In the heartland of America lies one of the smallest big cities in the country: Omaha, Nebraska. It’s the sort of place where everyone is a friend of a friend. This can make dating quite tricky, especially as childhood sweethearts pair up and leave the dating pool. According to census data, about 38% of Omahans (or 24,000 people) ages 30 to 34 are unmarried. And only a portion of them are eligible dates.
Some adult singles struggle to meet viable love interests in the city. For example, 30-year-old Lisa Spencer faced a string of awkward romances following her divorce. She went on 41 failed dates and couldn’t find a compatible man. The single mom complained, “Most people I work with are married. Most friends I have, their guy friends are married. This is hard.”
Omaha has a population of 486,000 people with a roughly even distribution of men and women. The city is relatively young; the average age is 33.5 years. Generally speaking, Omaha is ripe for dating, if you know where to look. We’ve come up with nine sure-fire ways to meet local singles and grow your dating opportunities in River City.
Omaha Dating Sites
Joining a dating site is by far the fastest and easiest way to meet new people in your area. You don’t even have to leave your house to strike up a conversation and make a date. On a popular dating platform, Nebraskan singles of all ages and backgrounds can mingle freely. We’ve picked out our favorites, organized by category, to help you choose the right site for your needs.
Best Singles Site
Match.com is the Omaha steak of dating websites. The platform is simply a cut above the rest. Its very name has become synonymous with quality and credibility. Since 1995, Match has dominated the online dating industry and introduced people to more relationships than any other dating site anywhere in existence. If that isn’t a reason to sign up, I don’t know what is! You can create a profile for free and test out the matching features on this famed dating platform.
- 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 Site
When you reach a certain age, dating just doesn’t seem like a game anymore. Playing the field and swiping through endless matches isn’t satisfying for senior daters seeking a companion for their golden years. To help adult singles find love, OurTime provides a sincere and simplified online dating environment curated for daters over 50. You don’t need a degree in computer programming to use the beginner-friendly features on this site. OurTime makes it easy for daters to sign up and meet compatible dates in their neck of the woods.
- 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
Centralized in the northern part of Omaha, a thriving African-American community calls this Nebraskan metropolis home. Approximately 13.7% of the city’s population identifies as black or African-American. With millions of members and simple search tools, BlackPeopleMeet offers a straightforward channel to meeting local black and biracial Americans. You don’t have to wait for Omaha’s annual jazz festival to make a date in the local black community; simply sign up for BlackPeopleMeet and start chatting.
- 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
Omaha may seem tame on the outside, but it’s got so much more to it than hayrides and cornfields. Many young people in the city enjoy taking a walk on the wild side and exploring their sexuality in private affairs. You can hook up with a promiscuous hottie by joining the world’s largest online sex community: Adult Friend Finder. This active dating network gives singles instant access to revealing photos, adventurous singles, and sexual encounters. Whether you want a hookup buddy or a one-night fling, Adult Friend Finder can sate your desires.
- 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 almost exactly like dating websites, but more handy. A local date is always at your fingertips once you download a reliable dating app. The location-based search features let singles find one another even as they roam the streets of Omaha on a Saturday night. Below, you’ll find our favorite dating apps ranked and reviewed for your convenience.
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.
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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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Omaha Singles Bars
Not everyone is cut out for newfangled dating platforms and their highfalutin gadgets. Some folks just want to go about dating the old-fashioned way: in person at a bar. If you’re looking for a place to hang your hat and enjoy a drink with someone special, you can stop by any of the following top-rated Omaha bars.
Jerry's Bar
Open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., Jerry's Bar entertains an eclectic crowd from the early morning to the middle of the night. Founded in 1955 by Jerry Walle, the bar has become an Omaha staple thanks to its great tunes and extensive liquor selection. Singles can enjoy a cold one out on the patio or swig down a seasonal cider at the bar. Happy hour prices last all day at this hip bar on Military Avenue.
Addy's Sports Bar
At Addy's Sports Bar & Grill, good eats and good company are just a way of life. Their specialty Bloody Marys really turn heads and get people talking. Frequent karaoke nights and happy hours pack in the crowds at this popular sports bar. And don't forget to stop by on Taco Tuesday for $1 tacos served piping hot. Thousands of singles come to Addy's Sports Bar to root on the Huskers and bond with fellow sports lovers over a craft beer.
Sullivan's Bar
Instead of a stool, you'll pull up a comfortable leather chair at Sullivan's Bar. Since 1954, this classic bar has invited people to take a load off their minds and share a few drinks among friends. The laid-back atmosphere and affordable drinks keep regulars coming back for more. You can play a game of shuffleboard with your crush and enjoy daily drink specials at this beloved local watering hole.
Sullivan's Bar
Founded in 1956 as a local hangout for hot-rod lovers, Homy Inn has become well-known in Omaha for big-ass beers, flavorful champagnes on tap, and free pizza happy hours. In 2006, Esquire Magazine named the Homy Inn one of the top 50 bars in the US for its quaint and intimate atmosphere (not to mention its four flavors of smooth champagne). Rare baseball cards, vintage newspapers, and other memorabilia adorn the walls, giving a homey feel to the Homy Inn. The dive bar is a favorite of veterans, so if you have a thing for men in uniform, this is a great place to make new friends. Plus, if you run a $100 tab, you get a free t-shirt.
