While many people argue that dating apps are the best way to go when it comes to meeting a new love, online shopping for anything (including a partner) has its limits. You can’t really “try on” a person online the way you can in person.
But going to bars to meet somebody is such a drag. It’s almost impossible to find someone suitable for a serious relationship when you’re both drunk.
The best way to find a new partner is to happen across one in their natural habitat. You want to find them in the place where they feel comfortable or where they’re just being themselves.
These are the top 20 spots in town to meet people that aren’t just the same boring bars.
20 Best Places to Meet People in St. Louis That Aren’t Just Bars [PHOTOS]
By Riverfront Times on Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 9:47 am
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Home Depot
(multiple locations including 37 Ellisville Towne Center, Ellisville; 636-273-6100)
Saturday mornings are always poppin’ at Home Depot locations around town and are usually full with people who are trying to fix up their houses. Maybe you can offer a hand?
(multiple locations including 37 Ellisville Towne Center, Ellisville; 636-273-6100)
Saturday mornings are always poppin’ at Home Depot locations around town and are usually full with people who are trying to fix up their houses. Maybe you can offer a hand?
Nyara Williams
Ethical Society
(9001 Clayton Road, 314-991-0955)
If you aren’t a church type but still want to meet good people in a community setting, the Ethical Society is where deep thinkers and do-gooders go to meet similar folks.
(9001 Clayton Road, 314-991-0955)
If you aren’t a church type but still want to meet good people in a community setting, the Ethical Society is where deep thinkers and do-gooders go to meet similar folks.
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CASSIDY WAIGAND
Bar K
(4565 McRee Avenue, 314-530-9990)
It’s a dog park with booze and food, so it’s basically the ideal place to meet a cutie and their little four-legged friend at the same time.
(4565 McRee Avenue, 314-530-9990)
It’s a dog park with booze and food, so it’s basically the ideal place to meet a cutie and their little four-legged friend at the same time.
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Kelly Glueck
Mauhaus Cat Cafe
(3101 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-384-2287)
If you’re a cat lover looking to find a cat and a lover, head to Mauhaus Cat Cafe in Maplewood. You’re guaranteed to see a cutie or two and you might even find the best kind of partner: The kind that isn’t allergic to cats.
(3101 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-384-2287)
If you’re a cat lover looking to find a cat and a lover, head to Mauhaus Cat Cafe in Maplewood. You’re guaranteed to see a cutie or two and you might even find the best kind of partner: The kind that isn’t allergic to cats.
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Courtesy Tower Grove Farmers' Market
Tower Grove Farmers’ Market
(Center Cross Drive, tgfarmersmarket.com)
Daytime, sunshine and fresh food. If you meet someone here, you can almost guarantee that they’ll be good for your health. And then once you’re in a relationship with each other, you can go back to the market to shop together, too. Adorable.
(Center Cross Drive, tgfarmersmarket.com)
Daytime, sunshine and fresh food. If you meet someone here, you can almost guarantee that they’ll be good for your health. And then once you’re in a relationship with each other, you can go back to the market to shop together, too. Adorable.
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DOYLE MURPHY
Saint Louis Zoo
(One Government Drive, 314-781-0900)
If you’re a single parent seeking the same, the best place to run into a cute one is the Saint Louis Zoo. Nobody else knows how to keep their kids entertained over the weekend, either, so it’s easy to bond with other tortured single parents at the penguin exhibit.
(One Government Drive, 314-781-0900)
If you’re a single parent seeking the same, the best place to run into a cute one is the Saint Louis Zoo. Nobody else knows how to keep their kids entertained over the weekend, either, so it’s easy to bond with other tortured single parents at the penguin exhibit.
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RFT FILE PHOTO
Upper Limits
(1874 Lackland Hill Parkway, 314-241-7625)
Long-term relationships are all about reaching your goals together, so there’s no better place to meet a partner than a climbing gym. If they can spot you while you’re up on the wall hanging by one hand, maybe they can help you through other tough spots, too.
(1874 Lackland Hill Parkway, 314-241-7625)
Long-term relationships are all about reaching your goals together, so there’s no better place to meet a partner than a climbing gym. If they can spot you while you’re up on the wall hanging by one hand, maybe they can help you through other tough spots, too.
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Courtesy Nathan Wright
Up Late
(1904 South Vandeventer Avenue, uplatestl.com)
This late night pick-up window is not only a great spot to pick up a sandwich, but it’s also a great spot to pick up a new friend. Nobody wants the party to end and at Up Late, it doesn’t have to.
(1904 South Vandeventer Avenue, uplatestl.com)
This late night pick-up window is not only a great spot to pick up a sandwich, but it’s also a great spot to pick up a new friend. Nobody wants the party to end and at Up Late, it doesn’t have to.
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St. Louis Public Library
(multiple locations including 225 North Euclid Avenue, 314-367-4120)
Usually speaking is frowned upon at the library, but you can say a lot in whispers and flirty glances. For a selection of people as varied as their selection of books, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the St. Louis Public Library.
(multiple locations including 225 North Euclid Avenue, 314-367-4120)
Usually speaking is frowned upon at the library, but you can say a lot in whispers and flirty glances. For a selection of people as varied as their selection of books, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the St. Louis Public Library.
