Tempe, Arizona, is a pretty hot place to live. Literally. Temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the summertime, and the town rarely sees more than an inch of rain in a month.
The dry and unforgiving climate in the Arizona desert can wear singles down after a while, and sometimes it just seems easier to stay at home than brave the heat in hopes of meeting new people. However, Tempe has plenty of cool places (offline and online) where locals can recharge their batteries and form worthwhile relationships.
Hopefully, our list of fun ways to meet singles in Tempe will give you enough good ideas to refresh your love life and find a social oasis in the middle of the desert. A Tempe date may be closer than you think — all you need is the opportunity to chill out and make something happen.
Tempe Dating Sites
Online dating is by far the fastest way to meet people in Tempe. Or anywhere, really. The online dating network includes millions of singles around the world, and it’s easy to dive in and start flirting immediately. Dating sites allow singles to search for dates who measure up to their standards and are compatible with them on multiple levels. We recommend using the following dating sites to upgrade your search for a date.
Best Singles Site
Match has been around a long time (since 1995), and it has basically perfected the online matching system in that time. The dating site uses a personality-driven algorithm to determine compatibility between singles. Match members are relationship-minded individuals who are invested in the dating process.
- 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 Sites
OurTime caters to singles over 50 and gives them the tools to make a deep connection with someone special. The senior-friendly dating site has the search filters, match suggestions, and live chat tools to motivate singles on the way to love. Even if you’re not that tech-savvy, you shouldn’t have a problem navigating OurTime’s simple interface.
- 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
Less than 6% of Tempe residents are African-American, and that can make dating in the local black community a challenge. Fortunately, BlackPeopleMeet can fill in the gaps and provide a dating field where black singles are in the majority. Since 2002, this dating site has brought greater diversity and satisfaction to black and biracial singles across the U.S.
- 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
Finally, Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is the most popular dating site for singles who just want to get laid. The site has over 95 million sexually active profiles, and it’s rapidly expanding around the world. You can join the AFF community for free to mingle with singles and swingers.
- 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 offer singles a convenient and fast way to peruse the dating scene and discover mutual matches. Within a few seconds of swiping, you could meet someone who’s interested in you and start chatting in real time. Many dating sites have created companion apps to allow members to stay connected wherever they go. We recommend giving the following top-rated dating apps a try if you’re looking to fill your date calendar this week.
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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Tempe Singles Bars
Meeting people online is great, but you’ll eventually have to talk to singles in person if you want to build a relationship in real life. Heading to a local bar can help you establish chemistry and make a flirtatious first impression. You can throw back a few cold ones, play a game of darts or pool, and generally enjoy the friendly atmosphere at the bar. It’s easy to approach someone new at the bar and get in their good graces by offering to buy a round of drinks. The following Tempe bars offer an exciting place to start a new romance.
Taste of Tops
Taste of Tops is a favorite among college students in Tempe. Located on University Street, the bar is walking distance from campus and offers an abundance of tasty beers on tap. This is a bring-your-own-food establishment where everyone is welcome to kick back and share a pitcher of craft beer. Singles can grab a seat at the couch and make friends playing tabletop games until past midnight.
Yucca Tap Room
As Tempe's original live-music venue, Yucca Tap Room showcases talented musicians and bands seven nights a week. The bar basically puts on a mini-concert in Danelle Plaza, inviting singles to come out of their shells and dance along. Since 1974, the Yucca has put on memorable shows and served strong drinks late into the night. With 29 beers on tap and an arcade next door, the Yucca bar can satisfy your thirst while keeping you entertained.
Casey Moore's Oyster House
The open and friendly atmosphere at Casey Moore's Oyster House makes locals feel right at home. This Irish pub is known for its oysters and fresh seafood, and the bar makes a mean cocktail using premium whiskeys. Casey's also has an extensive collection of beers and wines. Locals may whisper that Casey's is haunted, but that doesn't stop a crowd of people from hanging out on the patio late into the night.
The Handlebar Tempe
The Handlebar Tempe is an American beer garden that serves some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches in town. The 2,000-square-foot patio offers a low-key hangout for beer lovers in town. You can chat by the fire pit while flipping through the menu. The bar has a rotating selection of 24 beers on tap and over 50 beer bottles and cans on hand, so you can always find something to quench your thirst. Many bicyclers stop by this place to enjoy some sunshine, good eats, craft beer, and lively company.
