In the 1964 Broadway musical “Hello Dolly,” Cornelius Hackl sings about a world outside of Yonkers, telling his friend Barnaby that adventure awaits in the “slick town” of New York. He wants to go out dancing, run out of money, and, most importantly, kiss a girl, so the 33-year-old convinces his friend to put on his Sunday clothes and get out of town.
In reality, singles don’t have to leave Yonkers to have a good time and meet new people. The city has grown into the third most populous city in the state of New York with upward of 211,000 people living there.
Whenever you feel down and out, you don’t need to pack a bag — you can look around and find a musical-worthy adventure around the corner in Yonkers. We’ve put together a list of ways to meet local singles to help you put your best foot forward and find romance.
Yonkers Dating Sites
Dolly Gallagher Levi takes center stage at the beginning of “Hello Dolly” and proclaims herself an exemplary matchmaker and life coach. She uses her charming meddling ways to lead singles into relationships and even (spoiler alert) fixes herself up by the end of the play. Today’s singles don’t have to rely on one person to help them make a match, however, they can get a dating site to lend a hand and recommend eligible dates.
Best Singles Site
Much like Dolly, Match has a stellar reputation among singles, and it has decades of matchmaking experience to inform its pairings. Unlike Dolly, though, the Match dating site and app don’t rely on intuition or luck to pair people up. It has an algorithm for that. Since 1995, Match.com has successfully facilitated countless relationships and marriages in Yonkers and beyond. Sign up for free to see if it can work for you.
- 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 would be the dating site Horace Vandergelder would join if he were real and not already in love with Dolly Levi. This dating site is for singles over 50 who are looking for a second shot at love. Its easy-to-understand tools make it easy for online dating beginners to get started matching and chatting.
- 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
Yonkers is a diverse city, but only 16% of its total population identified as Black or African-American in the census. Singles seeking a partner with an ethnic background may want to try BlackPeopleMeet, a niche dating site for Black and biracial singles. This national dating network allows daters in Yonkers to search far and wide to find a person who’s exactly their type.
- 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
Finally, we have to recommend Adult Friend Finder for those singles who are mainly interested in casual relationships and one-night stands. This global dating platform fosters a stimulating atmosphere where adult singles can post revealing photos and send explicit messages to a sexy stranger online.
- 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
Yonkers has more than 37 district neighborhoods, and singles can’t be expected to search them all on foot for a date. A dating app’s location-based interface can make the whole process a lot easier and less time-consuming. You can quickly swipe through date prospects in your area and focus on the mutual matches who strike your fancy. We recommend trying out the following popular dating apps, many of which started out as dating sites before going mobile.
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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Yonkers Singles Bars
Now that we’ve dispensed with a couple online ways to meet people, we have to touch on the tried-and-true ways to make a romantic connection in person. Like stopping by a bar. Local watering holes have long served as gathering points for singles in the area, and you don’t need to create a profile or pay for a subscription to hang out here. Just buy a drink and see if anyone catches your eye.
The Whistlin' Donkey
The Whistlin' Donkey is a favorite hangout among many Yonkers locals. People rave over its juicy burgers, friendly staff, and cozy atmosphere. The bar frequently entertains its guests with live music and happy hours, and it also throws large parties on New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, and other holidays. If you're looking for a new friend, head to this bar, order a cocktail, and enjoy the "wood vibrations."
Yard House
You don't often hear the words "sports bar" and "high-end" thrown together in a sentence, but Yard House makes it work. This well-known chain boasts a huge Facebook following of nearly 300,000 people. The happy hour is particularly popular with half-off appetizers and pizza as well as $2 off all beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. Whether you're there by yourself or with friends, you can enjoy one of the largest selections of craft beer in a rock-and-roll atmosphere.
Rory Dolan's Restaurant & Bar
Established in 1994, Rory Dolan's Restaurant & Bar is a staple in the Yonkers downtown scene. This Irish pub serves traditional pub fare as well as 45 draft beers and plenty of whiskeys and spirits. We recommend heading over to Rory Dolan's on Friday or Saturday nights because there'll be a live DJ there to get everyone in a partying mood. And you definitely want to be here on St. Patrick's Day when they roll out the green carpet and show their Irish spirit.
Barney McNabbs
The joyful atmosphere at Barney McNabbs quickly turns strangers into good friends. This bar is all about fun, and it goes out of its way to ensure people have a memorable time. Whether you're dancing to live music or playing a game of pool, you can come out of your shell and meet tons of smiling people here. Barney McNabbs always has something fun on its calendar. The bar brings in popular bands as well as unknown talent on the weekends, and it hosts free karaoke nights every Thursday.
