11 Best Neighborhoods in NYC for Singles

If you’re all dressed up with nowhere to go it’s time to jump into the best neighborhoods in NYC for singles. You will have your dance card filled in no time at all.

I loved dating. Loved it. When I was single, I had a great time–it was like a 1940’s madcap musical or something less dorky that I can’t think of for this example. I guess that’s a symptom of having been in a few longer relationships and then being single. The grass is always greener. Now, certainly I love being married, but I can still appreciate that single time. I think it would be weird to shun it. My wife feels the same way about being single too, she enjoyed the hell out of it. Maybe it was because we were both single in New York City. It’s a good place to be single and, I think you know what I’m going to say but here it comes anyway, ready to mingle.

I oscillated between dating apps and meeting people in bars. Those I met on dating apps tended to be looking for something more serious and those I met in bars tended to be 22.  It was good to get to meet a lot of different kinds of people.  Some of them were similar to me and some of them were very, very different. Even if it wasn’t a love connection it was nice to get to know them and hear about their experiences–also cocktails help.

I was lucky enough to be dating, as I said, in New York City. I don’t mean that in a pie-in-the-sky stupid Sex and the City type way. I mean in a plenty of fish in the sea, fun, and practical way. Dating is not that serious an event; it shouldn’t take up all of your life or emotions–you still have other things hobbies, interests, goals, family, friends, a job, and most importantly yourself. Also, there are a million bars–almost literally–in my neighborhood alone. The date could be a total dud, but at least I was somewhere interesting, perhaps even witnessing some other crappy date go even worse. Still, the neighborhood is important for this whole endeavor. You definitely want to date in a great neighborhood for singles, luckily we are here to help.

As I established, living a single life–as Queen Latifah would agree–is just thinking about you and no one else. The places on our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles are from Quora, and our research, which assessed what places fit the needs of single people, most specifically young professionals–as that is the largest group of single people in New York. You would want a neighborhood with easy access to transportation or where you can easily go to on foot. This may be the opposite of 11 Best New York Neighborhoods to Live in With Families and Kids or there may be some similarities.

Most of the neighborhoods we have are in Manhattan, then we also have a few from Queens and Brooklyn. We thought about the priorities of single people and we chose the neighborhoods with the easiest access to mass transit (for commuting or pleasure,) and also lots of amenities like great restaurants, shopping, bars, parks, places to see concerts–and just generally neighborhoods with action and energy.

As I explained when we say a ‘hood has “recreation,” this does not limit you to bars where you can hang out or try to hit on other single people–though you can definitely do that in these locales. We also made sure they had some other activity areas–like museums, theaters, parks and the movies. Going out and meeting new people or experiencing new things in your neighborhood is great whether you want more friends or a date.

In these ‘hoods a single person can live with convenience since shops, restaurants, and even bars where we can actively participate in the nightlife are present–not that coupled or married people don’t also appreciate them. But let’s be honest single people have the gift of time to do the most ‘appreciating.’  Rent prices may vary–this is New York City so they will all be relatively exorbitant–but pretty sure a single person can enjoy their life to the fullest here. Check out the best neighborhoods in NYC for singles below.

11. Astoria, Queens

People of many different ethnicities live in Astoria–Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Greek, and many more cultures intermingle.   Restaurants are visible and because of the diversity of this neighborhood, you get to taste delicious cuisines of different cultures.  If you are into shopping, then no worries!  There are a lot of stores and nearby malls to choose from here in Astoria.

10. Long Island City, Queens

Young professionals who are looking for right on the budget rent? Then you’ve headed on the perfect place, which is Long Island City, the number 10 in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles. Condo units are also available if you have the amount to own one. Parks, pop-up beaches, beer gardens, contemporary arts, and sculpture are just some of the finds here in Long Island City.

9. Nolita, Manhattan

Nolita ranks 9yh in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles and stands for North of Little Italy a neighborhood south of NYU campus and north of Soho that is still hip, although maybe not as hip as it was a few years ago.  Nightlife is actively present here from a quite hippie ambiance to a decently priced bar, it’s your choice.  You can have a quiet night drinking in a low-lit bistro, or mix it up in a hotter and super crowded bar. Great restaurants are also present in this very central location, where a variety of choices exist so if there is no problem if you are a vegetarian.

8. Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Okay, sure there are plenty of bars. The rent is a lot higher than it used to be but you moving there made the rent higher than it used to be for the person who lived there a year before you–so stop complaining. Because nightlife is active here in Williamsburg we warn you ahead of time of the drunken singles after bars are closed–this is a fun neighborhood but not a quiet neighborhood.  If you are into this scene then go ahead and enjoy, also if you love overpriced boutiques they’ve got a plethora. There are still some great venues to see shows here and McCarren park is pretty inviting. Supposedly this neighborhood also is home to many artists, but they’ve likely moved on to cheaper pastures.

7. TriBeCa, Manhattan

Triangle Below Canal or TriBeCa ranks 7th in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles and is famous for its film festival and being really cool in the ’90s.  Trendy shops are present here.  Now the downside of this place is the rent which is quite high, you better be looking for someone to share it with. Still, there are some classic haunts for dinner and drinks, you can walk to many fantastic places, and likely your commute will be pretty simple. You also will live close to Hudson River Park, which is an absolute haven in the spring and summer.

6. SoHo, Lower Manhattan

Stylish, trendy, and elegant are just a few words to describe SoHo or South of Houston–some other words would be crowded, crowded and crowded.  Don’t try to walk down broadway if you are in a rush.  Just like TriBeCa the downside here is the rent, (here’s hoping you’re super rich!) but because shopping, restaurants, and gyms are some of the best here in SoHo, many are still moving here.  It is certainly a vibrant place for a single person to call home.

5. NoHo, Manhattan

Just the north of SoHo is NoHo or North of Houston, the number 5 in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles which is also famous for being a hipster area.  Being a New Yorker, I’m not entirely sure this place exists–it seems kind of like Nolita to me. This area can really only be describing a 4-5 block radius. However, it is beautiful and some of the streets are cobblestone. You can walk, bike or subway to or from practically anywhere here and you can spend a lot of time trolling for dates in the Whole Foods on Houston.

4. The Lower East Side, Manhattan

Partying until you drop won’t be a problem here at The Lower East Side that ranks 4th in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles.  Just don’t try to get a cab on a weekend night. And look up the exact address of whatever speakeasy you are going to before you leave the house so you look like you know what you’re doing. Vintage shops are aplenty here. This is definitely a super fun area, single or not, but the nightlife scene caters to singles, so welcome home.

3. West Village, Manhattan

If you can afford to live in this neighborhood, God bless, you are literally a millionaire. You are in the 1%, congrats. These are not overstatements. However, rich singleton, there a lot of bookstores around if you are the literary type.  It’s also great if you are a gay single 25 years ago. Just kidding, there are still a ton of gay bars, though the scene is likely more in Bushwick, Hells Kitchen, and beyond.

2. East Village, Manhattan

East Village ranks 2nd in our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles and is a home to another nightlife bonanza–including a history of rich music culture. If you are into bars then punk and metal bars are available, also every other kind of bar you could think of as this neighborhood has the highest density of bars in Manhattan. Fantastic restaurants, bars, and boutiques line the streets–as does vomit from partygoers. This is my neighborhood and I can tell you it is incredibly easy to be single here. Don’t feel like a date? Go read in Tompkins Square Park or go for a run by the East River.

1. Union Square, Manhattan

To top our list of best neighborhoods in NYC for singles is Union Square.  It is super central, not part of the East or West Village as people will try to claim. There are going to be NYU students everywhere, the majority of their dorms are in this area. So if you are just recently post-college or into grad students, this works for you! Pretty much everything is accessible by subway and the convenience is major if that appeals to you.  There is also Union Square with plenty of poets, chess players, farmers markets and more. If you want to have an adorable meet-cute in Union Square then all you have to do is head over there and strike up a conversation with the hottie holding the turnip.