It’s not easy to dive into the dating scene after you’ve been out of it for a while. A 25-year-old single mother in Laredo, Texas, had trouble starting over after her divorce. After three years of being in the market and not meeting anyone special, her sister-in-law took to Reddit to ask locals for advice. Because that’s what family’s for, right?
“Her main problem is meeting new people,” the sister-in-law explained. “I’m hoping someone can name some upcoming events or places where other people her age hang out, and she can meet new people. I figure expanding her social circle would help her dating game.”
A few people posted suggestions, but no one went into much detail about where or how to meet singles in the area. If you want to know the best singles hangouts in Laredo, you don’t have to trust Reddit for guidance. You can use our list of the top 9 ways to meet singles in Laredo to make a local love connection.
Laredo Dating Sites
First up, we have online dating. Maybe you’ve tried this before, and it didn’t work. However, it’s possible you just weren’t using the right site for you. Different dating sites serve different needs, and it’s important to choose a site that suits your interests and goals. Singles in the U.S. have over 2,500 dating sites to choose from, and we’ve narrowed them down to the cream of the crop to help you make a choice selection.
Best Singles Site
People often ask me what the best dating site is, and I don’t hesitate to tell them — it’s Match. Since 1995, this dating site has led to more dates, relationships, and marriages than any other dating site, and its network includes millions of people around the world.
- 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
It takes less than a minute to create a profile on OurTime, a premier senior dating site. This network caters to the over-50 crowd, so the platform gets rid of flashy features and complex matching systems to provide a more traditional online dating experience based on common values and shared experiences.
- 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
Less than 1% of Laredo’s population identifies as African-American, so anyone seeking a black or biracial date in this city is going to have a rough time. We recommend joining BlackPeopleMeet if you want to diversify your dating prospects. This black-friendly dating site cultivates an environment where it’s easy to meet local dates who have similar cultural backgrounds.
- 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
Not everyone in the dating scene is playing for keeps. Some singles are more interested in having an exciting short-term romance than making a long-term commitment. General dating sites may not satisfy these desires, but Adult Friend Finder does. This hookup site boasts having the world’s largest sex and swinger community, and it’s free to join and browse its flirty profiles.
- 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 serve the modern dater looking for romance on the go. Thanks to mobile technology, singles now have a convenient way to connect with dates and build a relationship based on mutual attraction. Many popular dating sites now offer companion dating apps so members can stay in the know wherever they go. Here are some reviews of the top general dating apps available today.
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
Laredo Singles Bars
If you don’t want to bother with setting up profiles and connecting online, you can always use the tried-and-true dating method of picking people up at the bar. It’s low-tech and cost-efficient, and it’s often a lot of fun. Lareda’s bar scene is particularly popular among college students from Texas A&M International University. We’ve reviewed some of the best bars in town to help you take your flirting game up a notch and ride off into the sunset that much sooner.
Charlie's Corona Bar & Grill
Charlie's Corona Bar & Grill is a popular Mexican bar with a low-key atmosphere. Since 1987, the bar has established itself as a great place to decompress after exams or a hard day at work. You can settle in with a plate of chicken flautas or fried gumbo shrimp and wash down your meal with a signature margarita or a cold bottle of Corona. Charlie's Corona Bar & Grill is undeniably popular among locals. It has over 2,000 followers on Facebook and hundreds of five-star reviews.
The Happy Hour Downtown Bar
You can probably guess what The Happy Hour Downtown Bar is known for in Laredo. It's pretty much always happy hour here. The bar serves $5 pitchers and $3 beers from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Daters on a budget are going to love it here. This place definitely gives you a great deal no matter what you're drinking. "I recommend this place to locals and everyone passing through," said Alejandro in a review. "Way to bring downtown Laredo to life!"
On the Rocks Tavern
In the mood to listen to live music? Then the On the Rocks Tavern is the place for you. This rocking bar is a fantastic place to have a couple drinks and listen to some tunes in a laid-back setting. From Thursday through Saturday, this bar comes alive with people looking to dance, laugh, and have a memorable evening. A team of friendly and outgoing bartenders make sure everyone has everything they need to kick back and rock on.
