In the classic musical “Meet Me in St. Louis,” Esther Smith (played by Judy Garland) spends months pining over her good-humored next-door neighbor John Truett when her father drops the bombshell on her that she’ll be moving from St. Louis to New York City. Suddenly, the young couple must endure an abrupt end to their budding flirtation.
But John doesn’t give up so easily. He surprises Esther at a Christmas Eve ball and sweeps her off her feet by proposing they get married. He boldly declares that he doesn’t care about the distance — he’s going to make sure they’re together no matter what. It all ends happily with the Smith family not moving after all and coming together to enjoy the 1904 World’s Fair as one big wholesome family. In the end, Esther and John don their Sunday best, hold hands, and smile because they know their love can overcome any obstacles.
However, not everyone is lucky enough to fall for the boy next door. Sometimes singles have to look a little farther to find that faithful friend. If you’re looking for a whirlwind romance story of your own, we recommend using the following resources to meet someone in St. Louis.
St. Louis Dating Sites
It should come as no surprise that online dating is the number one way to meet people in St. Louis. You can’t avoid it. It’s the 21st century, and this is how singles meet one another. When you join a dating site, you give yourself instant access to a world of dating possibilities, organized by age, location, appearance, or match percentage. Check out our reviews of the top dating sites for particular types of daters to get the best possible experience.
Best Singles Site
First up, we have Match, the best of the best. This dating site has been around longer than any other dating site, and it’s stayed in business so long because it has successfully paired up countless couples around the world. In addition to traditional liking and matching, the site offers many add-on features to help singles find compatible dates in their area.
- 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
OurTime is a senior dating site where singles over 50 form deep friendships and relationships. The site’s simple design and values-driven matching tools help seniors find dates who have similar goals and life experiences.
- 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
If you live north of Delmar Boulevard and are looking for a date, you probably have a lot of black singles to choose from. According to recent census data, this area of St. Louis is 94% black. However, the rest of the city isn’t so accommodating to African-American daters, who comprise around 24% of the overall population. If you want to date within this demographic, try looking on BlackPeopleMeet to find that perfect match.
- 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
Some singles are more interested in bedding down than settling down, if you know what I mean. And the typical dating site just won’t cut it for them. Adult Friend Finder is much more in line with their sex-oriented goals, offering sexy profiles and fast-paced chat rooms designed to lead to romance. If you live in St. Louis and want to find someone to hook up with, create a profile on AFF to meet potential partners.
- 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
Anyone working in the tech industry knows that mobile is king right now. The global mobile population includes over 3.7 billion users, and mobile data traffic is expected to increase sevenfold between 2016 and 2021. In response to this trend, many big-name dating sites have transformed into fully functional dating apps. Which we think is great. Now St. Louis singles can use trusted platforms, like Match.com, to find dates wherever they go.
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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St. Louis Singles Bars
We know that high-tech dating sites and apps aren’t for everyone. Maybe you don’t know what to say in your profile. Maybe you’re just done with swiping and want to actually meet singles face to face. That’s totally understandable. Lucky for you, the River City has an active downtown scene with plenty of bars to choose from. Neighborhood bars, breweries, and wineries make excellent spots to meet someone new because of the casual vibe and free-flowing drinks. You don’t need a pick-up line to win over a cute guy or gal — just say “hi” and see where the conversation takes you.
Ballpark Village St. Louis
At the top of our list of St. Louis bars is Ballpark Village St. Louis. This bustling, sports bar looks like a stadium and seats hundreds of people in front of a big screen. Conveniently located near the Cardinals Busch Stadium, the Ballpark Village is a fantastic spot to hang out and watch a game. You'll see many people becoming fast friends as they high-five over the perfect pitch and cheer on their favorite players. From great food to affordable drinks, this bar knocks it out of the park. Over 2,000 reviewers on Google have given this spot an average rating of 4.4 stars, and that makes it A-OK in our book.
International Tap House
The International Tap House (also known as iTap) has more than enough beers to satisfy you. Its 40 rotating taps include just about every craft brew flavor imaginable. Many patrons stand in awe for five or ten minutes reading the tall chalkboard that serves as a menu. You can join the iTap Passport Program to get the most bang for your buck by earning points with every purchase. When you've sampled beer from 20 countries, you'll get a Beer Tripper T-shirt. When you've tried over 800 unique beers at iTap, you'll get a members-only jacket.
Sasha's
The cozy atmosphere makes Sasha's a perfect place for wine lovers to coalesce. You can linger for hours over a glass of wine paired with a cheese plate, crepe, or salad. The wine bar also serves heartier fare, including pizzas and sandwiches, so you can stop by for after-work drinks and then stay for dinner. Just be sure to save room for dessert — Sasha's signature Crepe Amy with melted dark chocolate and a shot of Grand Marnier will knock your socks off.