Heritage Bar & Restaurant
Heritage Bar & Restaurant strives to give New Yorkers an authentic taste of Ireland and boasts being "great for what ales you." Whether you're hankering for a good cup of grog or a generous helping of mashed potatoes, this bar has you covered. Locals praise the savory food and fast service in five-star reviews. The Heritage Bar is a lively social spot any day of the week, but it really packs in a crowd during GAA rugby and soccer matches, which play on all seven of its flat-screen TVs.
Tara Bar & Grill
The Tara Bar & Grill is a quaint tavern where you can always find a cold beer and live music. This sports bar doesn't put on airs. The kitchen serves traditional pub grub, the bar makes classic drinks, and the TVs are on sports channels from morning until night. Quite a few regulars hang out at the Tara Bar during the week, and it's easy to make a new acquaintance or pick up a date over a few rounds here.
Yonkers Speed Dating
Horace Vandergelder claims that he’ll know if a woman is right for him within moments of meeting her, and many singles feel the same way. That’s why speed dating events have become so popular. The first speed dating event was actually held in New York in 1998. A rabbi thought it’d be a good way to introduce Jewish singles to one another, and it was. Today, you can find speed dating events for singles of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds.
Yonkers Singles Events
A singles event can offer locals a great way to shake up their daily routines and surround themselves with viable date prospects. You can go on Meetup to find singles-friendly gatherings taking place throughout Yonkers. Some of these groups meet every weekend or every month, some enjoy cocktail hours or board game nights, but they all provide a sense of camaraderie and shared interests that can really help you get the ball rolling.
Yonkers Singles Clubs
Some people may think of Yonkers as that quiet 19th-century town in “Hello Dolly,” but the 21st-century Yonkers is actually quite a lively and edgy place. It has even produced many great musical artists, including Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. The city has a vibrant music scene, and its most popular clubs frequently see hundreds of people dancing the night away. Singles can head to a dance club during the evening to meet tons of people and have a fantastic time in a social setting.
Yonkers Chat Rooms
Chat rooms are ideal for singles who want to dip their toes into the dating scene. They’re not quite ready to dive in with an online dating account, and they don’t have the energy for scoping out a bar or club, but they do want to talk to people. That’s literally what chat rooms are there for. You can just talk in a low-pressure environment and see what happens. Locals are always online on chat rooms, and it’s easy to form friendships during this conversation.
Yonkers Personals
Online dating personals is a great resource if you want to skip all the complicated matching systems and search filters and just start messaging people. Dating personals promote brief profiles that list the basics (who you are, where you are, and what you’re looking for) and allow singles to decide for themselves who they’re interested in getting to know further. You won’t find any matchmaking tools meddling in your personal affairs on a dating personals site.
Take the Time to Volunteer With a Nonprofit
Sometimes singles just aren’t ready to do the dating thing again, so traditional date spots or flirtatious situations can be nerve-wracking for them. These singles do best in casual social situations where they can meet date prospects organically.
Volunteering at a nonprofit organization may not be an obvious dating strategy, but it can lead to romance if you join the right team. You just need to find a cause you care about and put yourself out there. The City of Yonkers keeps a list of volunteer opportunities on its website.
Volunteerism brings out the best in people and often leads to deep friendships and relationships.
The Yonkers Animal Shelter is always taking on volunteers to help feed, house, and play with the animals in their care. You can bond with fellow cat lovers or dog lovers at the shelter, and maybe find a cuddle buddy to take home.
Whether you’re volunteering at a pet shelter or cleaning up a local park, you can make deep connections with caring folks in Yonkers by getting involved.
Find a Keeper in the Lost Borough
Cornelius Hackl and his pal stumbled into an adventure by getting out of their everyday routines, going out of town, and pretending to be big shots. They promised not to go home until they’d kissed a girl, and, by golly, that’s exactly what they did.
Yonkers residents don’t have to go that far outside their comfort zone, however, to find a date or a relationship. They can use the resources on our list to expand their social circles in one weekend.
Meeting new people can be challenging at any age, but all it takes is a little practice and perseverance to make something swell happen. You just have to be open to romance and ready to jump on the date opportunities around you. As Cornelius said, “It only takes a moment to be loved a whole life long.”
