After college graduation, one of my politically active friends moved to Denver to work as an environmental advocate. He didn’t know anyone in Colorado, so his first priority was to attend a Young Democrats meeting and network with people who shared his liberal views. At the end of the meeting, he started for the door, not knowing that a single-minded girl across the room was making a beeline for him. She planted herself in front of the exit, directly in his path, and said, “Hey, where’s the fire?”
That’s how my friend met his wife. Today, they are happily married, working in tandem as progressive organizers, and raising their son to be the most badass feminist in Colorado.
While a cute love story came easy to my friend, not every Denver resident is lucky enough to have their ideal woman hound them into a date. Sometimes adult singles find it difficult to expand their social networks, and that’s why we’ve come up with the best 10 ways to meet new people in the Mile-High City and form lasting relationships. Happy hunting!
Denver Dating Sites
Online dating has to be the number one way to meet new people these days. It’s super popular, incredibly easy, and fairly effective. However, there are so many dating sites out there, it can feel overwhelming trying to find the right one for you. You can choose a niche site that caters to singles like you, or you could join a general dating site where the membership is more of a mixed bag. To help you narrow down your search for a dating platform in the Mile-High City, we’ve highlighted the best dating websites for singles of all ages, professions, ethnicities, and orientations.
Best Singles Site
Match.com works like a charm for singles looking for the real deal. Since 1995, this premium dating site has connected people in more marriages and relationships than any other dating site in existence. Such a sheer awesome success rate is why Match is at the top of our list for places to meet Denver singles online.
- 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 Site
Senior daters have particular needs when it comes to online dating. To make it easier to get started, OurTime offers an accessible platform where daters over 50 can meet someone new. You don’t have to worry about being a tech whiz on this site because every feature and function is neatly laid out for you. It’s a simple website that’s easy to navigate so nothing stands between you and a new chum in your age group.
- 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
Denver is the most populous municipality in Colorado, with a diverse population of over 711,000 people. If you’re interested in dating within the black community in Colorado, BlackPeopleMeet can help you connect online using simple chat and matching features. This niche dating network provides a straightforward resource for millions of black and biracial daters around the world.
- 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
On Adult Friend Finder (aka AFF), millions of active members enjoy the casual dating scene and pursue sexual partners without fear of judgment. The online platform provides simple chat and video tools to connect hot singles, swingers, and couples. You can find all manner of intimate interactions by perusing AFF’s sexually charged dating environment.
- 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
Denver is home to a young and thriving population. According to Census information, the median age of Denverites is 33 years old. It’s an active dating scene, so you need an active dating tool. A dating app can help singles keep up with today’s fast-paced dating scene. Using effortless, location-based search features, you can find a date in your neighborhood and start chatting the night away. Below is a list of our favorite dating apps that allow Denver singles to connect with one another in just a few clicks.
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.
- 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.
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Denver Singles Bars
Going online isn’t the only way to make a mutual match. The local bar scene was a popular dating avenue long before swiping became a thing. Such a fun social atmosphere facilitates conversation and camaraderie. Outgoing daters can head to a pub, brewery, winery, or other drinking establishment to flirt and pick up a date in person. Denver has tons of downtown spots where singles can spend hours in relaxed conversation. Here are eight we recommend. Take a look!
Star Bar
Denver's Star Bar, conveniently located in central downtown, showcases 20 rotating local craft spirits and brews for thirsty patrons. Established in 1959, this bar is among Colorado's oldest watering holes. It's a unique dive bar with an emphasis on quality and authenticity. You won't find sugary fru-fru drinks here — but you will find smoky cocktails made by using a blowtorch to heat things up. If you're looking for a taste of Colorado, this is a refreshing place to mingle, play a game of skeeball, and have a good time.
Denver Beer Co.
Denver Beer Co. brings the farm-to-table mentality to its flavorful pints on tap. This craft brewery has become a legend around town thanks to its artisan ales and lagers featuring seasonal locally sourced ingredients. The brewmasters who established this bar wanted it to reflect Denver's positive and diverse community, so all are welcome to pull up a stool here. You can also go on a guided facility tour to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the craft beer is brewed — and maybe pick up a few fun facts to impress a date.
Lowry Beer Garden
Built on what used to be Lowry Air Force Base, Lowry Beer Garden turned the sweeping 4,500-square-foot space into a diverting bar destination in Denver. You can easily land a date in this old airplane hanger by challenging someone to a game of cornhole, foosball, or pingpong. The beautiful outdoor space gets a bit chilly in wintertime, but it's still a popular getaway for Denverites hankering for a gourmet brat, freshly baked pretzel, or local draft beers.
5280 Burger Bar
You'd better come to the 5280 Burger Bar with a big appetite, because this bar and restaurant is serious about filling your plate with delicious fare, in addition to craft beers and specialty cocktails. These burgers are made from the freshest ingredients available. Everything is all-natural and hormone-free. The kitchen doesn't even have a freezer! From house-made American cheeses to slow-roasted pulled pork, each item on the menu has amazing quality behind it. Next door, the creamery churns homemade ice cream every day with eight rotating flavors. If you've got the munchies and find yourself craving a juicy burger, 5280 Burger Bar's varied menu is there to satisfy you.
