Updated October 2026
The best places to meet singles in New Orleans are The Spotted Cat Music Club, Bacchanal Wine, and St. Roch Market. Go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening, when they are at their liveliest and it is easiest to start a conversation.
New Orleans is one of the easiest American cities for talking to strangers: live music plays every night, people dance with whoever is nearby, and a shared table in a backyard or a food hall is normal.
These ten places from Frenchmen Street to Bywater, Mid-City and Uptown are real and open, checked in October 2026, with a mix of ages, budgets and nights of the week.
See who nearby is free this evening and send one message. No swiping. Free, 18+.
Live jazz barMarigny (Frenchmen Street)$All ages
A small, lively jazz club on Frenchmen Street with live bands from the afternoon until 2am, seven days a week. Swing dancers sometimes take to the floor, and in a room this small chatting with the people next to you is unavoidable.
623 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116 · Walk-in
Wine bar with live musicBywater$$30s
A wine shop with a big backyard where live jazz plays every night and people share tables in the open air. There is a free wine tasting on Wednesdays from 4pm; strictly 21+, and ID is checked for everyone.
600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 · Walk-in
Food hallSt. Roch$All ages
A 150-year-old market hall with independent food vendors and a cocktail bar under one roof. Free trivia every Monday at 6:30pm and weekday oyster happy hours make it easy to join a team or share a table.
2381 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 · Walk-in
Bowling alley and live music venueMid-City$All ages
A local institution where you can bowl and dance to live bands in the same room. Mixed crowds of all ages, and asking someone to dance or join your lane is completely normal here.
3016 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118 · Walk-in
Dance studioUptown$$All ages
A dance studio running five-week series and drop-in classes in bachata, salsa, Argentine tango, Afrobeats and more. Partners rotate in social dance classes, so you dance with everyone in the room.
1719 Toledano St, New Orleans, LA 70115 · Takes bookings
Cooking classesFrench Quarter$$$All ages
Hands-on and demonstration classes in Louisiana cooking since 1980, in an old molasses warehouse, plus a happy-hour cocktail class. Cooking gumbo side by side with strangers gets conversation going quickly.
524 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 · Takes bookings
Brewery taproomLower Garden District$All ages
A big, relaxed brewery taproom near the river with a regular events calendar. A casual crowd and plenty of room make it easy to strike up a conversation.
1645 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130 · Walk-in
Brewery with beer gardenMid-City$All ages
A neighbourhood brewery near City Park with an outdoor yard, open every day from the afternoon. A friendly local crowd and a slow pace make it easy to talk to new people.
433 N Bernadotte St, New Orleans, LA 70119 · Walk-in
Live music barMarigny (Frenchmen Street)$$All ages
A Frenchmen Street bar with live bands most nights and a long drinks list, open daily from 6pm, or 2pm on Saturdays, until 1am. Crowds drift between the clubs on this street, which makes meeting people easy.
618 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116 · Walk-in
Night art marketMarigny (Frenchmen Street)$All ages
A weekly night-time market of local artists and makers next to The Spotted Cat, open Thursday to Monday evenings. Browsing to live music and chatting with the artisans is a gentle way to meet people between clubs.
619 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70119 · Walk-in
Popular places to meet people in New Orleans include The Spotted Cat Music Club (live jazz bar), Bacchanal Wine (wine bar with live music), and St. Roch Market (food hall). All of them are easy to visit alone or with friends.
Pick an indoor spot such as Preservation Hall or Commander's Palace. Both work well for a first date in any weather.
In the YesTonite City Index, New Orleans is number 39 of 112 cities for dating, with a dating score of 6.8 out of 10.
Open YesTonite and see who in New Orleans is going out tonight. Say hi, agree on a time and meet at one of the places on this page.
Checked October 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so call or check the website before you go.
· 6 min read
Why speed dating is back, 20 speed dating questions that start real conversations, how to find events near you, and how to host your own mini speed-dating night.
Read the full guide· 4 min read
How speed dating works in Milan and Rome, who it suits, and real places to meet people instead: an international aperitivo, a pub quiz, salsa and a Sunday run.
Read the full guide· 2 min read
Want to meet someone new tonight? Pick a place where people mix, go early, start with the place and turn a good chat into one small plan. Here is how.
Read the full guideOn YesTonite you see who nearby is going out tonight, say hi and meet the same evening. Free and 18+.
Join free18+