Greensboro is the third most populous city in North Carolina with an estimated population of more than 307,000 people. The North Carolina metropolis is home to many fun attractions, including the Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe water park, the International Civil Rights Museum, the Greensboro Symphony, and the Wyndham Golf Championship.
However, some residents still call it “Greensboring.” CUDavidBanner posted in a discussion forum asking residents if the city was truly a bore for young singles, and he got mixed feedback. One longtime resident said, “It’s what you make out of it and what kind of personality you have. I personally loved Greensboro — I still do.”
If you’re dateless and bored to tears in Greensboro, maybe it’s time to take action and make a change. Here are the top 10 ways to meet singles in Greensboro and bring some excitement into your love life.
Greensboro Dating Sites
Online dating has to be on the top of our list of ways to meet people. Because it’s everywhere. According to eharmony, 40% of Americans have used a dating site to meet someone new. That’s millions of people all milling around hoping to start a conversation and build a relationship. Whether you’re looking for a pen pal, a casual hookup, or a serious relationship, you can use the following top dating sites to find compatible dates in your area.
Best Singles Site
Our dating experts consider Match the best dating site for many reasons. For one thing, it’s also the oldest dating site. Since 1995, Match has honed its matching process and connected millions of singles worldwide. Today, it is responsible for more relationships and marriages than any other dating site or app.
- 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 for folks who are tired of the superficial college scene and want a more mature platform to meet people. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join OurTime and use its simple search tools to lock down a 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 »
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For Black Men & Women Only
Greensboro has a significant black population — nearly 41% of the population identified as black or African-American in the 2010 census — and it’s only natural for singles in that community to want to find a date who shares a similar background. That’s what BlackPeopleMeet is for. This niche dating site connects thousands of black and biracial singles online.
- 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’ve got an X-rated dating site that caters to horny singles around the world. Adult Friend Finder offers a fast-paced and flirtatious atmosphere to meet potential dates. You can cut to the chase quickly here and arrange a romantic encounter within moments of meeting someone on this sex-positive dating stie.
- 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
Next up, we have dating apps — online dating’s younger and trendier sibling. These days, we’re all glued to our smartphones at all times, so it only made sense for popular dating networks to transition into the mobile world. Tinder led the charge with its swiping craze, but now many popular dating apps have successfully attracted singles on the go. We’ve ranked some of our favorite dating apps that are free to download and fun to use.
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.
- 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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Greensboro Singles Bars
Now that we’ve dispensed with the high-tech options, we’ve got an old-school tip for you: Talk to people face to face. Next time you’re feeling bored on a Friday or Saturday night, go to a bar, start a conversation with someone, and see where it takes you. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the most charming or outgoing person in the world, you can make a new friend just by saying hi. Singles who hang out at the bar want to talk, laugh, and enjoy themselves, so they’re usually open to meeting new people.
Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Any bar with five skeeball machines has my vote for the best bar in town. The Boxcar Bar + Arcade has taken North Carolina by storm with its fun gameplay and delicious drinks specials. Talk about an engaging place to meet people. You can make a friend simply by challenging someone to Guitar Hero, foosball, or Pacman. Plus, the outdoor wood-fire pizza kitchen offers a cheesy slice to munch on between games. Every week, the Boxcar Bar + Arcade holds exciting tournaments where you can test your skills, win prizes, and meet tons of interesting and talented people.
Hops Burger Bar
Hops Burger Bar had me at "burger." Add in craft brews and a chill atmosphere, and you've got a great spot to pick up a date. Every week, the bar features a unique burger bursting with flavor. Whether you like your burgers smothered in cheese, dripping with bourbon sauce, or topped with a fried egg, this place has it all. You can even find housemade veggie patties made out of nuts or mushrooms and cauliflower. The build-your-own burger menu is enough to make anyone's mouth water. You can also get an order of fries (they have everything from buffalo fries to zucchini-carrot chips) to share with someone special.
The Bearded Goat
The Bearded Goat isn't just memorable for its funny name — the neighborhood bar is known for its unique drink specials and friendly staff members. It doesn't serve food, but it does serve smiles. You can often hear the bartenders making jokes with patrons and cheering on their favorite football and basketball teams right alongside everyone else. This come-as-you-are atmosphere is great for singles on the town. Plus, the outdoor patio is dog-friendly so you can bring your pup along as your wingdog. One Facebook review described the Bearded Goat as "just a good place to have an honest drink in a room full of folks you would be happy to get to know better." Sounds like an excellent date spot to me.
913 Whiskey Bar & Southern Kitchen
If you're ever hankering for a plate of chicken and waffles, the 913 Whiskey Bar & Southern Kitchen has you covered. This culinary landmark serves classic Southern fare that tastes every bit as good as it looks. The bar also stocks over 100 whiskeys to pair with your indulgent meal. Because you might as well treat yourself if you're going out anyway, right? This eatery's casual atmosphere is perfect for daters who enjoy good food and great company.
