Best Dating Sites
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Ruska2465 moved to Rochester, New York, for work in 2012, and he had trouble breaking into the social scene. He wasn’t into sports and couldn’t find a good golf course, so he went to the internet for other ideas. “I am looking to meet some new friends/significant others,” he wrote in a local discussion forum.
People suggested meetups, paintball, and other local hangouts, but no one came up with a definitive answer for Ruska2465 and other singles like him looking for social connections in Rochester. So, we decided to gather our resources to create a guide to help single New Yorkers meet new people.
Our list of the best ways to meet folks in Rochester includes online and offline activities that’ll get you out of your shell. We’ve picked some of the most popular social venues where conversation flows easily. Let’s go!
1
Rochester Dating Sites
The second person to respond to Ruska2465’s discussion post actually mentioned online dating as a good way to meet people in Rochester, and we firmly endorse this suggestion. Online dating has grown incredibly popular in the last decade. In a recent survey, 22% of brides said they met their significant others on a dating site, making it the most common way to meet a future spouse. You can sign up for any of the following dating sites for free and see if these high-tech matching tools are right for you.
Best Singles Site
Match has millions of users, but what makes it the best is the way it organizes and filters all those date prospects for you. Compatible matches automatically go to the top of the pile (aka the search results), so singles have no trouble finding that spark. Since 1995, Match has facilitated more dates, relationships, and marriages than any other 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...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Best Site for Professionals
Every seven minutes, EliteSingles makes a match between its members. The next one could be yours. EliteSingles is a high-end dating site for singles who work in Tech Valley or attended the University of Rochester. In short, it’s for the best and the brightest. Over 80% of Elite Singles members have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, and over 90% say they’re looking for a serious relationship.
★★★★★
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
Over 50 & Senior Sites
Even though Rochester is a college town, it still has its fair share of senior residents, and those people deserve dating resources of their own. OurTime has stood out from the crowd as a mature dating site where singles over 50 can connect and build relationships. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to start your free membership and browse for an online 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...” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Try It FREE |
For Black Men & Women Only
In Rochester, the African-American community comprises 41.7% of the overall population. The city also has one of the largest Jamaican-American communities in the U.S. If you want to find a black or biracial date in the city, you can use BlackPeopleMeet to help you focus on the kind of people you like. This niche site has been making matches since 2002.
★★★★★
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...” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
Hookup & Sex Site
Last of all, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that some singles aren’t in it for the long haul. Casual daters need not waste time on a relationship-oriented site — they can sign up for Adult Friend Finder to meet sexy singles from all over the world. This platform facilitates no-strings-attached hookups and encourages singles to follow their 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...”
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
2
Popular Dating Apps
Dating apps put the networking power of traditional dating sites into the palm of your hand. You can access hot dates from your smartphone and use the real-time messaging features to reach out to singles in your area. Downloading and creating a profile on a dating app takes only a few seconds, and it can be a great way to swiftly view the date prospects in your immediate vicinity.
Available on: iOS, Android
- 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 Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
13.5 Million* | Free Download |
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Deep Relationships
- Match System: Search by education, lifestyle habits, age
- About the App: Commitment-minded, professional daters will feel at home with EliteSingles, which can be downloaded for free in the App Store or Google Play. Not only is everyone looking for a long-term partner, but 80% of members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree. EliteSingles sees 210,000 visitors and 2,500 users finding love every month, so it's one of the fastest growing and most reputable apps.
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
43%*
57%*
|
290,000* | Free Download |
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Relationships
- Match System: Search for and receive matches
- About the App: Zoosk is the number one app for finding dates, and if you sync up your Google+ or Facebook account, you can have a profile in seconds. The app has 38 million members and will deliver matches to your inbox on a daily basis based on your behavior such as who you search for, like or don't like, and message. The Carousel is another section for matching (tap the heart if it's a yes and the X if it's a no).
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
3.8 Million* | Free Download |
3
Rochester Singles Bars
Rochester’s universities fund research on academic topics, but they can also prompt unofficial research to find the best bar in town. Many students and faculty members spend their off-hours discussing their work over a few rounds of beer or wine at a brewery, pub, or speakeasy. We’ve done some research of our own to identify the favorite haunts of Rochester’s single population. You don’t need a Ph.D. to see the value in these fun bars.
1
The Playhouse's Swillburger
The Playhouse's Swillburger has given the traditional American burger joint a makeover. The historical building on Clinton Avenue used to be a Baptist church, but now it is a holy trinity of bar, arcade, and eatery. Its late-night kitchen supports sustainable food practices and makes everything fresh to order. Just about anything on the menu, including the milkshakes, can be made vegan upon request. The kitchen even has a gluten-free fryer to accommodate patrons. If that weren't enough, you can take your milkshake or specialty cocktail to the arcade where 30 vintage games await you. As the saying goes, "The Playhouse isn't just somewhere to go; it's something to do."
2
Lux Lounge
The Lux Lounge has just about everything you could want from a neighborhood bar. It offers daily drink specials, a pool tale, board games, a jukebox, live music, and plenty of space to roam. Anyone over 21 can hang out at this artsy dive and let their freak flags fly. Singles and couples often gather round the fire pit in the backyard and engage in stimulating conversations well into the night. The Lux Lounge even offers art therapy (we're talking Elmer's glue, construction paper, and beads) on Monday nights to get patrons laughing and feeling like kids again.
