How to Meet Singles in Los Angeles Without Apps: The Complete IRL Dating Resource Guide

Feb 15

A Quick Guide to Singles, In-Real-Life (IRL) Gatherings for Los Angelenos

If you’re single in Los Angeles, meeting people can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Between endless dating apps and busy schedules, sometimes it helps to tap into resources that actually put you in front of people in real life. The sites below each offer different ways to connect, from casual mixers to structured meetups and speed dating… and I’ve broken down which ones are worth your time depending on what you’re looking for (read on to see how to meet other singles In Real Life aka lots of Speed Dating Options in LA are below).

Best for Social Activities & Real-Life Meetups: The Next Fun Thing:

TheNextFunThing.com is essentially a social events platform for Angelenos that goes beyond just dating to help you meet people through shared activities. They host everything from speed dating and matchmaking nights to leagues (kickball, cornhole, pickleball), themed mixers, wellness events, and even co-working sessions… all designed to put you intentionally next to people instead of staring at screens. The site promotes a variety of things to do where you don’t have to “make your own plans,” which is huge if you want low-pressure socializing instead of swiping. Their events are structured but still casual, and you can meet people organically by doing things together rather than just saying “hi.”

I went to a Soul Cycle singles class by The Next Fun Thing. It was super casual. It started with everyone going to the Soul Cycle class; our bikes were assigned so you don’t get to sit next to just anyone (low level, darn). I was assigned a bike next to a guy, and I’m on the end. We briefly chatted between the booming music and between breathless between cycle sprints! Then, we went to the locker rooms to refresh. I completely changed my outfit into a casual dress. However, most people went to the bar wearing the same outfit they just worked-out in (or just swapped out their workout top)! That surprised me, but gives you the context for how casual it was. It just felt like people in a bar. To my knowledge, I don’t think anyone got anyone’s numbers (or went on a date afterwards) but who knows…. Not everyone went to the bar. I believe some people only went to the class and left immediately after.

I did get to talk to one the organizers at this event! Their events are pretty popular and pretty much all sell out! The hardest challenge is attracting enough single guys, as the women slots fill up faster than the guy slots (especially the older like 40-ish single women slots fill up fast). It’s challenging for them to affordably advertise to target older (40+ year old) single guys (since they aren’t readily on Instagram), whereas women, are often on Instagram so it’s easier to target them and get them to sign up (via IG ads). So you’re been warned! That being said, I appreciate how they actively allow 50/50 men to women sign-ups and allow you to sign-up by your age bracket, to better help them match people.

Many of the men who I spoke to at this event, said they enjoyed The Next Fun Thing events, and have been to more than one. Once they heard of it, they signed up for their newsletter and that’s how they stay tuned to future events . I did not directly ask if they have met people but the fact that they are still attending single events tells me, it’s more of a meet-up vibe rather than a funnel to couple-dom IMO.

That being said, I liked how they got people off the screens, talking, interacting in person! I would definitely be down to try more events by them; it’s just that they sell out for my gender and age bracket super fast, and I like to decide last minute if I’m going ;) allows more flexibility in my schedule :D

Best for Community Vibe & Social Mixers: Hey SOSO Club

The Hey SOSO Club Instagram (@heysosoclub) is a social community for singles that organizes events, happy hours, game nights, and group hangouts across LA, OC, and even NYC. A quick AI search says, it feels more like a community of people who actually show up to meet each other, not just date apps. Their vibe leans playful and social first, with dating being a possibility rather than the core pressure. If you’re tired of awkward one-on-one meetups and want a more energetic group context, this club can be a fun way to dive in, and its social presence doubles as a calendar of events and stories you can scroll through to see who attends before you go.

My single gal pal and I went to a bar night happy hour in Venice (off Lincoln Boulevard) and I was really glad there were two of us as it appeared many people showed up in groups, and thus tried to stick to their groups while talking to new folks.

We had lots of entertaining conversations, cycled around, and talked to 5+ people throughout the evening. We were there 2-3 hours . The bar got so packed, that you couldn’t move! However, after the initial 2.5 hours, many people had already started leaving (early crowd) so the space opened up some more.

My feeling was that some people were only attracted to certain “types” thus if you were not their type, the vibe felt like “don’t talk to me.” Not in a mean way, just in a, I know what I’m looking for way.

It seemed more like a fun happy hour crowd, where people were happy to chat and get to know each other. Some people showed up to support their friend, and didn’t seem intentional about dating - I only say this - because I’m not sure that many people got phone numbers and wanted to see each other outside this encounter. I’m sure some people did, but it was just more of a singles hangout - which DOES take the pressure off. The cost is similar to speed dating, but the intention more relaxed, casual, and just hangout like . I recommend going with a friend to help diffuse any expectations and tension!!

My friend and I regrouped and though some people were attractive but they did not seem interested in us (which is fine). Other people just seemed like a good time to chat and hang out with as friends, but we were not personally attracted to… one guy, we initially thought was handsome… but then he started talking about “the hottest women” at the bar (in an objectification way) and how they didn’t want to talk to him…and that’s a little off-putting slash weird for a woman to experience. So in the end, we just felt like he was a very stylish former NYC-er who had an inflated ego lol so we were fine absolutely not talking further to him! Although we both agreed, initially, we thought he was cute more for his style rather than clear looks.

