Granted, people are everywhere in NYC; but where and how do you meet people in New York City with whom you actually want to make friends? This article will give you some key ideas and places to help you build your social circle and make friends in NYC.
Where & How To Meet People in New York and Start Making Friends
1. Most Popular Meetup Groups
Here are a few of New York’s most popular meetups
- NYC walks: Nature, beauty, & peace
- NYC Social Men & Women!
- #1 New York Shyness and Social Anxiety Meetup Group (make sure to read our article on social anxiety)
- Free Comedy and New Friends NYC!
- Alternative to the Bar Fun Things To Do In NYC!
Find more of your favorite meetup opportunities here: https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/ny/new_york/
2. Unique Hands-on Workshops
The Brooklyn Brainery is a hub for folks who want to learn about food, history, or any number of quirky topics. Small class sizes make it easy to chat with other attendees, and the hands-on workshops encourage interaction among participants. The Brainery also functions as a coworking space, further helping you meet and mingle with new friends.
3. Network for a Cause
Volunteering your time is a proven way to make meaningful friendships. The Bowery Mission brings together professionals in their twenties and thirties looking to make a difference in downtown Manhattan. The Young Philanthropists have been known to organize projects and events to assist homeless people and at-risk youth. The group’s latest effort is serving meals to the homeless community at the Bowery Mission in the East Village. Make some friends while you’re making a difference.
4. It’s Okay to Be a Nerd
If you hold an interest in more science-based, “nerdy” topics, don’t fret! The Secret Science Club holds a free monthly lecture series for scientists to discuss dinosaurs, neuroscience, black holes, and other scholarly topics, each event bringing in nearly 300 attendees. After each event’s Q&A session, there’s plenty of time for socializing with other science enthusiasts.
5. Relax and Draw
Let your artistic side and inhibitions go free at Bat Haus’s Drink N’ Draw. The affordable admission price gets you all-you-can-drink Brooklyn Brewery beers and two hours of figure drawing with a live model. Exchange tips and conversations with fellow artists and create your next masterpiece.
6. Become a Comedian
Learn to be funny on the spot and make some new friends in the process. Improvolution is an awesome place in New York for anyone who wants a quick tour of the improv world. Improvolution believes the world of Improv is for everybody. Take part in it and you’ll meet a lot of people who are light-hearted, humorous, and friendly.
7. Achieve Inner Peace
Yoga is an amazing form of exercise that helps strengthen, stretch, and de-stress the body, and focus and decompress the mind. At Yoga to the People, you don’t have to be a yogi master OR wealthy to join a class. All classes are donation-based and cater to all skill levels.
8. This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Choir
Gotham Rock Choir is New York City’s first choir devoted exclusively to the performance of Pop, Rock, and Soul music. This eclectic social group provides an outlet for vocalists of all levels and backgrounds to explore contemporary music in a supportive and fun environment. You’ll find friends from all walks of life, as members possess a common trait: a real passion for singing.
9. Get Crafty
Make Workshop draws DIY acolytes of all levels. You’ll not only learn skills such as embroidery and sewing, you’ll also have the opportunity to chat with other creative souls. You work in small groups, so all classes naturally become very socially centered.
10. Become a Jedi
Star Wars fans, unite! New York Jedi instructors impart the ways of the Force at two-hour electro-sword classes every Thursday night at 7 pm at Central Park. Focused on lightsaber choreography and techniques, you can create your own hero, learn some radical moves, and hang out with cool people in the process.
11. Embrace the Power of Community
92nd Street Y is a world-class cultural and community center where people connect through culture, arts, entertainment, and conversation. Although a Jewish center, 92Y enthusiastically welcomes and reaches out to people of all ages, races, faiths, and backgrounds while embracing Jewish values. This amazing venue acts as a performing arts center, studio and workshop facility for classes, and a health, fitness, and sports center.
12. Be a Good Sport – Learn, Grow and Compete
Chelsea Piers is a New York hub to learn, practice, play, and compete in 25+ different sports. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the scenic Hudson River while you meet new people through sports leagues, and classes, or take advantage of their world-class health club. Another reason this is a great place to meet people in New York is that they have many classes for many tastes; surely you’re gonna find the sports activity that fits your preference.
