America's Best Cities for Singles 2011

The Crescent City is holding tight to its championship spot from last year: it’s also No. 1 for cocktails and fascinating people. Mingling here is not just about trading Mardi Gras beads, either. If you want to check out the scene beyond Bourbon Street, go to Frenchmen Street, popular with the locals for live music, dancing, and bars—including new clubs such as Maison and Three Muses. Or while away a few hours over a coffee and beignet: New Orleans also ranked first for its neighborhood cafés.

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With its dazzlingly smart, athletic-looking, and eco-conscious locals—not to mention its No. 2 ranking for live music—the Texas capital has climbed one spot closer to the top since last year. Downtown’s Sixth Street is legendary for music and libations, but if you want to get a little off the beaten path, head east across the highway to explore East Sixth Street, with its beer gardens and newly gussied up dive bars. Or check out SoLa (South Lamar) for the lively brunch scene at places like Olivia.

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No one would argue that this is the place to find a soul mate. Vegas ranks first in the AFC survey for wild weekends and a keep-it-casual No. 19 for romance. It’s also a feast for the eyes, ranking No. 5 for people-watching. If you want to party with local singles, check out the Blue Martini or Cadillac Ranch in Town Square, on the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard. Or, walk across the street from the Fremont Street Experience to the Fremont East Entertainment District, home to the Downtown Cocktail Room and Insert Coin(s).

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In the No. 1 city for diversity, you can take your pick among several hot zones for bars and singles, from the East Village to the Meatpacking District—or over the Manhattan Bridge to the area around the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Of course, there are also other places to meet singles—coffee bars, museums, and luxury stores. Just remember to dress to impress: this is the No. 1 town for stylish locals.

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The Windy City deserves special credit for its lively bar scene, despite having nearly the worst weather in the survey. To mingle with locals, your best bets are at watering holes in cool neighborhoods such as Andersonville, Pilsen, or Logan Square. If you’re staying downtown, you might find a great cocktail and excellent city views just downstairs from your room: Chicago ranked first in the survey for its business hotels.

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Dropping four spots since last year, this fun-loving Florida city has slipped a bit off its bar stool. Why? Maybe the residents are a little intimidating. Voters perceived Miamians as not-so-friendly—but also very attractive and stylish. Miami is also one of the priciest cities in the survey; if you don’t want any of the velvet-rope scene in South Beach, check out the bars in downtown’s Design District or Brickell.

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Music City is a cheap date, but in a good way: it ranked first in the survey for both affordability and its omnipresent live music scene, and came in at No. 3 for friendly locals. Lower Broadway is the classic stretch of bars—Willie and Waylon used to toss back a few along here—but if you want to get away from tourists, go to the 12South area.

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Unlike some cities in the survey, San Juan offers equal parts romance and party potential—especially on New Year’s Eve, for which it ranked No. 2 in the AFC survey.

Year round, the Old San Juan, Isla Verde, and Condado districts have enough salsa and piña coladas to keep anyone busy. Check out the Plaza del Mercado in Santurce, which becomes a huge block party on Thursday and Friday nights.

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The Mile High City jumped six spots in this category since last year—perhaps thanks to rugged dudes who have helped the city earn its nickname “Men”-ver. AFC voters agreed, giving the city high marks for its bench-pressing locals, great outdoors, and beer. You might meet locals while mountain biking, or in a brewpub in LoDo (the Lower Historic Downtown District).

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AFC voters love the neighborhood joints (and beer) in this Rhode Island city, where one of the best areas for meeting singles is Federal Hill, the city’s Little Italy. You’ll find bars, lounges, and Italian restaurants that stay open late for dancing. If you’re not the bar type, you’ll do well meeting locals at the great coffeehouses or art galleries.

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The neighborhoods are quaint, the locals are charming, and the people-watching is among the country’s finest. And local singles apparently love cocktail hour, even outside of the actual bars. The city’s Historic District—including the bar-rich City Market—has no open container law.

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Ranked highly for being diverse, San Francisco has a hangout for every taste: hip bars in the Mission District, tonier bars in the Marina, grittier fare in the Tenderloin—and, of course, the LGBT scene in the historic Castro. AFC voters ranked San Francisco high for its cultural offerings too: you can mix art and scoping on the first Thursday of every month, when area galleries hold happy hours.

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The locals in this endless-summer city are easy on the eyes and athletic, according to AFC voters. There are plenty of great bars, from Downtown’s Gaslamp District to the beach communities in Pacific Beach and Encinitas. So why couldn’t San Diego crack the Top 10 for singles? Blame Shamu: thanks to all the kid-friendly attractions—such as Legoland, the Zoo, and SeaWorld—voters may have seen this town as primarily a family getaway.

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Being the No. 1 city for antique shops and B&Bs doesn’t conjure images of a raging bar scene. The recently revitalized Upper King part of town, however, fits well with Charleston’s civilized personality while offering lots of happening restaurants, bars, and home décor shops. Certainly, the singles in Charleston are worth pursuing: AFC voters ranked them as both the most attractive and the most friendly.

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In the least friendly city in America, according to AFC voters, it may be hard to break the ice with locals, even during happy hour. And door policies at trendy bars in West Hollywood or A-list spots such as the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel don’t make things easier. Take a cue from locals who follow a see-and-be-seen strategy. There’s a good chance no one can hear you anyway: L.A.’s the No. 33 city for peace and quiet.

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As the No. 1 city for romance, the Hawaiian capital might be expected to rank higher for catching someone’s eye across a crowded mai tai bar. Then again, it may be that people come here for honeymoons, or because single visitors are too relaxed to get off their pool chairs. To make the most of those sunset views, go to the bars along iconic Waikiki Beach—then head over to the recently revamped Chinatown neighborhood.

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To AFC voters, the singles scene in Portland might boil down to stimulating conversation over a fine craft beer: the Oregon city ranked first in the microbrew and intelligent locals categories. You can find both in the Pearl District, a rehabbed, bike-friendly zone that no doubt also helped Portland rank at the top for being pedestrian-friendly and environmentally aware.

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AFC voters gave this Texas city its highest marks for hearty grub: burgers, barbecue, and ethnic food. You can sample local food and drink—and size up hungry singles—along Washington Avenue, for starters. The lineup includes a margarita-themed bar, great chicken fried steak, and Taps House of Beer, which offers beer pitchers that feature their own tiny spigots.

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Bars here close at a relatively early 2 a.m., but that may not be an issue if you’re more the museum-strolling, classical-music-listening type—Boston activities that ranked higher than its bars in the AFC survey. Indeed, Boston’s singles-scene ranking dropped seven spots since last year. If you do want to toss back a nice microbrew, an up-and-coming area is Liberty Wharf, located in the South Boston Waterfront District. Red Sox fans, meanwhile, will find plenty of like-minded companions in the bars of the Kenmore District, near Fenway.

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Hotlanta might appeal to singles who like to make deals and shop: its buttoned-down hotels landed in the top 10, and its luxury stores and design shops ranked in the top 15. If you’re looking for a happy hour, your best bets are downtown near the Peachtree Center, or just outside the city in Virginia-Highland or Buckhead.

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