Cosmos Bar & Grill
Known for its fine dining and original cocktails, the Cosmos Bar & Grill is a cool hangout in the heart of downtown. Two brothers founded this bar over 10 years ago, and they enjoy wowing patrons with upscale dishes, including steak and lobster, as well as unique drinks, including a chocolatini with whipped cream and a cherry on top. This bar and restaurant serves classic American food and mixed drinks that are out of this world.
Average Joe's Sports Bar
Average Joe's Sports Bar livens up people's evenings with live musical entertainment and weekly karaoke nights. The bar stays open from 4:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. seven days a week, so you can take your time scoping out the dating scene. You can challenge someone at the bar to a game of pool or ask them if they want to dance to the music. Regular folks show up here looking for a great time, and they go away with smiles on their faces.
Laredo Speed Dating
Don’t have time to scour the dating scene on your own? Then you should consider participating in a speed dating event. Many companies, matchmakers, and social groups organize speed dating events as a way to get people out of their shells and mingling in no time. The event’s structured setting helps singles break the ice and cut to the chase in brief conversations with date prospects. You don’t have to waste time on bad dates, which leaves you free to focus on the people you actually like.
Laredo Singles Events
Laredo’s singles events provide residents with a fun way to get involved in a social community and bond over common interests. You can look around for date-friendly meetups where people are always shooting the breeze. Whether you’re having drinks at a general mixer or getting active in a hiking group, singles events give you the space to make new friendships and build relationships in an organic way.
Laredo Singles Clubs
Chris Cagle got to the heart of Texas in his lovesick song “Laredo.” The song offers a prayer to the small town to “not let him down” and remind his lover of all the good times they’d shared on Canyon Creek Bridge and Old Town Square. Music has a way of putting people in a romantic frame of mind, and that’s why the club scene is so popular among local singles. You can dance your cares away and create a night of passion worthy of a country song.
Laredo Chat Rooms
It’s easy to get tongue-tied when meeting someone in person. Your head is buzzing with questions, your heart is fluttering with hopes, and your words can’t keep up with everything going on inside. If you often find yourself tripping over your words in face-to-face meetings, you may want to take a step back and try meeting online first. Chatting with folks in a local chat room allows you to build a rapport and grow comfortable with someone before asking them out on a date.
Laredo Personals
Dating personals sites have given an upgrade to the age-old practice of placing a print ad for a date. Now, instead of contacting a local newspaper, you can create a profile on a personals website to attract interest from the local dating populace. Singles need only post their name, age, location, and what they’re looking for to get started. Unlike dating sites, a dating personals site doesn’t recommend matches or have complicated liking or swiping features. If you see someone you like, send them a message. Simple as that.
Volunteer With a Nonprofit Organization
Volunteerism is alive and well in Laredo, which is good news for the local dating population. If you have a couple hours of free time, you can give back to a cause you believe in while befriending kindhearted people who share your convictions.
Laredo locals of all backgrounds come together to beautify the city at park clean-up events.
Laredo’s nonprofit organizations are always ready to accept a helping hand and welcome someone new onto the team. Just decide what kind of volunteer work you’re interested in — working at a food bank is always fulfilling — and then get out there.
The Laredo Volunteer Center spreads the word about local opportunities to get involved and make the world a brighter place. Its events can range from charitable concerts to public park clean-ups. You can follow this group on Facebook to get updates about worthwhile community efforts going on in South Texas.
Cross the Border Into Love in South Texas
Whether you’re new in town or new to the dating scene, it can take some time for you to get your bearings and figure out where your scene is. Laredo singles need not post cries for help on Reddit, however, because we have the answers you’re looking for in this list. These dating resources can get you off the sidelines and into the action.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer to meet people online or offline (or a little bit of both), you have plenty of options in this vibrant college town. So make a plan, make a friend, and make a date. Good luck!
Cover image source: Trip101.com
