The best places in Montreal to find love (or a summer fling), according to a dating coach
Delete those apps. ❤️🔥
Two people embrace at a Montreal Pride event. Right: A plant-filled stall at Marché des Éclusiers.
Looking for love in all the wrong places? That doesn't have to be the case. Montreal is crawling with singles, you just have to know where to find them... at least that's what people say, anyway.
"And where does one find these eligible men, women, theydies and gentlethems?" you ask. To be honest, we're as clueless as you are. So we called in Kavita Ajwani, a Montreal dating expert and love life coach, for guidance. Through her company Dashing Date, Coach Kavita says she has helped more than 10,000 people find love over the past decade thanks to private coaching, matchmaking, speed dating events and premium dating courses.
"Montreal's event scene is vibrant and with the right research skills, there's no shortage of things to do," says Coach Kavita in an interview with MTL Blog.
But before she's willing to name her picks for the top spots to meet someone the old-fashioned way (sans apps) in Montreal, she stresses that it's imperative she gives the following advice:
"Here's the kicker," she says. "The success of these social opportunities is not just on showing up, but on how you show up. If you're not willing to break the ice with new people, even the best events will turn into missed opportunities. So go in with the intention to connect, and be the first to extend your hand and introduce yourself. Someone will be happy you did!"
Keeping those wise words in mind, here are six of the best ways to meet someone special in Montreal. Whether you want a significant other to join in your summer adventures or a new lover for a month-long fling (those are so much more fun when warm weather hits), now's the prime time to turn up the heat on your dating life.
Speed Dating
Price: $40 - $45
When: Regularly. The next Flare event (that isn't sold out) is May 7 for ages 34-43.
Why You Need To Go: Coach Kavita recommends Flare Events as her speed dating purveyor of choice. The cross-Canada company organizes speed dating events and mixers for singles — gay and straight — at venues, including Montreal's W Hotel, Vandale, Le Tequila Bar, The Farsides and Chifa. Just book a spot for an event catering to your dedicated age group and prepare to go on several mini-dates within the span of three hours.
If you've never speed dated before, here's how it works:
After a brief icebreaker, you'll be seated in front of a potential match with eight minutes to get to know each other. When the time is up, one of you will be asked to move down a spot at the table to meet your next potential match. You'll be provided with a scorecard where you can keep track of who you want to match with and who you don't (it's basically Tinder IRL, making it a lot easier to assess the vibes in person). Hand the scorecard to the host and, after the event, they'll contact you with next steps so you can connect with anyone who liked you back.
"Speed dating is underrated. It's such a phenomenal way to meet singles, totally flipping the typical online dating path — match, talk, meet — on its head. With speed dating, it's meet first, then talk, and finally, match. It's a refreshing vibe for those wanting to take a break from the screen and connect face-to-face," Coach Kavita says.
If you're sick and tired of swiping endlessly on the apps, this could be the move for you. Besides Flare, Speed Dating Montreal also organizes local events, plus there are others you can find on Eventbrite.
Seasonal Activities
Why You Need To Go: "Diving into seasonal activities is another smart way to meet new people. Montreal is buzzing during the summer with golden opportunities for singles to mingle. Think festivals, restaurant openings, art exhibits, Grand Prix parties and pop-ups! Sponsored events by big brands like Grey Goose and Patron have been popular in the past and offer unique themed settings to connect in," Coach Kavita says.
Not sure where to go or what to do?
You can check out our list of 35 festivals coming to Montreal in 2024 as well as get info about upcoming restaurant and terrasse openings, things to do each season and free things to do each weekend on the MTL Blog website.
Farmers' Markets
Where:
- Jean-Talon Market: 7070, av. Henri-Julien
- Atwater Market: 138, av. Atwater
- Maisonneuve Market: 4445, rue Ontario E.
- Marché des Éclusiers: 400, rue de la Commune O.