Salut Kitchen Bar
Salut Kitchen Bar is a modern neighborhood bar where you can sample tapas, wines, and craft cocktails. The kitchen's Mediterranean cuisine turns heads for its authenticity and affordability. But what really keeps people coming back to the 3,400-square-foot restaurant and bar is the good vibes. Salut welcomes foodies, wine connoisseurs, dog lovers (and their dogs), and anyone looking for a memorable time in Tempe.
Shady Park
Pizza. Beer. Ramen. Sake. Shady Park has a little something for everyone. The college bar naturally appeals to a young crowd, and that makes it perfect for singles on the prowl for a hot date. After 10 p.m., the bar and restaurant transforms into a dance club where live music delights people 21 and over. Shady Park has over 4,000 followers on Facebook, and many have left glowing reviews. "Amazing venue for any live music," said Andrew B. "The ramen is second to none, and the pizza is super tasty."
Tempe Speed Dating
Over 161,000 people live in Tempe, and weeding through all those singles can be time-consuming. Speed dating events can cut down on the time and effort it takes to find that needle in the haystack. Singles have the opportunity to meet dozens of date prospects in one fast-paced evening, and the structured setup facilitates romantic connections. You can look on Pre-Dating’s calendar to find speed dating events held across Arizona.
Tempe Singles Events
Singles events are terrific because they allow singles to get active and meet viable date prospects during a fun-filled afternoon or evening. By attending an indoor or outdoor singles event, you can mingle with like-minded people and get to know them in an organic way. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or brunching, you can make the most of Tempe’s social scene at a local meetup geared toward singles.
Tempe Singles Clubs
Singles go clubbing when they’re in a flirtatious mood on a Saturday night. The party vibes at the nightclub can get people dancing, drinking, and laughing in no time. It’s an invigorating spot to meet a romantic interest and let the music sweep you off your feet. As you sway to the rhythm of the night, you may find yourself in the arms of someone special, and then you can turn on the charm.
Tempe Chat Rooms
Chat rooms take the pressure off singles and allow them to be themselves while chatting with new friends and date prospects. Locals often gather in free chat rooms to shoot the breeze and get to know people in a casual setting. You don’t have to worry about looking your best while meeting folks in a chat room, and the anonymity is liberating for some shy singles. Chat rooms are open 24/7, so get online and start practicing your pickup lines. You never know where the conversation will take you.
Tempe Personals
Dating personals sites may look like traditional dating sites, but they have a few key differences singles should know about if they want to be successful. First of all, dating personals publish ads instead of profiles, meaning singles don’t need to write a lot about themselves. Put down the basics, and start your search. Another difference is in the matching system. Dating personals sites don’t have any matching tools or compatibility ratings — they allow singles to decide for themselves which profiles they’re interested in messaging.
Enjoy Outdoor Activities in the Park
Tempe has many open spaces where people gather for a good time under the sun. The city has more than 50 neighborhood and community parks that stay open to the public throughout the year. These parks are strategically located, so residents are never more than half a mile away from a natural trail, dog park, ball field, playground, or other parks.
Over 2.4 million people spend time at Tempe Town Lake every year.
You can go fishing on the lakes or riding through the bikeways on sunny afternoons the next time you’re itching for a little excitement. Tempe’s parks are often crowded with folks soaking in the sun, and you may just find a hiking buddy while you’re there.
According to park officials, “Tempe parks serve as the community’s backyard, providing residents and neighbors a venue to relax, learn, and connect with one another and the environment.”
Plus, Tempe has six dog parks where locals can unleash their wild sides and discover fetching companions in a dog-friendly community.
Heat Things Up in Tempe's Dating Scene
It can take time to get used to the dry, hot weather in Tempe, but many residents can’t imagine living anywhere else. This college town is full of singles seeking a bright future, and you need only join a dating site or stop by a bar to find them. Meeting people takes some effort, and you’ll have to be persistent as you put yourself out there and build those connections one conversation at a time.
Whether you enjoy dancing at the club or hiking up a mountain, you should follow your passions and cultivate an active lifestyle to expand your dating horizons in Tempe. This community is hardly a social desert, so it shouldn’t take long for you to find the place where you belong. Good luck!
