Ranking: 1
Population: 510,269
Beast Analysis: Whether it's the Southern hospitality or the sub-tropical breezes, something about Atlanta is attracting all the right men: the doctors training at Emory, the junior executives at Coca-Cola, and the musicians and artists that make up one of the country's most vibrant music scenes. Atlanta tops our list of the best cities in which to meet a guy. There are more single men per capita here than any other city on this list, tons of gyms, a very high percentage of bachelor's degrees, and the social scene cooks.
Popular Meeting Spots: Glenn Hotel Rooftop Bar and Graveyard Tavern
What the Locals Say: âAtlanta is not known as a college town but it is very much that. Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Spelman, Georgia Tech, and Emory are all in the heart of the city so nightlife is definitely a booming industry. A lot of people fresh out of college move to Atlanta to start their careerâthey're single and into bars and nightclubs, which Atlanta has plenty of."âJarreau Carrillo, former Morehouse College student
Ranking: 2
Population: 613,411
Beast Analyis: With more than 50 institutions of higher learning in the Boston area, the city has always been an ideal destination for the young and upwardly mobile. The scene can border on sophomoric (possibly due to the sizable jock contingent), but Boston is still a terrific bet. The social scene is date-worthy in and of itself, from the outdoor cafes of Newbury Street to the bars across the street from Fenway Park.
Popular Meeting Spot: Alibi, the bar at the Liberty Hotel
What the Locals Say: "Boston is small enough where the male watering holes are all packed into a few miles by a few miles."âElizabeth Knopf, 24, works for a venture-capital fund
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Ranking: 3
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Population: 582,490
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Beast Analysis: Microsoft, Boeing, and other tech companies that have sprung up around Seattle draw thousands of smart, educated guys from all over the world. And while this is the capital of computing software, the city nevertheless takes its face-to-face dating life seriously. Just this month, one local company launched to offer coaching for the dating challenged. And of course, a first date over coffee is standard operating procedure here.
â¨Popular Meeting Spots: Linda's Tavern, Cafe Vita, and Caffe Umbria
â¨What the Locals Say: âItâs such a cozy city for going out in the evening, itâs so dark and rainy. Whatâs more romantic than sitting in a cafĂŠ and drinking a hot chocolate or sharing an umbrella?ââTonya Wagner, manager of Victrola Coffee
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Ranking: 4
Population: 808,976
Beast Analysis: With those smarty-pants from Google and Facebook buzzing around on their scooters, intelligent guys with great careers are plentiful in San Francisco. Having Napa Valley as a backyard and the Pacific Ocean as a front porch certainly encourages those who like the good life to settle in the area, and provides picturesque backdrops for outdoor dates.
Popular Meeting Spot: Bourbon & Branch
What the Locals Say: "You can kind of anticipate what kind of guy you might meet depending upon what neighborhood you'll be in. If an overgrown frat boy who wears boat shoes and Vineyard Vines is your style, go to the Marina. Emo hipster that likes fedoras and V-necks? Go to the Mission. It might be a vast generalization, but the different neighborhoods are like a guidebook to what kind of guy you're into. It makes a night out feel less like a crapshoot." Emily Medina, 24, works in the public-health industry
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Ranking: 5
Population: 629,876
Beast Analysis: The Land of 10,000 Lakes might safely be renamed the Land of 10,000 Dates. The Twin Cities' chilly climes gave us Al Franken, Jesse Ventura, and Thomas Friedmanâa comedian/legislator, a wrestler, and a well-known intellectualâwhich says something about their ability to produce desirable men of all types. Minneapolis ranked high in all our criteria.
Popular Meeting Spot: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Museum
What the Locals Say: "Minneapolis has exceptionally wonderful, intelligent, cute, and very sweet guys. There's simply a lot of people doing progressive and artistic things, and surprise, surprise, half of them are male. However, the Midwestern reserve tends to seep into the dating scene in unfortunate ways. Honestly, people can be pretty awkward."âLisa Johnson, 24, nonprofit professional.
Ranking: 6
Population: 591,833
Beast Analysis: The men of the nation's capital can seem a bit buttoned-up for some women's taste, but avoid the Frat Row that is M Street in Georgetown and there's a flourishing, stylish dating scene to be found. A city that's all about networking unwinds at some of the best happy hours in the country, and unlike its hipper neighbor New York, people actually have time for a social life.