Why You Need To Go: Farmers' markets are another one of the seasonal activities Coach Kavita recommends. Although, some of the city's public markets do stay open year-round. Whether you're going to one of Montreal's three main markets (Jean-Talon, Atwater, Maisonneuve) or browsing at a small community market beside your nearest metro station, farmers' markets are a low-pressure way to strike up a conversation with someone new. And with so much stimulation around — from colourful flowers you can smell to fresh produce you can squeeze to people-watching galore — you shouldn't have trouble coming up with a creative way to break the ice.
At the Old Port's Marché des Éclusiers, there's not only a farmers' market but also a delicious restaurant and terrasse. So if you hit it off with someone at the market, you can simply hop over to the bar and kick off your first date without leaving the premises.
Classes
Why You Need To Go: "If you're less into the party scene, you might opt for a more consistent meet-up, like cohort-based courses and activities. Salsa dancing, improv, cooking or language classes are all interesting options. It’s about learning new skills and seeing the same faces that help build connections over time," Coach Kavita suggests.
Montreal has countless options for these types of recurring meet-ups, which bring together like-minded people who return week after week, while creating opportunities to share vulnerable moments that help you get to know participants on a deeper level.
You could attend a free BlaBla Language Exchange event, sign-up for a dance class at Latin Groove, do a workshop at Montreal Improv, Mile End Improv or Theatre Sainte-Catherine, learn to cook or make cocktails with Ateliers & Saveurs, take a group tennis lesson with Tennis Montreal, join a recreational sports league and so much more.
Comedy Shows
Price: $25
When: Every Thursday
Where: Satay Brothers (Chinese Laundry), 3719 rue Notre-Dame O.
Why You Need To Go: "I'd also recommend looking into comedy shows. Kickback Comedy Party is the new kid on the block, hosting events at popular spots like Satay Brothers in Saint-Henri," says Coach Kavita.
Considering that the Kickback's atmosphere makes you feel like you're at an actual kickback (think: small, casual house party and a lot of fun energy), this show's vibe should get you loose enough to make a (respectful) move on someone who catches your eye — not to mention that everyone gets a free shot on the house.
If you'd prefer to attend a comedy event that's actually centred completely around "relationships, breakups, being single and everything in between," Kickback producer Evangelia Alexopoulos (Eva Alexo) co-hosts another show called Un/Cuffed, which will be back in Montreal on May 24.
That said, there are plenty of local comedy shows that take place at bars, restaurants and cafés — or which are directed at niche audiences — where you're more likely to laugh your way to a meet-cute compared to stuffier traditional stand-up clubs. You can keep tabs on these types of events on the Montreal Comedy Shows and Montreal Comedy Club websites.
Trivia Nights
Price: $5
When:
- Monthly at Pigeon Club Café (Next: May 1 at 7:30 p.m.)
- Mondays at Pub Burgundy Lion at 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesdays at Church St. Pub at 7:30 p.m.
Where:
- Pigeon: 6321, route Transcanadienne, Pointe-Claire, QC
- Burgundy Lion: 2496, rue Notre-Dame O., Montreal, QC
- Church St. Pub: 552, rue de l'Église, Verdun, QC
Why You Need To Go: Coach Kavita also suggests pub quiz nights or other trivia events as a way to meet singles in Montreal. "Trivia nights are always a good time," she says.
In particular, she gave a shout-out to the trivia night at Pigeon Club Café in the West Island — a beautiful venue that's perfect if you're looking for a break from the bar scene. Plus, there's loads of free parking.
The host, Quiz Master Brian, also runs weekly trivia nights at Burgundy Lion on Mondays and Church St. Pub on Tuesdays, as well as occasional special events, like Seinfeld Trivia and The Office Trivia, at MainLine Theatre. Usually, teams of six are permitted so tell your friends to bring their friends and you may even meet someone new on your own team. That said, if you spot a crush on a competing team, pretend rivalries always make for a great flirting tactic.
Quiz Master Brian's website
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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