When I was growing up, I didn’t know how lucky I was to live in Orlando, Florida. I took the city’s attractions for granted, so even Disney World didn’t feel all that magical to me — it was just a fun place to go for a couple hours on a Tuesday.
It took leaving the City Beautiful and living in a theme-park-less part of the country for a few months for me to realize just how good I had it. Turns out, not everyone had their prom nights at Universal’s CityWalk, and not everyone went on low-key date nights to Cinderella’s Castle. Those experiences are unique to Orlando.
Central Floridians live in one of the most popular vacation destinations in the U.S., yet it’s easy to lose sight of the advantages of the sunny weather and diverse entertainment, focusing instead on the insane I-4 traffic jams and tourist traps. If you want to bring the magic back into your social life, we recommend using the following resources to meet new people in Orlando.
Orlando Dating Sites
Online dating has helped me meet many a date in Orlando. The citywide search tools and fun matching process can put you on the fast track to a storybook romance — but you have to pick the right dating site. Online daters should weigh their own needs and expectations when looking for a dating network, and they should choose one that has a good reputation and solid reviews behind it. We’ve ranked our top dating sites for various types of daters to make sure you start off on the right foot.
Best Singles Site
Match is the Disney World of online dating sites. It’s a giant name that everyone recognizes because this brand was a pioneer in its industry. Walt Disney took a risk in the 1960s when he bought 30,000 acres in a humid and rustic part of Florida. Similarly, the Match Group bet on online dating in 1995, and broke ground in the online dating scene decades before it became a worldwide sensation.
- 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 »
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Over 50 & Senior Sites
Florida has a reputation for being the dream retirement spot for people throughout the U.S. After years of working hard and enduring cold winters, many people dream of settling down in the Sunshine State. For that reason, Orlando has a thriving population of seniors. In fact, over 50% of Orlando residents are over 45 years old. Singles of a certain age can turn to OurTime to help them acclimate to the local dating scene. This senior dating network connects thousands of single men and women over 50.
- 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 »
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For Black Men & Women Only
The Haitian community has a strong foothold in Orlando. Since 2010, when a massive earthquake hit Haiti and left 1.5 million people homeless, immigrants have flocked to Florida seeking a fresh start and a stable home. You can join Orlando’s thriving black community by joining BlackPeopleMeet, a niche dating site for black and biracial singles. Since its launch in 2002, this dating network has grown by leaps and bounds from coast to coast.
- 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 »
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Hookup & Sex Site
Lastly, we have to acknowledge that daters aren’t always after a PG dating experience. Friendship isn’t the end goal for every online dater, so it makes sense for sex-oriented singles to seek a dating site that will cater to their needs. Adult Friend Finder offers a welcoming virtual playground where singles can pursue their desires without restraint or embarrassment. The site has facilitated millions of connections and helped its members find no-strings-attached hookups around town.
- 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 »
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Popular Dating Apps
Dating apps have skyrocketed in popularity in the last few years (thanks, Tinder), and they have become irreplaceable tools in the modern dater’s toolkit. If you’re trying to find a local date, you can download an app or two to help you stay connected wherever you go. The good news is that a lot of today’s most popular dating platforms double as dating sites and dating apps, so you can get that vast singles database to fit inside your pocket.
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.
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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.
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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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Orlando Singles Bars
Whether we’re partying after an Orlando City game or commiserating after an Orlando City game, locals in O-Town definitely depend on the downtown bars to help us relax, laugh, and take our dating games up a notch. Orlando’s downtown area is as diverse as its people. From the sports bars to the drag shows, the city has a lot to offer local Lions looking to get their drink on and meet some folks by the bar in the 407.
Wall Street Plaza
Looking for a wild time? Then head to Wall Street Plaza. There is always something going on here, and it usually involves a lot of drinking and partying. Wall Street Plaza isn't so much one bar as a collection of eight bars and restaurants packed into a public square. Every weekend, locals come here to let loose and get lit. The plaza stays open until 2 a.m. every day of the week. It hosts tailgates, concerts, karaoke events, Harry Potter trivia nights, and many other events. I can't think of a better place for Orlando singles to dive into the social scene and meet a ton of people in one evening.
Player 1
Player 1 ranks high on our list of the best bars in Orlando because its video game arcade and craft beer menu has a little something for everyone. This quirky bar has rapidly become a go-to date spot for nerdy guys and gals across Orlando. You'll often see couples challenging each other to MarioKart races or Guitar Hero jam sessions. The bar has dozens of brews and dozens of games, so you'll never be bored hanging out here. If you're looking for an affordable and fun night out, this is the place for you.
ICEBAR Orlando
I know International Drive is typically tourist central and therefore not the ideal place for locals to mingle, but the ICEBAR Orlando is worth the crowds and traffic. I mean, it's a bar made out of ice — where else can you find something like that? The below-freezing room offers a cool and memorable experience sipping icy drinks. After you've experienced winter and remembered why you live in Florida, you can warm up in the lounge or on the dance floor. The ICEBAR is a perfect place to snuggle up close to someone special or just chill out by the bar.
The Courtesy
The Courtesy seduces patrons with its laid-back speakeasy atmosphere and creative cocktails. This swanky spot prides itself on being a step above the rest, and you won't find a more upscale bar on Orange Avenue. The bar is only open four days a week — Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays — but it stays open late. Last call is at 2 a.m. Plus, the mixologists offer a cocktail class on the first and third Saturdays of the month to help people cultivate an appreciation for fine liquors.
Hamburger Mary's
Hamburger Mary's is an Orlando institution known for its juicy burgers and killer drag shows. This LGBTQ burger bar began in San Francisco in 1972 and expanded to the East Coast to share the love from coast to coast. You'll see people of all ages and backgrounds mingling here. Some people come decked out in pink dresses and tiaras, while others are more low-key about their night out. The atmosphere is celebratory, and it's a great spot to sit back, have a great meal, and enjoy a remarkably fun show.
