old-fashioned and intimate eatery with a top-notch wine list. The charming bar and restaurant often hosts couples looking for an indulgent evening. The bar's sparkling lights and high-end cuisine make it a perfect date spot. You'll need to make a reservation if you want a table for two, but singles can always sit at the bar or on the patio and enjoy a three-course meal in a famously romantic atmosphere.
Newport News Speed Dating
Mariners know that the fastest way to any destination is as the crow flies, but that isn’t always an option for singles scouring the local dating scene. That’s why it’s important to jump on speed dating events when they come around. You may not find them on the calendar all the time, but speed dating events offer a fun and productive night for singles who want to skip the small talk and make a real connection. You can look on Eventbrite’s calendar to see if any speed dating events are happening near you.
Newport News Singles Events
Singles can’t just walk outside and expect to find viable date options all around them. Some places attract more families than singles, and some activities don’t lend themselves to conversation and connection. Singles events offer the best of both worlds because they invite people to get to know one another based on a common interest. Some singles events focus on an outdoor activity (hiking, boating, or biking), while others involve more low-key gatherings at coffee houses, movie theaters, or bowling alleys. You can find singles events of all types on Meetup and get active in the community.
Newport News Singles Clubs
You never know what can happen when the lights go down and music goes up at the local nightclub. You could end up dancing all night long with a nameless hottie who caught your eye at the bar, or you could flit from partner to partner in a crowd of attractive singles. It’s up to you to navigate the dance floor as you see fit and pursue the people you find most appealing. Nightclubs allow singles to walk on the wild side and pick up a date without having to say a word.
Newport News Chat Rooms
Chat rooms may seem old school, but they’re still around because they offer a satisfying, low-pressure environment where singles can just be. You can log in at any time of day and find someone online and willing to have a conversation. Unlike the club scene, chat rooms rely on conversations to build relationships. You can’t get by on looks alone. Singles can hone their flirtation skills in convo after convo, and it’s great practice for the real world.
Newport News Personals
What you see is what you get when you’re looking for dates on a dating personals site. These platforms act as no-muss, no-fuss dating sites where singles post ads instead of profiles. What’s the difference? Dating ads get to the point and skip the boring details. Singles quickly state who they are and what they want, and they invite anyone interested in knowing more to send a message. The good news is messaging is often free on personals sites so you can get to know a lot of people without spending a cent.
Volunteer to Make the Community a Little Brighter
Volunteerism is a wonderful way to get out of your head and join a worthwhile community effort. You can do fulfilling work alongside a compassionate team and make the most of your free time. Instead of spending a weekend trolling for dates and thinking about yourself, you can do a good deed, meet kindhearted folks, and enjoy the good karma that comes from volunteer work.
When you volunteer with a nonprofit, you surround yourself with high-quality people.
The Daily Press listed over a dozen local volunteer opportunities to help Newport News residents decide where they can do the most good. Some of these opportunities include working with animals or children, while others revolve around a team-building day cleaning up parks or serving meals to the homeless. You can also check the Volunteer Peninsula calendar for chances to get involved and make a difference in the area.
Singles can expand their horizons through volunteerism. It doesn’t matter if you’re walking dogs or stuffing envelopes — as long as you choose a cause you believe in. It’s easy to bond with people who share your hopes and values, and that’s what makes a team of volunteers so great for building sustainable relationships.
Get Out There & Turn Bad News Into Good News
Newport News may seem intimidating at first, but newcomers can find a home in the community if they go to the right places. Local singles don’t have to travel out of town to find someone worth getting to know in town. They can check out a local bar or dating site to find desirable date prospects, or they can start helping out at a nonprofit to gain a new perspective on Newport News.
We sympathize with singles like Marliglas who haven’t quite figured out where to go to meet people, so we’ve come up with a list of ways to meet people to help them get a running start at a brand-new dating life. You can use these resources to make something happen and build lasting relationships in Newport News.
Whether you’re looking for a new friend, a love affair, or a lifelong partner, you can find the right match by diving into the Newport News community with both feet. Good luck!
