About two hours north of Los Angeles on the edge of the Sequoia National Forest, is Bakersfield, California, celebrated as the birthplace of a subgenre of country music called the Bakersfield Sound. The surrounding area, which includes East Bakersfield, Oildale, and Rosedale, isn’t exactly a tourist destination.
Bakersfield is better known for its oil, gas, and agricultural industries — or the Buck Owens song “Streets of Bakersfield” — than it is for its dating scene. But with a population of more than 407,000, the city has its fair share of singles looking for matches.
The average age of a Bakersfield resident is 30.6, which is nearly six years less than California’s median age. That means many young, blue-collar singles are milling about the town wondering where — and how — they can find a partner. That’s why we are offering a comprehensive guide highlighting nine ways these daters can find the love they’re looking for in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield Dating Sites
With such a young population, most daters who live in Bakersfield are likely familiar with online dating. Finding partners has become easier through location-based matching platforms, a boon for singles everywhere, including Bakersfield. But, with more than 2,500 dating sites in the US alone, people can often be overwhelmed with choices.
That’s why it’s a good idea to start with an established site that has a large user base. If you live in Bakersfield, you want the dating pool to be as big as possible, and just selecting the right site can be half the battle.
Best Singles Site
Match.com has helped create more than 10 million relationships since its launch in 1995, and it has the largest dating pool of any platform at 23.5 million users. Users can join for free and can narrow down their options by age, interests, and location — among other categories — which can take some of the pressure off finding a match in Bakersfield.
- 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
When you’re close to double the age of the average Bakersfield resident, you may not want to be browsing the same dating sites they do. Luckily, OurTime is built to be more your speed. The platform is popular among daters over 50 because of its search capabilities — you can narrow down profiles by zip code — and its ease of use.
- 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
For black Bakersfield residents, finding a partner within their cultural community can be even more difficult, as only 6% of the city’s population is black and just 2.3% is biracial. BlackPeopleMeet has been helping black and biracial singles find like-minded partners since 2002, and with more than 5 million members, the site can connect daters nationwide.
- 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
Sometimes you want to find something that can last forever; other times you need something that lasts just a night or two. Adult Friend Finder is a site that caters to those who would rather have some fun indoors during a hot night in Bakersfield. You can easily find someone near you who shares your interests and desires by using the site’s search tools and filters.
- 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
While most dating sites are also available on mobile devices, dedicated apps are often a better option because they are designed with convenience in mind. Dating apps give you all the important information up front, so you can evaluate and make decisions quickly. An app means you don’t have to be tied down to a desktop or find a place to sit down to peruse your matches on your phone. You can check out interesting singles with one hand while holding an ice cream from Dewar’s Candy Shop in the other.
Match.com
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
-
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
-
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
-
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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Bakersfield Singles Bars
Bakersfield’s desert climate means singles often want some ice cold libations at the end of — or during — a hot day. Luckily, the city has some solid options for knocking a few back while chatting up someone you’d like to get to know. There’s a reason, “we met at a bar” is such a cliché story — because bars have always been great places to meet people. We’ve compiled a list below of the best Bakersfield bars for mingling.
Bakersfield Pizza Co. & Bar
If you're in the mood for drinks and food, Bakersfield Pizza Co. and Bar has you covered. The establishment is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and has a casual yet vibrant atmosphere for a date. You can start off the night with a couple of cocktails and an order of savory garlic bombs. Then, you and your partner can select a signature pizza from a rotating menu that features new twists on classic pies as well as spicy options for those who like it hot. And if you've saved room for dessert and a drink to end the night, get both with the Sweet Fire, two scoops of brown sugar ice cream topped with Fireball whiskey, graham cracker, and whipped cream.
Tiki-Ko
For a taste of the tropics in the middle of California, stop by Tiki-Ko, Bakersfield's foremost Tiki bar. Tiki-Ko looks unassuming from the outside, but step inside and be transported into a Polynesian paradise. Sip on a classic Mai-Tai (aka "Trader Vic's greatest contribution to the cocktail world") or upgrade to the house favorite "Mike-Tai," which incorporates high-end rum and is named after one of the bar's regulars. A visit to Tiki-Ko can make you feel as if you were far away from the fray — even though you are only steps from downtown Bakersfield.
