Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was born in Hayward, California, in 1972. His father is former pro wrestler Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather is former pro wrestler Peter Maivia. So when Dwayne was broke and in his 20s, he decided to go into the family business. After eight years of smackdowns and smack talk, he used the World Wrestling Entertainment as a springboard into a career as a movie star.
The Rock won over audiences by playing larger-than-life characters, including the Scorpion King, Maui, Agent Luke Hobbes, and the Tooth Fairy. Today, he’s one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood.
Although The Rock makes success look effortless, it took more than muscles and smoldering good looks to get his career off the ground. As The Rock said, “Success isn’t always about greatness; it’s about consistency. Consistent hard work gains success.”
Single men and women have to put in consistent time and effort to build a successful relationship. It may not come naturally, so we’ve put together a rundown of dating resources to help locals take action, build confidence, and meet attractive singles in Hayward.
Hayward Dating Sites
Twenty years ago, online dating probably wouldn’t have shown up on the list like this one. Back then, most singles thought meeting people online was desperate and unsafe. But they also thought it was acceptable to use neon-colored fonts on websites, so it’s safe to say opinions about the internet have evolved significantly. Today, 59% of American singles agree that online dating is a good way to meet new people.
Best Singles Site
Since 1995, Match has distinguished itself as a relationship-oriented dating site. Match is particularly popular among singles who are over 35 and ready to settle down. Over the years, Match has led the pack and been responsible for more dates, relationships, and marriages than any of its competitors.
- 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
Over one-third of Hayward residents are over 45, and these mature individuals can appreciate the mature community offered by OurTime. This senior-friendly dating site gives singles a second chance at love and provides search filters and match recommendations to inspire genuine connections between age-appropriate dates.
- 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
Since its launch nearly 20 years ago, BlackPeopleMeet has become the premier dating site for black and biracial singles in North America. The platform has thousands of diverse users, and it welcomes people of all races. Anyone who’s attracted to people of color can create a profile and start searching for romance here.
- 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
Adult Friend Finder is the most popular hookup app in the world with over 95 million profiles in its database. The site gives singles and swingers a nonjudgmental space where they can flirt 24/7 in chat rooms and private messages.
- 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
Dating apps use the location settings on mobile devices to power instant connections between compatible singles. These apps prioritize matches according to proximity, and sometimes they can lead to real-time meetups with a hottie around the corner. The average online dater uses more than two dating apps and sites at once, so download a couple of the following top-rated dating apps to up your odds of meeting someone special.
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
Hayward Singles Bars
Whether you live in Cherryland or Glen Eden, you don’t have to go far to find a great bar in Hayward. The city has dozens of sports bars, speakeasies, dive bars, and other watering holes where singles gather to eat, drink, and be merry. You can linger for hours at a bar making conversation and meeting new people. We’ve picked out a few of our favorite Hayward bars to help locals get into the action.
Dark Horse Lounge
The Dark Horse Lounge serves handcrafted cocktails, bottled beers, wine, and blended drinks guaranteed to put you in a good mood. You can stop by on Sundays in the summertime to enjoy a free BBQ lunch, and the bar also offers free popcorn, pool, and wifi all year round. Every Tuesday is karaoke night, and every Thursday is ladies night, and you can look on the calendar to find out when local bands and DJs will be making an appearance.
The World Famous Turf Club
The World Famous Turf Club has created a popular garden oasis tucked away on Main Street. When the weather is nice, you can sit on the outdoor patio with a beer and listen to bands to play live music. If you're feeling bold, you can join the throng of people dancing in front of the stage. Many regulars have been coming to the World Famous Turf Club for decades, and the bartenders are on a first-name basis with many patrons and can make a quick introduction on your behalf.
The Stein Lounge
The Stein Lounge is a sports bar with all the usual perks. You have craft brews, game watching parties, a jukebox, and pool tables to entertain you. The old-fashioned bar is decorated with hundreds of mugs hanging from the ceiling and memorabilia on the walls. Since 1983, the Stein Lounge has become locally famous for it frosty mugs of beer, and it also has a decent liquor selection. The bar doesn't serve food, so be sure to eat beforehand.
Fog Line Bar & Grill
The Fog Line Bar & Grill offers a lively environment for mixing and mingling. The bar hosts football watch parties, Latin nights, stand-up comedy performances, and live musical concerts throughout the week. Every Friday, the bar brings in an R&B or hip hop artist to get everyone on the dance floor, and there's no dress code or cover charge. Plus, the first 20 women in the door will get a free drink. You can't beat that!
