When a 24-year-old gamer girl moved from the Midwest to sunny California, she doubted she would make fast friends in trendy, social Orange County. This tech-savvy single gal decided to post her dilemma on Reddit and see if anyone on the web could help her.
“I’m not an incredibly social person,” she wrote. “I basically work and go home, but I would like to do something to meet a few friends.”
This is a problem facing many singles in Irvine — even those who have lived their whole lives in the OC. As people start their careers, they often find it more difficult to meet new people. That doesn’t have to be the end of the story, however. Intrepid singles, like the anonymous gamer on Reddit, can use local resources to up their games and reach out to potential dates. We’ve listed some of our favorite ways to meet singles in Irvine to help people build connections that much faster.
Irvine Dating Sites
Our dating experts are big believers in the power of online dating to connect people across borders or in the same town. You don’t need much experience at all to get the hang of how this works. You create an account, upload a photo or two, and start browsing for dates who are exactly your type. Most dating sites allow you to do all of this for free so you can get the lay of the land before you start sending messages.
Best Singles Site
An effective dating site has to satisfy a lot of different people, it has to be easy to use, and it has to have a track record of success to expand its database. Match gives users the trifecta with its global membership, straightforward search tools, and nearly 30 years’ worth of success stories. You can count on this premium dating site to introduce you to the cream of the dating crop.
- 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
Just because Irvine is a college town, that doesn’t mean the older generation doesn’t have a place here. Singles over 50 may have trouble meeting in everyday circumstances, but they can quickly make a match using OurTime. This senior-oriented dating site has established itself as the number one dating resource for baby boomers looking for a second chance at finding love.
- 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
Only 1.8% of Irvine’s total population identified as African-American in the 2010 census, and that number has held steady over the last 30 years. Seeking a date in the local black community can be difficult, so why not try the online black community? BlackPeopleMeet has worked hard to cultivate the largest online network of black and biracial singles, and its simple matching tools facilitate a stress-free dating experience.
- 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
Some singles join a dating site hoping to meet a lifelong partner, but others would be happy simply to meet a romantic partner for the night. Not all dating sites facilitate (or even acknowledge) this culture of one-night stands, but Adult Friend Finder embraces the sexy nature of its users and brings short-term daters together. All you need is an email address to sign up with an anonymous account and start making dates in Irvine.
- 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
Dating apps are like the Annie Oakley of the dating scene — anything dating sites can do, they can do better. Or, not really better so much as briefer and more conveniently. We’ve put dating apps as number 2 on our list because its location-based mutual-matching system sets singles up for success and can be accessed anywhere you go. Dating apps give you access to a virtually endless list of prospects, organized by distance and compatibility. Take a look at the reviews of some of our favorite mobile-friendly dating platforms.
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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Irvine Singles Bars
Out-of-towners may recognize Irvine from blockbusters such as “Iron Man,” “The Hangover Part II,” “Transformers,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” but locals know it’s much more than just a popular filming location. As Hollywood production crews come and go, over 212,000 people stay put and create a community where creative types are always welcome. You can become part of the fabric of this community by spending some time in neighborhood bars where locals become fast friends.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
The Lazy Dog is the best dog-friendly restaurant and bar in Irvine. Its outdoor patio welcomes pooches of all sizes and even has a dog menu of treats to satisfy your pup. The Lazy Dog restaurant pays homage to its Western roots by featuring seasonal ingredients on an ever-changing people menu. Chris Sims, the Founder of the bar, said he wanted to capture a spirit of spontaneity and adventure while facilitating fireside conversations at the bar. The result is an unforgettable experience surrounded by adorable dogs, good friends, and hospitable servers.
Anthill Pub & Grille
In case you couldn't tell from the name, the Anthill Pub and Grille is a bar with a sense of humor. The official website even Rickrolls visitors, just for funsies. Anthill Pub is on campus at UC Irvine, so it draws a very young crowd. The big attraction at this place is the burgers. You can build your own with fun add-ons, including seven types of cheese, guacamole, bacon, a fried egg, or avocado. The restaurant serves artisan vegan burgers as well as multiple vegetarian dishes to satisfy all dietary needs.
Bacchus Bar & Bistro
Dive bars and sports pubs aren't the only game in town in Irvine. The Bacchus Bar & Bistro has raised the bar by offering locals a sampling of fine wines and tapas. This neighborhood wine bar appeals to a mature crowd who knows the difference between pinot noir and pinot grigio. The Bacchus Bar serves over 50 wines by the glass and over 200 wines by the bottle, so you can delight your palate with something new on every trip. These bottles are perfect for sharing with new friends and inviting conversation in a social atmosphere.