Dionysus Brewing
If you want to meet someone with a particular taste, take a trip to Dionysus Brewing Co. to sip on some interesting beers. Dionysus doesn't just brew your average beers, instead it focuses on barrel-aged sours and wild ales that push "the boundaries of IPAs and various styles." Singles who frequent Dionysus often know a thing or two about beer, so, if you're into craft brewing, you should find a fast conversation in the tasting room. Dionysus has a diverse tap list, which includes stouts, saisons, and cream ales, so meeting at the brewery for a first date is also an option.
Guthrie's Alley Cat
While upscale bars can be nice, rowdy dive bars can be just the ticket for meeting down-to-earth, fun-loving singles. You'll definitely find fun at Guthrie's Alley Cat, located on Wall Street, which is actually an alley in downtown Bakersfield. Locals love its laid-back atmosphere, good music, pool tables, and history. It was founded in 1940 and holds the title of "oldest bar in Bakersfield." But fair warning, if you go to Guthrie's Alley Cat looking for a date, you may also end up becoming a regular.
Bakersfield Speed Dating
While online dating may seem exhilarating and effective because you’re continually swiping, matching, and chatting, it has nothing on speed dating. You can tell a lot more about a potential match by meeting them in person, and speed dating gives you the chance to have a conversation with many other daters in a short time. Often, all you need is a few minutes to tell if you click with someone, anyway, so why would you want to waste hours on a date that you know is going nowhere? Speed dating events are often organized on a local level, so check when the next one is scheduled in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield Singles Events
If meeting and talking to 20 singles in an hour and a half sounds a little daunting, you can find a more natural way to ease yourself into a conversation by attending a singles-only event in Bakersfield. Events can be organized by a group of daters in the community who want to meet like-minded people out in the world. Singles can meet in a low-pressure setting, like a bar, park, or community center, and feel comfortable getting to know others at their own pace. And groups like these pop up all the time — you could even start a group yourself in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield Singles Clubs
Dancing to a heart-pounding rhythm is not only a great way to blow off some steam, but it is also an excellent way to meet people who share your passion for letting loose. You can tell a lot about a person by how confidently they move to a beat. Many of Bakersfield’s late-night drinking and dancing spots have a Spanish flavor because more than half the city’s population is Hispanic. So check the star ratings and find the right club for your next outing.
Bakersfield Chat Rooms
Digital daters often like to get to know others a little more organically — by chatting with them. The web is still full of chat rooms where you can meet local singles and take things a little slower before meeting up. Exchanging messages with other Bakersfield daters on platforms like Wireclub or Flirt can lead to a little less pressure when you meet up for a drink. But if you visit a chat room with dating in mind, make sure to keep yourself safe. Don’t give out your personal information and if you feel comfortable meeting someone offline, do it in a public place and tell a friend who and where you’re meeting.
Bakersfield Personals
When you know what you want, but don’t want to waste time searching for matches, you can put yourself out there with an online personal ad and let interested singles contact you. With personal ads, it is best to be completely honest because you don’t want to attract people who like you for the wrong reasons. You can also browse ads for other daters in Bakersfield and sort them based on age, location or even keyword. Another perk is that most personals sites are free to join, so it won’t cost you anything but time to get yourself out there.
Find a Hiking Partner at The Panorama Bluffs
The Panorama Bluffs offer some of the most spectacular views in Southern California, so it is no wonder so many people in Bakersfield love to visit them. Locals simply refer to them as The Bluffs and nature lovers can start — or finish — their hike in scenic Panorama Park.
Find spectacular views while hiking along The Bluffs in Bakersfield, California.
You can walk or run on one of the many well-worn trails or blaze your own through The Bluffs while taking in scenery that includes miles of farmland below. And don’t forget to say “hello” to the people you see out on the trail, you never know which ones may be single and looking to strike up a conversation.
And don’t forget to bring your pup. Panorama Park is animal-friendly, and not only will you and your four-legged friend get some exercise, but a dog could spark a connection between you and a like-minded animal lover.
Meet Interesting Singles on the Streets of Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a unique California city driven by a young, blue-collar workforce — but it can’t be all work and no play. Daters need to know how, when, and where they can go to find a match and maintain a steady work-life balance.
Singles in Bakersfield have plenty of ways to connect — both in person and online — it is merely a matter of personal comfort level. Some will go out salsa dancing for hours to find someone who can match them step for step, while others may take a more reserved approach by joining a dating site.
Whatever works for you, just get out there because your special someone could be walking the streets of Bakersfield trying to find you.