Crescent Moon
Known as Omaha's original ale house, Crescent Moon serves cheap drinks and pub fare late into the night. Lunch lasts all day (or until they run out) so many night owls choose to dine in at the bar. While you dig in, you can sample the bar's delicious brews. More than 60 infusion beers are on tap every day. Since 1996, the Crescent Moon has racked up awards for its tasty beers, which have earned them a spot in Draft Magazine's top 100 beer bars seven years' running.
Corkscrew Wine & Cheese
In the mood for something more refined? Corkscrew Wine and Cheese Bar has you covered. Established in 2005, this upscale wine bar serves over 700 choice wines straight from the vineyards of California. The original owners were a husband-and-wife team inspired by the idea of building a place where "Starbucks meets wine." Today, Corkscrew serves up delectable wedges of cheeses to complement its flavorful bottles of wine. Singles can also take a wine class at the wine shop to meet locals who share their tastes and interests.
Omaha Speed Dating
The leisurely pace of Omaha’s social scene can be frustrating and time-consuming. Some singles prefer to quicken things up and get to the falling-for-someone part already. Speed dating gives local men and women the opportunity to meet dozens of potential dates in one evening and pursue those with relationship potential. The Omaha Public Library actually organizes annual speed dating events for adult singles around town. Usually held around Valentine’s Day, these events have led to at least three marriages and dozens of couples.
Omaha Singles Events
Local singles events are fun and low-key ways to meet Omahans in search of a date. Midwestern friendliness quickly turns strangers into best pals, so it’s easy to build bonds at an event catering to single people. Omaha Love hosts frequent get-togethers for Nebraskan singles. Whether you enjoy lively bowling nights or quiet dinner parties, this love-oriented matchmaking firm arranges fun events within a 100-mile radius of the Omaha metro area. Some events group attendees by age range to increase the likelihood of meeting compatible people. Additionally, Omaha Love’s personalized dating services facilitate romantic success.
Omaha Singles Clubs
Dancing and dating go together better than chili and cinnamon rolls. When the beat of the music matches the beat of your heart, you can easily lose yourself in someone’s embrace and make an emotional connection without having to say a word. A nightclub gives singles the chance to revel, laugh, and flirt while the DJ keeps everyone on their feet. Yelp ranks the best Omaha clubs by user reviews, giving singles trustworthy recommendations about popular places to dance the night away.
Omaha Chat Rooms
Going places can be a hassle for homebodies. Figuring out what to wear. Where to go. Parking. It’s one big headache when the internet is right there. Thanks to technology, Omaha singles don’t have to brave the downtown scene to meet people — they can just go online. Chat rooms provide an anonymous, virtual space to practice your flirtation skills and make connections with locals who are also staunch introverts. Once you meet someone you’d like to get to know better, you can start a private chat and make a date. Many open-minded singles in chat rooms are all ears when meeting someone new and eager for a flirtatious convo.
Omaha Personals
If you want your date prospects to come to you, take out an ad. You can create an online profile on a dating personals website to attract like-minded singles in your neighborhood. Simply list your name, age, and what you want, then you’re good to go. Some daters like to sit back and let dates come to them, while others proactively search the online community for a compatible partner. Whether you’re looking for a new friend or a hookup, a dating personals website invites Omaha singles to cut right to the chase and find exactly what they want.
Go to an Art, Music, or Corn Festival
If there’s one thing Nebraska has a lot of, it’s corn. This state has corn coming out the ears. Omaha is no exception. In the middle of August, Omaha’s Sweet Corn Festival attracts a family-friendly crowd in Lauritzen Gardens, a living museum of plants. You can tantalize your taste buds by sampling different types of corn as well as chili, avocado, vanilla, chocolate, and other farm-fresh goodies.
The Sweet Corn Festival in Omaha is a weekend event celebrating Nebraska’s agricultural marvels.
Throughout the afternoon, couples whirl about together for the Square Dance and then refresh themselves with virgin margaritas and ice cream. Hayrides through the countryside give groups a chance to chat and get to know one another in a fun setting. At the end of the day, athletic and competitive dates show off their throwing arms by joining the corn chucking games.
Even if corn isn’t your thing, there are a heap of festivals and rodeos always going on around town. You can check out this calendar of events to keep up with the latest music, art, and cultural festivals taking place in Omaha.
Who knows? You may meet an admirer amid the cornfields and hayrides. By making small talk with the hundreds of folks at a festival, you increase your odds of finding that special someone.
Get Out There & Land a Big Date in the Big O
Named after a Native American tribe, Omaha brings a small-town feel to a big city. Some singles may feel as if they’ve met just about every available person in their neighborhood, but many opportunities still await to branch out and make a new connection.
You can network with love interests in your area by going to a bar, logging into a chat room, sharing corny jokes at a festival, and taking advantage of the active dating scenes across Omaha. Such friendly atmospheres can take local singles from thinking, “life sucks” to saying, “aw, shucks” in no time. Hopefully our list of ways to meet singles has given you the inspiration to go out and make a date.
“It just takes one,” said Lisa, refusing to give up on Omaha’s dating pool. “If I go on the right date tomorrow, with the right person, it makes all of it, all of those crazy dates, totally worth it.”