13. Coffee and Sunshine
Taking inspiration from the Victorian Tea and Coffee Houses of old, the Chipped Cup aims to be a place where the diverse population can come mingle over a delicious Espresso Bar drink. Grab a buttery croissant and step out onto the garden patio… It provides a great, intimate setting to get to meet people in New York and get to know your neighbors in the big city.
14. Brunch with Ambitious Thought Leaders
Brunchwork is for young, successful professionals hungry for the next opportunity. They believe that exploring new ideas, building skills, and making connections should be as easy as going to brunch with friends. Every week members engage the world’s foremost business, tech, and creative leaders over a farm-to-table meal.
15. From Online to Real Life
Another way to meet people in New York is GoFindFriends, which is exclusively for New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s looking for a free and unique way to meet people. We previously shared some of the best apps for making friends, and even using Tinder for friends. We didn’t include this one in the past, as it’s exclusive to NYC. You simply create a profile by answering a few questions about yourself, browsing other profiles, messaging people, and joining the activities that you are interested in. No pressure, no creep factor!
16. Board Games and Brews
Another way to meet people in New York is to play pinball, board games, or Jenga while sipping on local brews at High Dive. This cozy, 90s-esque bar encourages conversation in a relaxed and unique environment. Enjoy classics such as chess and checkers or buy your new friends a drink while you try to sink their battleship.
17. Eclectic Piano Tunes
Spectrum NYC is an intimate venue with state-of-the-art hand-crafted speakers and a Steinway D grand piano. Meet others with sophisticated taste in music while supporting innovation and virtuosity in the arts. Their principal emphasis is on concert music of the 20th and 21st Centuries.
18. Take in the Square
Union Square captures much of the City’s diversity and has its own energy. Dubbed downtown Times Square, The National Historic Landmark has a long tradition as a gathering place. This vibrant park is a prime place to grab a quick meal, see your favorite band, find a rare book, and take in art for free.
19. Oh my WORD
WORD is an independent neighborhood bookstore in Brooklyn. In addition to browsing their array of paperback fiction (especially classics), cookbooks, board books, and absurdly cute cards and stationery they are fiends for a good event. If classic author readings aren’t your thing, try joining one of their awesome book clubs! Book clubs are also an old and proven way to meet people in New York and or anywhere.
20. Art Along the East River
In 1986, artists and activists created the Socrates Sculpture Park. It hosts large-scale sculpture exhibits year-round and is one of the few locations in the city specifically designated for artists to create outdoor works. The splendid Queens space looks out over the Manhattan skyline and is open 365 days a year, with a Greenmarket, free yoga and tai chi classes, and more.
21. Chat, Meet, and Make friends in NYC with OneRoof app
If you live or recently moved to New York City and want to meet new people then you should get the OneRoof app. OneRoof makes it easy to chat, meet, and make friends with similar interests living in your building and forming new friendships. Communication should go further than a nod in the elevator.
It’s a fun way to:
- Buy and sell items from each other
- Organize dog play dates
- Ask a neighbor to dog-sit
- Find a gym buddy
- Attend board game nights
- Do cloth swapping
- & much more
Ready to meet and make friends with your neighbors? Try out the OneRoof app here.
22. Join a Fitness Social Group
If you’re a fitness fanatic you might agree that doing it alone can be exhausting! At times, you might even feel like giving up on your goals. So, why not do it as a group? Yes, you can join a New York social group to spice up the fitness experience. It is one way to get some solidarity on a fitness journey and help you stay resilient.
Feel free to engage in diverse conversations to break the ice and create valuable friendships. This can help cement your newfound friendships. You might even build social circles that will come in handy when you need them. You can join a New York Fitness Social Group (or in Brooklyn) for workouts done at around 6 am once or twice a week. You will love the experience and solidarity of being in a fitness social group.
In conclusion, New York has no shortage of places to meet new people and make friends. As a result, it can seem overwhelming to start building your social life. In order to know exactly where to start, we’d like to invite you to give our training a try and arm yourself with the best techniques and strategies to… Get The Friends You Want.