Feeling disillusioned with Tinder? If you’re experiencing fatigue from the glut of options online, you’re not alone. Although dating apps have thrived in our digital age of convenience, more people – especially Singaporean women – are staying single across all age groups.
In fact, based on a 2017 population study, the Straits Times reported that among women aged 25 to 29, the proportion of single people has increased by more than 7% to 68.1% over the last decade.
So chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re either single and ready to mingle or you know someone who is. Whether you’re looking to meet new people organically or you’re curious about exploring new places with your single BFFs, we list our favourite activities for singletons.
6 ways to get social in Singapore
These days, online dating has emerged as the go-to way to meet new people. But we’ve just as quickly realised that it’s not as foolproof as we thought it would be, what with awkward interactions and ghosting encounters becoming the norm. Perhaps it’s time for the old-fashioned way of meeting new people to make a comeback – offline, at a bar or even at a dating event.
Here are our top 6 ways to get social and make new friends in Singapore!
For novelty-seekers looking to blow off steam:
1. Join an unusual sport like axe throwing.
Image: Table For Two
Move over, dart-throwing and bowling. It’s time to welcome the latest trend: axe throwing. While this burgeoning urban sport has only just recently caught on in Singapore, axe throwing is really a sport that’s as old as time. It’s only in recent years that it’s become all the rage as a social activity.
At Axe Factor, Singapore’s first indoor axe throwing range, you’ll get to have fun destressing by hurling hatchets at a target board 14 metres away. There’ll be coaches on hand to facilitate your axe-throwing, which you’ll quickly realise isn’t as easy as it looks. Even better, you’re allowed to bring your own booze. Time to gather your friends or find a date!
For food and wine lovers interested in expanding their palate:
2. Go for a wine tasting session.
Whether you’re a dedicated oenophile or just someone who wants to learn how to wax lyrical about the “terroir” of a wine in social situations, going for a wine class or guided tasting is a perfect way to delve deeper into viticulture.
If you’re a beginner, Fine Wines SG hosts introductory virtual classes that deliver wines straight to your doorstep. They also conduct monthly meetups, where you can BYOB for a blind tasting session. Elsewhere, London-based 67 Pall Mall is a veritable haven for wine enthusiasts, boasting an impressive calendar of events and a wine cellar of 5,000 wines!
For animal lovers and introverts:
3. Spend an afternoon at a cat or dog café.
Count yourself an introvert? Well, if you’re also an animal lover, then a visit to a cat or dog café is the perfect balm for your shy, reticent soul. Check out our pet-friendly guide for our favourite cat and dog cafes.
You’ll get up close and personal with the resident cats or dogs who roam freely around the cafés, and you’ll be surrounded by other people who share the same warmth for animals. Who knows what might happen if you strike up a conversation with a fellow patron? If nothing else, come for the free cuddles.
For those looking to support a good cause:
4. Get involved with community initiatives.
One way to form deep bonds with new people is through volunteering. As animal lovers ourselves, we’re partial to causes related to animal welfare like SPCA Singapore, whom we’ve partnered for a Table For Two dating event.
Pick a cause that’s equally close to your heart at volunteer.sg. If you’re an eco-warrior standing up for climate change, for example, consider the Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) which keeps the kampung spirit alive through its urban sustainability and farming programmes. This way, you’ll easily meet others who share your passions.
For those seeking to connect organically:
5. Say yes to a house party invite.
The older you get, the harder it might be to expand your social circle beyond your co-workers and the old pals you’ve known for ten years. But the best way to meet new people is to simply say yes to an invite and show up. Choose to put yourself in social situations where you’re likely to make new friends. So the next time you’re invited to a house party with people you mostly don’t know, take a leap of faith and say yes.
For the quirky meet-cute you never expected:
6. Strike up a conversation with a stranger – anywhere!
Picture this: You’re wandering along the aisles of a gourmet grocer’s or your favourite bookstore when you clap your eyes upon a stranger. The rest, as they say in the movies, is history.