Bistango
The Bistango on Von Karman Avenue has made distinguished itself by offering New American fare, as in classic dishes with a sophisticated twist. The restaurant's fresh-caught seafood can make your mouth water, and the wine bottles on its award-winning wine list can make a great complement to any meal. We recommend wining and dining dates at the Bistango to create a special experience. Whether you're digging into a lobster salad at the bar or dancing up a storm at the Atrium building, you're sure to have a good time at this culinary sensation.
Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails
Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails may be a mouthful to say, but its kitchen offers a plateful of deliciousness, so we can forgive the long name. Andrei's focuses on highlighting fresh, local, organic, and sustainable foods. In short, this environmentally conscious and health-conscious kitchen does everything it can to create meals that taste good while being good for you. The menu includes creative cocktails served straight up and on the rocks. Andrei's mimosa cart is a brunch-time favorite, and the winter sangria warms folks up on cold nights.
The Yard House
The Yard House is an American sports bar chain known for having one of the largest draft beer selections in the world. It has 66 locations across the country, but its home is in Irvine. You can listen to classic rock while sipping an ice-cold beer or digging into a tower of onion rings at this laid-back brewery. The Yard House's friendly atmosphere is ideal for singles hoping to build new relationships one round of beer at a time.
Irvine Speed Dating
Some people savor the dating experience like it’s a decadent bowl of ice cream, and other people treat it more like the necessary evil of eating your vegetables. You have to do it, but you don’t always enjoy it and would rather get it over with already. That’s where speed dating events can come in handy and help you move beyond the more distasteful part of the dating process — going on bad dates. The beauty of a speed dating event is that you can meet dozens of date prospects in five-minute increments and choose who’s the best fit for you.
Irvine Singles Events
Singles events take the guesswork out of meeting potential dates because you don’t have to wonder if anyone is taken. If they were in a relationship, they wouldn’t be there looking to meet people. Singles events come in many shapes and sizes — you could spend an afternoon hiking up mountain trails or spend an evening at the bar during happy hour specials. You can find all sorts of singles groups in your area on Meetup’s search page, so click the link below to start your journey into someone’s arms.
Irvine Singles Clubs
Irvine has a lively nightlife. The city has many hip lounges and nightclubs where students, filmmakers, actors, and other free spirits come together. A crowded club can help your love life by putting you in the center of the action. Whether you’re busting a move on the dance floor or mingling at the bar, you’re bound to meet a lot of great people throughout the night. We suggest looking through Yelp’s reviews to find a club that suits your sensibilities.
Irvine Chat Rooms
Going out on the town to find a date can feel risky because you’re putting in a lot of effort for no guaranteed payout. Logging into a chat room, however, is more of a safe bet because it takes very little effort to join, and you can quickly meet locals online. You don’t even have to use your full name as you surf the chat rooms looking for a date. Thanks to online chat rooms, singles can protect their privacy and scope out promising friendships from the comfort of their own homes.
Irvine Personals
The great thing about dating personals is they get straight to the point. Singles don’t have to waste time trying to describe themselves as a unique, fun-loving snowflake — instead they just state their name, age, and what they’re looking for in their profiles. If all you want is a no-strings-attached cuddle buddy, feel free to say that in your personals ad. You don’t have to play games or wonder about someone’s intentions because the profile says it all.
Go to a Community Park
Irvine has 19 community parks and 48 neighborhood parks open to the public. These relaxing and picturesque locations provide residents with a break from city life. It’s only natural to make friends in such a setting.
The picturesque setting of a public park can be a lovely backdrop for romance.
You can come out of your shell by joining a pick-up team on the field or attending a community festival or concert at the local park. Engaging in an activity is a great way to get the ball rolling (sometimes literally) and meet new people. Check out this calendar of events to find out if anything is going on this season in your neck of the woods.
You may feel awkward at first making conversation with strangers at the park, but with a little practice, it’ll become second nature. If you have a dog, you can bring your pup along to be your wingman and attract people to you.
Set the Stage for a Wonderful Love Story in Irvine
The gamer girl may have been at a loss as to how to meet people, but she did the smart thing by asking around online and trying to make a plan to turn her lonely nights at home into lively nights on the town in Orange County. We hope the suggestions in the Reddit conversation helped her make her way through the social scene, and we hope our list can help you find success in your area.
Irvine can offer many thrilling dating opportunities if you know where to go. Just choose the resources that are right for your needs and start putting yourself out there as often as you can. With enough persistence, you can land that dream date and create a meaningful relationship. Good luck!
