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The World’s Most Single-Friendly Neighborhoods
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
Bastille District of Paris
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Apr 9, 2013 — As both Wilson Pickett and the Blues Brothers once sang, “Everybody needs somebody to love.” For all the happy couples in the world, there are probably 10 loners looking for some action.
Thankfully, the single-friendly neighborhoods around the globe help those flying solo find a match, be it for a long-term relationship or one night of companionship.
Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., is the city’s LGBT capital, but provides opportunities for available men and women of all sexual orientations to meet, greet, and hopefully hit it off. Beyond the area’s bars and clubs, there are a plethora of coffee houses that offer the chance for rom-com-like first encounters, where the main character bumps into his counterpart, spills her coffee, and buys her a new cup to enjoy over conversation and a budding romance.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles' Westside hood of Santa Monica, post-grads and late-20s denizens with a healthy, pre-game buzz head into fratty bars like Finn McCool’s and The Victorian. With enough conviction – or a substantial amount of liquid courage – they can participate in a dance-floor make-out session with a sexy stranger that may lead to a sleepover.
Across the Atlantic in Amsterdam’s Red Light District – known for its sex shops, adult entertainment theaters, and legal prostitutes in brothel windows – the unattached are dared to get caught up in the city’s lascivious mood.
Whether it’s America or Europe, stags and hens of all sorts have plenty of places to check out. After all, everybody needs somebody to love – even if it’s just for a couple of hours.
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Red Light District
Most famous for its sex shops, adult entertainment theaters, and the women who stand in the red-lighted windows hoping to attract customers, the Red Light District is the heart of Amsterdam’s tourism industry and has been the destination for booze, brothels, and debauchery for five hundred years. Occasional street scuffles between junkies or. . . more -
Port Olimpic / Barceloneta
One of the most popular spots in Barcelona, Barceloneta Beach in Barceloneta provides an expanse of sand that offers plenty in the way of sunbathing, swimming, water sports, beach games, or just relaxing with a pitcher of sangria at one of the many chiringuitos(beach bars). As the sun sets and the daytime throngs ebb with the tide, another. . . more -
Cambridge / Somerville
Separated from the rest of Boston by the Charles River, Cambridge and Somerville have a reputation for aloofness or even snobbery compared with the rest of the city’s blue-collar ethic, due in no small part to the presence of two elite universities, Harvard and MIT. While not as edgy as Jamaica Plain or as upscale as Back Bay, both Cambridge. . . more -
Gold Coast
A draw for Chicago’s wealthier citizens since the turn of the twentieth century, the Gold Coast is full of traditional mansions and deluxe modern day high-rises – but the glitz and glam doesn’t preclude vibrant scenes both day and night, with wining and dining options for practically any budget. Most notable is the wild Rush & Division bar. . . more -
Clapham
Just across the River Thames from the über-wealthy areas of Sloane Square and Belgravia, Clapham is home to a largely middle-class mix of foreigners, current and recent university grads, and a vibrant gay community – all enjoying the proximity to London’s poshest neighborhoods without paying the accompanying rents. Although the name Clapham. . . more -
Santa Monica / Westside
Where historic Route 66 hits the bluffs overlooking the glistening Pacific Ocean sits the scenic city of Santa Monica that, along with much of LA’s Westside, has a relaxed and affluent vibe that starkly contrasts to the more hectic areas to the east. By day there’s no shortage of outdoor activities, as the area’s wide, sandy beaches and. . . more -
Bastille / Oberkampf - 11eme
Originally the site of a prison that was famously stormed in the eighteenth century, marking the beginning of the French Revolution, the Bastille neighborhood now teems with bars lined up one after the other, as well as tons of late-night pizza and the ubiquitous Paris falafel stands. These days, a trendy younger crowd of hipsters,. . . more -
Trastevere
One of the oldest and most popular nightlife districts in Rome, Trastevere is the place to go for an evening of barhopping and partying. The area’s outdoor scene and cozy bars, upscale lounges, and bustling piazzas attract a young professional crowd as well as a small artsy contingent that congregates in and around Piazza San Cosimato.. . . more -
Marina / Cow Hollow
Originally built on sand dredged from the Bay, the Marina experienced major damage during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Despite the destruction, the area was quickly rebuilt – with developers promising higher standards – and is widely characterized today as home to a party-happy young crowd of successful professionals and fashionable. . . more -
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is home to a plethora of incredible museums, historic homes, row upon row of embassies, and a great example of Washington, DC’s hopping nightlife. Easily the LGBT capital of the capital, the neighborhood features the largest assortment of gay-owned and gay-friendly restaurants, bars, and clubs in the city – particularly along P. . . more
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