I’d go again, but I also think the price is a little high for such a casual gathering. They did have questions we could ask each other to help break the ice, but it was a little forced and like whatever. Some people seemed awkward and I wanted to end the conversation earlier - and eventually I did get away! I tried talking to a lively group who were excitedly talking about movies, the film industry and their favorite films. I’m just not a film geek so I got tired of this topic after a while and peaced out.

At the end, I was socially exhausted, had a fun night. And would be open to attending another event, but wouldn’t get any hopes up with meeting anyone IMO. It’s just a fun hangout with a fun group of people in a fun bar in a fun evironment!

Best for Variety + Hybrid Social & Dating Mixers: Los Angeles Fun Events

LosAngelesFunEvents.com is a deep catalog of social and singles-focused events in LA… from open mic nights and chess socials to speed dating, mixers, and themed parties.

What makes this one handy is its range of events in different neighborhoods and for different age groups. They’re known for low-pressure weeknight casual meetups one week and a speed dating event the next. The calendar is always up-to-date, and it’s free to browse, which makes it good for discovering events you might not hear about on big platforms. It’s less curated than a friends-finder community, but the breadth of events makes it great if you like trying different social scenes and want to stay close-ish to your hood!

They have such a large sheer number of events and range, they look very broad and could appeal to a wide range of people! I haven’t tried them yet, but I keep following and bookmarking their events as the price looks right and the event looks in the very least entertaining!

Best for Purposeful Singles Events & Coffee/Activity Dates: Jigsaw

And then there’s Jigsaw’s events which function like a calendar of organized singles events specifically meant for meeting other singles. You’ll find things like coffee shop speed dating, happy hours, arcade nights, and themed group date-style events.

Similar to the above Los Angeles Fun Events, the benefit here is the variety combined with a mix of curated and casual formats; some event nights are structured around meeting other singles, others are more social and fun.

If you want in-person interaction without the endless app swiping, this is a useful resource to pull weekly inspiration from. I’m personally bookmarking and excited to try their coffee shop speed dating, as I haven’t seen any other organization put together other coffee shop speeddating events. For me, coffee is the perfect, non-alcoholic drink, they tend to happen earlier in the day, and heck - I love getting coffee whether I’m alone or in a group so might as well try to do a speed date while I get my caffeine fix! Hence why I consistently follow this website - to join their coffee speed dating events!

Tip is to subscribe and sign up early, as it’s often sold out when I try to make a last minute - let’s go out moment. So plan in advance.

Best for Adults to Make Adult Friends Over Dinner: Timeleft

Timeleft outfits itself as a community where you can build offline friendships and connections through shared experiences [mostly over dinner from my observations].

Unlike strictly dating or event calendars, Timeleft encourages ongoing connections and friendships that grow from one-off meets. It’s a bit more intentional and less “party mode,” which can appeal if you’re someone who wants connection first, romance second, or just wants a slower-burn social life in LA.

The site emphasizes experiences and meetups that nurture deeper connections rather than just one-off swipes or casual attendance.

I haven’t signed up as the cost is higher than the other singles event sites! I love spending time with others especially over a meal but I am also hesitant to pay for it when I don’t know if it’s worth it! My girlfriend had been doing it for several months and highly recommended it. She’s already made friends with people she’s intentionally seen several times (outside of Timeleft) so it sounds like the people you meet through this set-up have more staying power. That being said, my friend is also still single, so that means she hasn’t found her next partner through this website - but it’s been getting rave reviews for genuine, slower but more lasting connections (which sounds like a win to me).

It’s on my to-do list when I have a little more flexible budget!

Best for Weekly Local Meetups: Thursday Events

*Screenshot of Thursday Dating Instagram post*

Thursday Dating is a localized events feed that lists a wide range of happenings each week across LA, including singles nights, happy hours, classes, and themed social mixers.

This is a go-to if you prefer to plan your week around what’s happening tonight or this weekend. Unlike a closed community, it’s more like a curated list of local events with categories and RSVPs, so if you’re the type who likes browsing what’s around before committing, this is a versatile resource.

Overall, it looks very similar to Jigsaw and LA Fun Events, as well as many other competitors! So I’m very down to give it a try and report back to you shortly.

Best for Structured Dating Without Apps: CitySwoon Speed Dating

CitySwoon’s speed dating page focuses on in-person, hosted speed dating events for a range of age groups (mid-20s through 50+). Instead of random swiping, you get face-to-face mini-dates with several people in one night. The crowd tends to be serious about dating… not just socializing… and the format gives you a chance to actually see how quick chemistry plays out in real time. It’s especially good if you’re tired of apps and ready to meet people in structured social settings designed for actual dating, not just networking.

TLDR: Summary of Singles Events

All of these platforms are worth bookmarking if you’re single and social in LA, but they serve slightly different real-world purposes:

The Next Fun Thing is great for socializing vibes that include activities, leagues, and social events where meeting people happens naturally.
Hey SOSO Club continues that socializing and/or happy hour vibes with casual social energy.
Los Angeles Fun Events & Jigsaw have a wide event calendar for exploring lots of different scenes.
Timeleft lean toward intentional connection and community building.
Thursday Events is ideal for weekly local plans you can RSVP to.
CitySwoon is focused on dating in person without apps.

Depending on whether you want casual friends, deeper connections, or actual dating, you can mix and match these resources to build your own social rhythm in LA.

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