Latitudes
Latitudes (now renamed High Tide) is the largest rooftop bar in Orlando, and it's one of the most popular hangouts on Church Street. Its tropical atmosphere makes every day feel like a vacay. You can enjoy a great view of the city while listening to a live DJ or band play some funky music. The bar often hosts special events, including dollar drink nights and game-day block parties. You can mingle in a young and vibrant crowd at Latitudes.
Orlando Speed Dating
Sometimes taking the faster route just makes more sense. You can spend your days snaking through the back roads and side streets to avoid the toll plazas, but, more often than not, getting on I-4 or the 408 can save you a lot of time — and keep you from getting lost on the roundabouts and one-way streets throughout the city. Speed dating is like the I-4 of the dating world. It gets you where you need to be in a fraction of the time. It may cost a little bit extra (events can run anywhere from $20 to $70 depending on the size and venue), but it’s worth it to cruise into the fast lane during dozens of mini dates.
Orlando Singles Events
If speed dating is the express highway of the dating scene, then singles events are the SunRail. It’s not as flashy or fast-moving, but it’ll get you where you need to be (eventually). Singles events and meetups offer a targeted dating environment where everyone is around the same age and has similar interests, but they may not be looking for a committed relationship. They could just want to have some fun and meet new people. It’s a casual atmosphere for singles who prefer the friends-first route to dating.
Orlando Singles Clubs
In the summer of 2016, the Pulse shooting rocked Orlando to its core. It’d be easy to imagine something so awful cowing people into staying home and avoiding the downtown scene for a little while. But over 1,000 people donned rainbow bandanas, shirts, or capes and went out the next Saturday in a show of support and a promise to each other that we would keep moving forward and keep dancing. The City Beautiful stayed lit up in rainbow colors for months afterward. We are #OrlandoStrong, and nothing’s going to keep us from being who we are and celebrating life on the dance floor. If you want to go out and let your freak flag fly, you’ll be surrounded by instant friends at a club in Orlando.
Orlando Chat Rooms
In the dark ages before texting, I used to spend hours upon hours in chat rooms with my friends. It was a good laid-back setting to pop in, say something funny, and pop back out without making a big commitment. Singles can benefit from an atmosphere like that. You can join a local chat room to practice your conversational skills and see if anyone merits a longer conversation offline. People in a chat room are always up for chatting (that’s why they’re there, after all), so it’s not too difficult to start bantering back and forth with a group of flirtatious singles.
Orlando Personals
Dating personals websites offer the same networking power as a dating site, but with fewer intrusive matchmaking and search features. You don’t have to undergo a deep psychological examination to sign up to a personals site. Just put in your name, age, location, and your expectations — and that’s it. Singles can cut to the chase on a personals site and message each other without a complicated matching system getting in the way of romance.
Show Your Orlando City Pride
It seems like the Orlando City Soccer Club rose in popularity overnight. It started with a few car magnets here and there, and then suddenly the city was awash in purple fever. Nowadays, the soccer matches in the Camping World Stadium (or the Citrus Bowl, as my dad still calls it) are must-see events full of theatrics and enthusiasm.
The Orlando City Soccer Club has a massive fan base in Central Florida.
By adding your voice to 65,000+ voices in the stadium, you can become part of a citywide movement and meet people who share common interests. Even when the game doesn’t go our way, the crowd has a great positive energy that ensures the party keeps going late into the night.
You can get season tickets to the Orlando City’s home games to see what all the fuss is about. We may not always come out on top, but what our team lacks in scoring ability, our fans make up for in sheer enthusiasm.
Or you could just show up to a sports bar during a game or to a downtown pub after the game to take part in a rowdy good time among a sea of smiling faces.
Volunteer With a Compassionate Organization
Sometimes singles get stuck in an emotional rut, and they need to bring more positivity into their lives, so they spend a day doing good deeds for the community. Volunteerism offers a chance to improve your outlook while improving the world alongside caring and giving individuals.
You can look on HandsOnOrlando.com for volunteer opportunities in your area. Whether you’re working at a food bank or a pet shelter, giving back can be a fantastic way to meet worthwhile people.
Take a Chance and Join a Club
You build relationships on common interests, so you should follow your interests if you want to get a date in Orlando. You can join a bowling league, an improv troupe, a hiking group, a book club, or any type of meetup group to make friends and pick up dates.
Meetup has hundreds of Orlando groups revolving around an activity or interest, and it’s free to join. These groups are incredibly popular. Over 3,200 people have joined the Central Florida Drum Circles, and over 5,000 people are in a vegetarian group that organizes food-based adventures.
You can expand your social network by attending weekly or monthly meetups in Orlando.
Different groups naturally appeal to different types of people, but they’re all great social opportunities. Pick whichever one speaks to your personality. For myself, I’m drawn to the Walking for Fun at Disney meetup because my parents met at Disney, so why not keep it in the family, right?
The City Beautiful is a Magical Place to Meet New People
Some people save up for years and years for a trip to Orlando, and they’re enamored by the blue skies, the theme parks, and the first-rate entertainment. It’s no secret that the tourist industry is booming here in Central Florida with over 68 million people coming here every year.
For those of us who live in the heart of tourist city, though, it can be easy to forget how beautiful the fireworks are and complain instead about how loud they are. But, if you think about it, Orlando is a pretty awesome place to live. Where else can you visit Hogwarts one day and the Millennium Falcon the next?
If you’re having trouble finding your pride of Lions or band of Knights in Orlando, you can use the resources in this list to broaden you horizons and make some magic happen in the city. Good luck!