Truffle Table
The Truffle Table is known as Denver's cheese bar. Needless to say, it's a pretty classy place to order a glass of wine and meet people. In 2013, the Truffle Cheese Shop decided to expand into a fully stocked cheese bar serving bottles of wine and plates of cheese to satisfy Denverites in the downtown area. It may sound a bit cheesy, but this is one really Gouda place to find the perfect pairing.
Denver Speed Dating
Known as Wall Street of the West, Denver is a bustling city, full of active people, and not everyone has the time, patience, or inclination to meet one person at a time. Since when did dating become a job interview? It should be fun! Instead of spending long hours meeting one person at a time, you can join a speed dating event where you can network with dozens of eligible candidates at once. In mini-dates lasting as little as two minutes, you can judge chemistry quickly before moving on to the next date. It’s a hyper-efficient (and fun) way to find a match in just one night.
Denver Singles Events
Meeting singles is easy when you attend a singles event because you’re surrounded by date prospects from the moment you arrive. Typically, the party’s theme helps daters break the ice by giving them a game to play or a skill to learn. Dynamic, activity-based events can help bring singles out of their shells and mingle in a date-friendly crowd. With the motto “where smart singles go,” Rocky Mountain Singles has organized face-to-face outings for 8,000+ singles in Denver. There are no membership fees, so it doesn’t cost much to get a ticket for a wine tasting or lock-and-key party hosted by savvy dating professionals.
Denver Singles Clubs
At a nightclub, you don’t have to worry about making a dating profile or having a good opening line — your dance moves do the talking for you. As the DJ or live band blast dance-worthy beats, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and make a connection with the hottie next to you. The energetic hum of the dance floor entices many young daters in Denver. Whether you’re drawn to an industrial-chic club or a raucous dueling piano bar, the city’s popular clubs can help you dance your way into someone’s heart.
Denver Chat Rooms
Going out somewhere to find a date can be tiring for introverted daters. You have to jockey through crowds, pay attention to how you look, and generally put in a lot of effort to chat up strangers in person. But, thanks to the internet, you can meet someone new without even leaving the house. Chat rooms give singles the opportunity to come together in a virtual space where conversational style matters more than appearance. By joining an adult chat room, singles can spend hours getting to know one another and practicing their flirting game in a low-pressure environment.
Denver Personals
If you don’t know what a dating personal is, just think of a dating site without all the unnecessary bells and whistles. A personals website is a straightforward platform to put up a personal ad and find someone who wants the same things you do. Creating a profile takes only a few seconds, and then you can search the posted ads by age, location, or keyword. Below, we’ve highlighted the most popular dating personals websites for singles in Denver.
Join a Hiking Group for a Dating Adventure
Founded in 1912, the Colorado Mountain Club is a collective of active Denverites who want to explore the rivers, plains, and mountains of Colorado. If you’re up for an adventure, this club gives you the chance to hike, climb, bike, and blaze a trail in the rugged outdoors. Some trips even take members halfway around the world to beautiful summit hikes in other countries.
Denver singles can reach a dating peak by joining an active group like the Colorado Mountain Club.
Whether you’re speeding down a bike trail or practicing your form on a golf course, Denver’s recreational activities help you meet people in a natural setting.
Through the Colorado Mountain Club, Denver residents can sign up for wilderness survival classes, adventure travel opportunities, conservation efforts, and other outdoor adventures. The calendar is packed with events, so it’s an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Treks into the wilderness are much more fun with a group of outdoorsy folks by your side, and, you never know, one of them just might be your hiking buddy for life.
Go to a Dog Park to Fall in Puppy Love
Denver has dozens of off-leash dog parks where dog owners can escape the routine of urban life and enjoy the simple pleasures of a good game of fetch. Chatfield State Park Dog Park, located in South Denver, ranked number one for these dogged experts because of its vast size, refreshing ponds, and winding trails.
Cherry Creek State Park has a 107-acre fenced-in area where daters can unleash their flirtatious side and chat up a fetching cutie by the water. At a dog park, it’s easy to start a conversation with another dog owner. A simple, “How old is your dog?” will usually do the trick.
Pictured above, the Cherry Creek State Dog Park is great for water-loving pups and their owners.
Plus, many of Denver’s bars, including Denver Beer Co., Irish Rover Pub, and The Watering Bowl, welcome dogs of all breeds. These are great places for dog lovers to gather and make friends. You can join dog-specific groups to sniff out more opportunities to meet fellow dog lovers. On Meetup, the Denver Doggie Happy Hour Group invites over 4,200 dog lovers in the area to get together for indoor and outdoor play dates at dog-friendly venues.
Denver: Where Singles Get Active, Get Involved & Get a Date
When my friend moved to Denver, he expected to enjoy himself. He looked forward to mountain climbing and skiing. He hoped to make a difference in the city’s sustainability policies. He promised to have a special pan of brownies ready for anyone who visited him. From the day he unpacked his car, he was excited to start fresh — and his experience falling in love far exceeded his expectations.
Denver is many things to many people. For my friend, it’s the liberal haven in the Midwest where he found love. You don’t have to join a political action committee or scale a mountain to meet someone new though; any bar, meetup, or dating site will do. Just put yourself out there and see what happens. Good luck!