O'B. Clark's
Nothing says fun like an Irish sports bar, and O'B. Clark's is one of the best in St. Louis. This local hot spot attracts sports fans of all stripes. The bar is lined with 17 television sets so you always have a front-row seat to the latest game. On Thursday nights, you can show up to watch the KMOX radio personalities and Blues players do a live post-game analysis show. Since 1978, O'B. Clark's has served up cold beers, hot wings, and cheesy pizzas to satisfy hockey, football, baseball, and other sports fans in St. Louis.
Thaxton Speakeasy
The Thaxton Speakeasy, from its low-key entrance in an alley to its ritzy decor, is the epitome of everything a speakeasy should be. This downtown underground lounge is located in a historic building on Olive Street. Doors open at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and the cover charge is $10. But, if you're on The List and know the password (which changes every week), you can get through the backdoor entrance for $5. Subscribe to The List with your phone number and email to get the red-carpet treatment at Thaxton.
St. Louis Speed Dating
Speed dating events are great because they’re designed to introduce dozens of singles at once. Participants get to enjoy a streamlined dating experience where they meet local date prospects in person and decide if they want to pursue a relationship. You certainly won’t waste time on dead-end dates at a speed dating event because everyone has about five minutes to introduce themselves and then move on to the next mini-date. At the end of the event, participants go away with the phone numbers or email addresses of the people they matched with.
St. Louis Singles Events
Singles events are similar to speed dating events, but with less of a time crunch. No one is there with a stopwatch ready to sweep you away to someone else. When you show up at a singles event, you’re in charge. You can approach anyone you like, start a conversation, and see where things go. It’s a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for outgoing singles who want to spice up their love lives. Eventbrite can help you find an opportunity to have a fun singles night out in Mound City.
St. Louis Singles Clubs
St. Louis is known for its bluesy and jazzy atmosphere, and its nightclub scene reflects that. On the weekends, you can always find a club, dance hall, lounge, or honky-tonk playing live music or hosting a local DJ. The downtown area comes alive at night. Young people drive in from the suburbs or walk over from their apartments to get a taste of the nightlife. In the early 20th century, singles went downtown to dance to ragtime music; now they head to the club to dance to pop, rock, rap, country, and a variety of other genres.
St. Louis Chat Rooms
I have spent many happy hours chatting to faceless people online, and it’s actually a really great way to practice your conversational skills and get comfortable introducing yourself to someone new. You can build a relationship without having to worry about what you look like or how your voice sounds. You can type your thoughts, and let your words speak for themselves. For me, chat rooms are a great way to make a good impression and meet friends, pen pals, and love interests without having to set foot outside. We recommend St. Louis singles give the following chat rooms a try.
St. Louis Personals
Next on our list is dating personals. No, that doesn’t mean placing an ad in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or some other newspaper. Singles go online to put up an advert for a date. Personals websites can circulate your dating profile to a much broader audience for zero cost. You simply state your name, age, gender, and what you’re looking for (casual dating, men seeking men, men seeking women, missed connections, etc.), and then write a short bio (usually no more than a couple sentences). That’s it. Once your profile is live, you can receive messages, browse for dates, and connect with the online community.
Attend Singles-Friendly Networking Groups & Events
Meetup is typically a solid option for singles who want to find a date and expand their social circles. You can search the site for groups by interest, location, or date, so it’s an easy way to find opportunities to meet people in the community. Whether you’re interested in a book club, skiing club, or hiking club, you can find just about anything on this social website. Pro tip: If you search by the keyword “single,” you’ll find a lot of singles-friendly options.
The Treehouse Network organizes monthly meetings of the minds and other events.
The Treehouse Networkshop is another good group to check out, especially if you’re looking to grow your business connections. This group caters to professionals who work in St. Louis. Its speaking events, panels, meet-and-greets, and parties welcome individuals from across various industries and encourage collaboration and connection.
Although it’s a professional group, the atmosphere is very much business casual, and the events can range from educational to downright fun.
As the website says, “We should make connections as people first, and then determine how we can help each other. At the very least, new connections mean new friends.
There's More Than Meets the Arch for St. Louis Singles
You never know what’s waiting for you around the corner in The Lou. Singles have tons of opportunities to get involved, go to an event, create a profile, and meet wonderful people in the city. You don’t have to live a Hollywood fairytale to find happiness here — just keep your chin up and look for the beauty in everyday moments.
In the end, it doesn’t matter so much where you go as what attitude you take with you. If you’re determined to meet someone of value, you will. It just may take longer than a two-hour movie.
What I love most about “Meet Me in St. Louis” is the optimistic, feel-good tone it strikes after the couples go through so many ups and downs. In the final scene, as Esther admires the splendor of the lights and crowds at the World’s Fair, she takes John’s hand and says, “I can’t believe it! Right here where we live!” Then she adds, almost to herself, “Right here in St. Louis.”