3
The Beer Market
If there's one thing Rochester's university students love, it's drinking beer with their friends, and that's exactly what the Beer Market it there for. This brewery has over 500 specialty and craft beers, 50 of which are available on tap. The menu also includes giant pretzels, gourmet pizzas, and plates of nachos. Each of these savory dishes is meant to be shared, so grab a table, grab a friend, and get your night started off on the right foot. Whether you're there for the bar's trivia nights or happy hours, you're bound to have a great time at the Beer Market.
4
Flight Wine Bar
Wine lovers can skip the breweries and beer gardens by heading to a local wine bar. Flight Wine Bar is a popular choice for Rochester residents interested in a quiet evening and a smooth glass of wine. The extensive wine list includes high-quality whites, reds, and blends, and the cozy interior helps patrons relax. The extremely knowledgeable staff members are always happy to make a recommendation if you don't know what to choose, and Flight's tasting events offer an easy way to increase your knowledge and meet many wine connoisseurs.
5
Abilene Bar and Lounge
The Abilene Bar and Lounge may look like a quiet, two-story house from the outside, but this downtown honky tonk bar knows how to get the party started, The bar regularly cranks up the music and puts on a live music show to get people dancing, singing, and laughing. The bar has a daily happy hour running from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., and its live concerts typically start around 9 p.m. Since 2008, the Abilene has stuck to its musical roots and given New York's most talented bands and singers a place they can call home.
6
Marshall Street Bar and Grill
Marshall Street Bar and Grill is a neighborhood bar with a lot of heart. Named for its ideal location at the corner of Marshall and Monroe, this sports bar makes a good impression with its straightforward service and classic menu (food is served until 2 a.m. every day). Large flat-screen televisions surround the bar and offer front-row seats to football games, soccer matches, baseball tournaments, and other sporting events. The place tends to get busy during big games, so if you settle in with a plate of wings and a beer on those nights, you can high-five and chat up a lot of rowdy sports fans.
4
Rochester Speed Dating
Speed dating offers a shortcut from “How do you do?” to “Would you like to go on a date?” You can skip the small talk and make genuine connections with dozens of singles at a speed dating event. The structure of going on a series of mini-dates can help participants focus on what they want and avoid what they don’t want. Pre-Dating is a nationwide organization that’s in business to introduce local singles at fun events. You can look on its Rochester events page to see if any upcoming speed dating events cater to daters in your age range.
5
Rochester Singles Events
If you’re single and all your friends are happily coupled up, it’s easy to feel out of place and out of sorts at social gatherings. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Singles events can flip the script by providing a place where singles belong and are enough all on their own. Singles events welcome singles of all backgrounds and interests. You don’t need to find a plus-one to join these mixers, meetups, and other events. Just show up and start making conversation with outgoing folks.
6
Rochester Singles Clubs
Rochester’s East End is lined with bars, lounges, coffee shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, and that makes it a popular destination for singles going out on the town. You can join the crowds on a Friday night to pick up a date and make new friends. The sexually charged atmosphere in a club can help singles get in a mood to party and dance the night away. Even if you’re not the best dancer, you can still have fun hanging by the bar and bobbing along to the music surrounded by many happy-go-lucky people.
7
Rochester Chat Rooms
Sometimes the most difficult part about meeting new people is just summoning up the will to leave the house. Especially if it’s blisteringly cold outside. Just the prospect of shoveling through snow to get to my car is enough to make me burrow under the covers and vow to stay indoors until winter has passed. Fortunately, thanks to technology, the introverts of the world can withdraw from the physical world without withdrawing from the social scene. Singles can sign up for a local chat room to engage in flirtatious conversations and form friendships without stepping foot outside.
8
Rochester Personals
Dating personals is another great option for singles who want to meet people but don’t want to brave the elements to do so. You can go online and make a personal advertisement that states you name, age, location, and dating goals. You can then either wait for the messages to start rolling in or start using the simple search tools to find singles in your neighborhood. Rochester singles can use the following dating personals websites to increase their chances of making a date online.
9
Volunteer in the Community
Author G. Curtis Gerling famously dubbed Rochester “Smugtown” in his 1957 book on the city’s historical socialites, advertisers, and journalists. But, catchy as it may be, that term doesn’t describe 100% of Rochester’s population.
Volunteering can be a great way to get involved and meet people who share similar values.
Rochester has a strong philanthropic spirit. Just look at world-famous soccer player and Rochester-native Abby Wambach who has used her star power to raise money for charitable organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Of course, you don’t need star power to help out those in need. Just a couple hours of your time can make a huge difference in the community.
Volunteer events also happen to facilitate building relationships with kindhearted folks who care about the same causes you do. That’s a great foundation for any relationship. You can find volunteer opportunities on VolunteerMatch and join a positive group of people committed to making the world a better place to live.
Create a Picture-Perfect Romance in Kodak City
Singles who are new in town often don’t know where to go or what to do to meet people. After trying everything he could think of, Ruska2465 appealed to an online forum for help, and he received a handful of suggestions from locals. People threw out ideas based on their own experiences, but this isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. What works for one single person may not work for another single person, even if they live in the same city.
That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of ways to meet people. We’ve made an effort to include a good variety of resources to help singles switch up their routines and up their odds of meeting someone special. Hopefully, something on this list appeals to your dating style and relationship goals. Now all you have to do is get out there and make something happen. Good luck!
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