The Funky Monkey
The Funky Monkey has a unique sense of style that appeals to trendy folks in town. The bar serves colorful drinks and hot-off-the-grill bites. It can get pretty crowded, especially when there's a big game on the TVs, and you may have to do a little elbowing to get a good spot in the center of the action. This eclectic bar knows how to throw a good party, so check out its calendar to find social events where you can enjoy free food and good company.
Bottom's Up Club
The Bottom's Up Club is a laid-back hole-in-the-wall dive bar where beer lovers can relax and get to know one another. It's a quiet place to grab a drink by yourself or with friends. The friendly bartenders whip up cocktails and shots to order and can always make a drink recommendation based on your tastes. Many locals praise this rough-and-ready, no-frills dive bar in the heart of South Hayward. One regular called it "a red-light soaked time capsule" where barflies feel at home.
Hayward Speed Dating
Speed dating is a fast and fun way to meet dozens of eligible singles in Hayward. These events challenge singles to make a great first impression in five minutes or less, and then mark down which dates seemed the most promising. The event organizers help participants follow up with the people they like, so you don’t have to worry about asking someone for their number on the spot. Check out SpeedOakland Dating’s event calendar to find speed dating opportunities near you.
Hayward Singles Events
If you want to escape the pressures of the fast-paced dating scene, a singles event could be just the thing for you. These events encourage people to bond over shared interests. Such social gatherings naturally attract singles looking to make friends and build relationships organically. By regularly attending hiking excursions, book club meetings, or other group activities, you can expand your social network while doing something you enjoy.
Hayward Singles Clubs
Dance clubs energize daters and encourage them to let their freak flag fly. The upbeat music creates a romantic atmosphere that’s hard to resist. You never know who you’ll meet when you get on the dance floor, and sometimes a moment of eye contact can lead to a steamy encounter. Hayward offers many opportunities to dance your way into someone’s heart. Not only is it home to the longest-running gay prom, but it also has 21-and-older clubs where people express themselves through dance.
Hayward Chat Rooms
No matter what time of day it is, you can always log into a singles chat room and strike up a conversation with someone online. Local chat rooms bring people together in a safe and friendly environment. You can talk about anything under the sun here, but many singles tend to steer the conversation toward romantic topics. If you meet someone you like and trust, you can take the conversation to a more private venue and see if the online relationship blossoms into something more.
Hayward Personals
Dating personal sites are great resources for singles who aren’t messing around and want to hook up without swiping, small talking, or playing games. These sites allow people to be open about their fantasies and seek sexual partners in the area. You can post an ad yourself or browse the listings to find someone interested in meeting up IRL.
Join an Adult Sports League
Sometimes single adults can feel disconnected from the community as a whole. They go to work and come home without having meaningful and engaging interactions with people. However, singles can get in touch with the larger social scene by getting off the couch and joining an adult sports team.
Singles can meet new friends and date prospects on a coed sports team.
Hayward has many adult sports leagues to help you get exercise and have fun. You can register to play volleyball, soccer, or softball. You don’t need to try out to participate. Beginner-friendly teams are open to all. These sports leagues typically play 10 games per season and practice once a week.
The Sunset Adult Center Gymnasium also hosts drop-in volleyball matches on weekday evenings. It costs $5 to participate in this community event.
You can get into the team spirit and make a lot of new friends at an adult sports league. Whether you enjoy soccer, basketball, tennis, or even bocce ball, you can find opportunities to get involved in Hayward.
Create a Hollywood Romance in Hayward
In 1995, The Rock had $7 in his pocket and no idea that he would one day achieve international fame. This Hayward native buckled down and worked hard to change his prospects and make something of himself. It didn’t happen overnight, but his determination eventually paid off.
Singles in Hayward can take a page from The Rock’s impressive playbook by staying focused and taking advantage of every available opportunity. Hopefully, this list of ways to meet people has given you a few good ideas, but it’s up to you to follow up and start the right conversations with the right people. You don’t have to be a buff action hero to be successful in the dating scene — you just have to be persistent, polite, and proactive.
I’ll leave you with one of The Rock’s most inspirational quotes: “When you walk up to opportunity’s door, don’t knock it. Kick that bitch in, smile, and introduce yourself.”