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Mabel Suen
Felix’s Trivia Night Tuesdays
(6401 Clayton Avenue, 314-645-6565)
For great pizza and great trivia, drop in to Felix’s any Tuesday night. You can flex your knowledge and impress any potential partners on site while also shoving pizza into your pie-hole. Win-win.
(6401 Clayton Avenue, 314-645-6565)
For great pizza and great trivia, drop in to Felix’s any Tuesday night. You can flex your knowledge and impress any potential partners on site while also shoving pizza into your pie-hole. Win-win.
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Braden McMakin
Pickleball courts at Tilles Park
(5900 Fyler Avenue, 314-622-4800)
Pickleball is one of the hottest up-and-coming sports so pickleball courts are a great place to find someone else who is also looking to get into something new. Check out their athleticism and then invite them for a bite after you’ve both worked up an appetite.
(5900 Fyler Avenue, 314-622-4800)
Pickleball is one of the hottest up-and-coming sports so pickleball courts are a great place to find someone else who is also looking to get into something new. Check out their athleticism and then invite them for a bite after you’ve both worked up an appetite.
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STEPHEN DAVIS
Ellen Clark Sculpture Park
(Lindell at North Grand Boulevard)
Dog parks are always a great spot to pick up a solo dog-lover, but this is a dog park masquerading as a sculpture park, so you can talk about art with a potential new love, too. Art and dogs are essential to life, but are even better when they’re shared with a partner.
(Lindell at North Grand Boulevard)
Dog parks are always a great spot to pick up a solo dog-lover, but this is a dog park masquerading as a sculpture park, so you can talk about art with a potential new love, too. Art and dogs are essential to life, but are even better when they’re shared with a partner.
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Whole Foods
(1601 South Brentwood Boulevard, 314-96807744)
Something about organic melons really seems to get people ready to mate because the produce section at the Whole Foods on South Brentwood is known as a hot spot to find someone hot to trot.
(1601 South Brentwood Boulevard, 314-96807744)
Something about organic melons really seems to get people ready to mate because the produce section at the Whole Foods on South Brentwood is known as a hot spot to find someone hot to trot.
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Screengrab via Google Maps
Target
(25 Brentwood Promenade Court, 314-918-9500)
You know how sometimes you go to Target looking for one thing, but you come home with 20 things instead? Well, it’s also a great place to pick up a new person. Linger a bit in the housewares section and you might come across somebody who needs a little help finding some new towels, too.
(25 Brentwood Promenade Court, 314-918-9500)
You know how sometimes you go to Target looking for one thing, but you come home with 20 things instead? Well, it’s also a great place to pick up a new person. Linger a bit in the housewares section and you might come across somebody who needs a little help finding some new towels, too.
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Photo by Doyle Murphy
Venture Cafe at Cortex
(4240 Duncan Avenue, venturecafestlouis.org)
This place was built for networking, so why not work on networking a deeper connection? If you’re here looking to try new things and meet new people, chances are most other people here are doing the same.
(4240 Duncan Avenue, venturecafestlouis.org)
This place was built for networking, so why not work on networking a deeper connection? If you’re here looking to try new things and meet new people, chances are most other people here are doing the same.
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Life Time Fitness
(2051 South Lindbergh Boulevard, 314-888-0806)
If you’re going to meet somebody at the gym, you might as well meet somebody who works out at the expensive gym, right? For a high-end partner, Life Time Fitness in Frontenac is the place you want to pump iron.
(2051 South Lindbergh Boulevard, 314-888-0806)
If you’re going to meet somebody at the gym, you might as well meet somebody who works out at the expensive gym, right? For a high-end partner, Life Time Fitness in Frontenac is the place you want to pump iron.
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The Crossing Church
(114 North Eatherton Road, Chesterfield; 636-532-1212)
If you’re mega into Jesus and mega into finding a partner, drop into a mega church for a wide selection of singles looking to settle down. It’s just like Christian Mingle, but in real life.
(114 North Eatherton Road, Chesterfield; 636-532-1212)
If you’re mega into Jesus and mega into finding a partner, drop into a mega church for a wide selection of singles looking to settle down. It’s just like Christian Mingle, but in real life.
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Blueberry Hill
(6504 Delmar Boulevard, 314-727-4444)
You’ll always have something to talk about when you’re at Blueberry Hill. If you spy a person with potential, it’s very easy to strike up a conversation about one of the thousands of collectibles nearby or the statue of Chuck Berry’s hands by the front door. Just make sure to visit during the day when it's more of a restaurant than a bar.
(6504 Delmar Boulevard, 314-727-4444)
You’ll always have something to talk about when you’re at Blueberry Hill. If you spy a person with potential, it’s very easy to strike up a conversation about one of the thousands of collectibles nearby or the statue of Chuck Berry’s hands by the front door. Just make sure to visit during the day when it's more of a restaurant than a bar.
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RFT file photo
Flamingo Bowl
(1117 Washington Avenue, 314-436-6666)
Bowling isn’t really known for being a sexy sport, but the flirty vibe at Flamingo Bowl in the Loop is strong. Ask your lane neighbor for tips on your throw, and you never know what will come next.
(1117 Washington Avenue, 314-436-6666)
Bowling isn’t really known for being a sexy sport, but the flirty vibe at Flamingo Bowl in the Loop is strong. Ask your lane neighbor for tips on your throw, and you never know what will come next.
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