Entire industries have sprung up around the rom-com-worthy meet-cute. While we can’t guarantee this silver-screen fantasy will play out in your nearest NTUC Fairprice outlet as you elbow your way past aunties with bulging shopping carts, it just might contain some timeless advice for meeting someone new: Strike up a conversation with people around you, even if they’re strangers. It might not be love at first sight, but it could lead to something meaningful.
Feeling bored in Singapore? Here are the best places to go alone.
If you cherish your freedom as a singleton, we get it. Sometimes true luxury is spending quality time with your most reliable company: yourself. Apart from the obvious options, like seeing a movie alone or chilling at a quiet stretch of beach in Sentosa, we list our favourite places to go for unbeatable “me” time.
1. Find your next read at The Moon
Image credit: The Moon
Catch up on your reading at a quiet café near you or in one of the newer, cooler libraries like library@orchard. If you’d like to set your imagination free in a more charming ambience, check out The Moon, an independent bookstore and whimsical café and event venue. Its selection of books is idiosyncratic and spans various genres from feminist literature to illustrated cookbooks. Best of all? They have a reading room on the third floor with a communal lending library.
2. Feel rejuvenated at Core Collective
Image credit: Core Collective
Indulge in serious self-care by signing up for a fitness or wellness class. We’re friends of Core Collective, the first fitness and wellness hub of its kind in Singapore. Keep fit with their wide variety of services, which range from Pilates reformer classes and personal training to alternative wellness treatments like traditional Chinese medicine. After all, the best person to pamper yourself and take care of your body is you. Time to sweat it out!
3. See an art exhibition at National Gallery Singapore
Housed within the former Supreme Court, the National Gallery Singapore is by now an iconic mainstay along the Civic District. It’s also the destination in Singapore to see the region’s largest collection of modern Southeast Asian art. Immerse yourself in their collection of significant artworks – an ideal way to spend an afternoon solo. Before you go, check out their website for free guided tours and curated programmes so you can time your visit accordingly.
4. Find inner peace at The Singing Bowl Gallery
Image credit: The Singing Bowl Gallery
Curious about sound healing therapy? Try out this alternative option for self-care. Dip your toes into mindful living with a 90 min sound bath meditation session from The Singing Bowl Gallery. During the session, an introduction to the singing bowl sound bath is followed by a 10 min breathing exercise and a 40 min sound bath, where you’ll experience deep relaxation from the reverberating sounds of the singing bowls. You can even join their workshops to learn how to conduct sound healing on yourself.
5. Bring your doggo to a yoga class at Puppy Yoga Singapore
Image credit: Puppy Yoga Singapore
At Singapore’s first dedicated dog yoga studio, Puppy Yoga Singapore, the downward-facing dog pose takes on an entirely new dimension. A typical class will involve dogs roaming freely about the studio as you stretch into complicated yoga poses. Just our idea of meditative bliss then, which is why we’ve teamed up with the studio for a dating event.
Keep in mind that they have certain criteria for doggos attending yoga classes. Make sure your furkid weighs below 10kg and is friendly and non-aggressive towards other dogs.
6. Reconnect with nature at HortPark
Image: Table For Two
If you find yourself in need of a break, it’s time to escape solo into nature. At HortPark, bask in the tranquility of its stunning landscaped gardens. Take a stroll away from the urban heart of the city and explore the area nearby, which includes the interconnected trails of the Southern Ridges, Mount Faber Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve. We also love the new cafe, Canopy HortPark, with its garden-themed décor that echoes the surrounding greenery. Bonus: It’s pet-friendly too!
Need a little help from Cupid? Meet like-minded people and discover new things to do in Singapore through our dating services. We’ll find you a meaningful one-on-one date or handpick an intimate group experience just for you.
All images taken from Unsplash unless otherwise stated.