Stumble Stilskins
Located on Market Street, Stumble Stilskins prides itself on being a friendly neighborhood hangout for Greensboro natives. You can stumble in this sports bar any day of the week for a good time. The bar stays open late (until 2 a.m. every night) and welcomes people of all backgrounds and team colors. Whether you're there for a trivia night, a game day, or a bingo game, you're sure to have a great time in this crowd. Stumble Stilskins doesn't put on airs. Its mission is to serve cold beers, affordable drinks, and the best wings in town. Come by and give them a try!
M'Cloul's Public House
Finally, we'll round out our list with a good old-fashioned Irish pub. M'Coul's Public House is a Celtic watering hole serving a variety of British, American, and Irish comfort dishes. Whether you're in the mood for the Dublin Burger, Corned Beef Hash, or Irish Spring Rolls, you can find something to satisfy your taste buds. We recommend finishing your meal with M'Coul's famous bread pudding or a root beer float. Wait times can run long here, so be sure to make a reservation if you're headed there with a group of friends or a hot date.
Greensboro Speed Dating
If hanging out at a bar or scoping for dates online is too time-consuming for you, we recommend looking up a local speed dating event. These events provide a lot of entertainment and dozens of romantic opportunities. The best part is that you don’t have to waste more than five minutes on a bad date. The tinkling of the bell will set you free from an awkward conversation, and you don’t have to follow-up with anyone you didn’t like. At the end of the night, the event organizers ensure participants walk away with the contact information of their mutual matches.
Greensboro Singles Events
Singles events are similar to speed dating events, but without the pressure to form a connection right away. You can mingle at your own pace here and pursue dates based on your own interests. It’s less structured than speed dating, but it’s also more customizable. You can make the experience your own by choosing a general or themed singles event near you. LockAndKeyEvents.com is a well-known events organizer in the US, and it frequently hosts parties in G-Boro. Click the link to find out more.
Greensboro Singles Clubs
Greensboro’s downtown area has grown significantly in the last decade. Local officials have invested heavily in development programs that fostered a walkable, friendly, and thriving downtown scene. You can see the fruits of those efforts as you walk from club to bar to club in the evening. This trendy area has an active nightlife populated primarily by outgoing college students seeking fun, romance, and excitement.
Greensboro Chat Rooms
I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a homebody, and going outside to talk to people just doesn’t always seem worth it to me. That makes dating quite a challenge. Fortunately, online chat rooms can provide introverted singles like myself a way to connect with the big bad world without stepping a foot outside. You can join a local chat room to chat up people in your neighborhood and see if anyone in particular catches your eye. It’s a low-commitment, introvert-friendly way to practice flirting and build confidence in your ability to pick up a date.
Greensboro Personals
A century ago, singles didn’t have nearly as many ways to connect as we have today. In fact, one of the most popular ways to signal that you were looking for a spouse was to place an ad in the local newspaper. That practice is still alive and well today, actually, but it’s gone digital. Singles can now publish a dating personals ad on a website where thousands of folks can see it. You don’t have to go into much detail with your profile. Just state your name, age, and what you’re looking for, and then wait for the responses to start rolling in!
Put on Your Cleats & Join a Co-Ed Sports Team
Sports bring people together to root for the same cause, work toward the same goal, and celebrate a collective achievement. That makes it an ideal setting for building bonds with people who share your interests. Singles can get in the action and sign up for a sports team to meet folks at regular practices and games.
Greensboro’s adult kickball league is active in the spring and fall.
The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Athletic Section organizes youth and adult sports programs throughout the year. Its goal is to create a positive environment where Greensboro residents can lost themselves in the love of the game. You can join a basketball league, a kickball team, or another sports team to expand your social network and score a date at the same time.
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to have fun playing a sport. Intramural teams accept people of all skill levels and place greater emphasis on building a team spirit than winning a match. If you ever feel out of options in the dating field, you can always put on your team colors and try your luck on the playing field.
Check Out the Local Farmers Market
Farmers Markets invite residents to add some zest to their days and some flavor to their fridges. These community events are also a fantastic way to spice up your dating prospects. You can reap the benefits of this social environment and harvest a few new friends and love interests while shopping for some seasonal goodies.
Greensboro’s most popular farmers market takes place every Saturday all year round. Admission is free, and you can sometimes find musical performances, potlucks, arts and crafts, and other special events taking place. This casual spot allows you to mingle with a crowd of foodies and meet people who have similar tastes and lifestyles.
Open Yourself Up to Love & Laughter in the Gate City
Still think Greensboro is boring? Then maybe you’re not looking hard enough. The city is packed with fun events, groups, and places to meet new people.
Whether you enjoy yelling your lungs out at a sports match or applauding politely at the ballet, you can find something to catch your interest around town. Hopefully our list of the top 10 ways to meet singles in Greensboro has given you a few good ideas. Now it’s up to you to put in the effort and build those relationships so you’re no longer sitting around waiting for romance and excitement to come to you.
As one Greesboro resident said in the city-forum discussion board, “If you are positive and outgoing, you can meet a lot of new people, especially good-looking single ones! It’s just what you make of it.”