Popular Meeting Spot: The Brickskeller
What the Locals Say: "Everyone is looking to meet someone here because DC is so transient. People are more open to small talk and meeting others, which ultimately leads to more dating opportunities."âAmanda Consovoy, 30, social worker
Paul Quayle / Getty Images
Ranking: 7
Population: 777,783
Beast Analyis: While Austin didn't crack the top five, an exuberant nightlife, year-round festivals, and thousands of U.T. undergrads make the state capital a haven for art and tech lovers alike. Austin rounded out a recent list in The Wall Street Journal as one of the best cities for attracting youth.
Popular Meeting Spot: Pure
What the Locals Say: "Austin is a great place to meet lots of different types of eligible men. On 6th Street there are college and fraternity guys, but if you move to West 6th or 4th Street you'll find eligible young professionals."âAshley Lamb, 23, researcher
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Ranking: 8
Population: 532,339
Beast Analysis: If it can be a break-out city for the Kardashians, perhaps Miami holds out hope for anyone. âMiami's weather calls for beach parties, pool parties, boating...hot spots for meeting people." says local child therapist Denise Wasmer. What it lacks in educated men (it ranked 24th in number of bachelor's degrees) Miami makes up for in gyms and social life, coming in at No. 2 and No. 1, respectively.
Popular Meeting Spot: Tinta y Cafe
What the Locals Say: âThe singles scene is bananas. In any one night, you could go to a club, lounge, or afterparty. Youâre always looking for the next thing to do. The dating scene is the sameâthere are so many people who are all scantily clad and have beautiful bodies. Itâs very hard to find someone to get serious in the party-fueled environment.ââRaina McLeod, Miami New Times columnist
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Ranking: 9
Population: 1,266,963
Beast Anaylsis: Like Miami's beach bunnies, San Diegans tend to have great tans, great hair, great bodies, and because of the city's high cost of living, lucrative jobs. The dating scene can seem slow compared to that of its bigger, badder neighbor, Los Angeles, but a leisurely pace might be just the trick for meeting a guy who's looking to settle down.
Popular Meeting Spot: Lahaina Beach House
What the Locals Say: âSan Diego's great because it offers a little bit of everything for everyone looking for an active lifestyle, not to mention great weather. On the one hand, you have downtown and the Gaslamp, which is more upscale, urban, and clubby, while only 10 minutes away the beaches provide a great escape from city living. You get the best of both worlds."âTyler Thomas, 26, student
Ranking: 10
Population: 598,707
Beast Analysis: Citizens of Denver will tell you they live in the coolest city in Americaâwhy else would the Obamanauts choose to accept the Democratic nomination there? "Because we get 300 days of sunshine, the thing around here is the outdoor mall, which is obviously great," says college student Kurt Loeser, "especially when you're just starting to know someone." A growing arts district, top-notch microbreweries, and the nearby Rocky Mountains make the city scenic, fun, and appealing to outdoorsy singles.
Popular Meeting Spot: Tattered Cover Book Store
What the Locals Say: "Denver is one of the healthiest and friendliest cities in the country, so it's easy to meet awesome and attractive people. When you live somewhere where hiking is one of the predominant dating activities, you're going to find hotties."âIvyy Goldberg, 30, sex columnist for The Donnybrook Writing Academy
Ranking: 11
Population: 560,194
Beast Analysis: Like Seattle, Portland stirs up romance with its moody weather and independent spirit. An emphasis on free-thinking makes it a place where even aging hippies can find love. Thrill seekers can head to Mount Hood or the Columbia River for an adventurous outdoor date.
Popular Meeting Spot: The Portland Rose Gardens
What the Locals Say: "If you want men who are in touch with their emotions, Portland's the place for you. If you're into men with moneyâwell, not so much. The city is teeming with rockers and photographers and yogis and guys who grow their own gardens who really want a great girl to shack up with for the winter in their sprawling 150-year-old Craftsman house. Commitment is not a problem in these parts. When it gets warm, everyone swaps."âArianne Cohen, 28, freelance writer
Ranking: 12
Population: 740,086
Beast Analysis: Marie Claire once described Columbus as a place where "corn-fed frat boys go to spawn." The scene is dominated by Ohio State, and available Buckeyes are out every night at the bars on Park Street. Make sure you love your beer and football in equal measure if you plan to date here.
Popular Meeting Spot: Ohio Stadium
â¨What the Locals Say: âPeople seem to settle down younger here. It's more down to business than I've felt in other cities, where relationships can move slower and not feel pressured.ââMelynda Pealer, 28, accounting coordinator
Ranking: 13
Population: 2,741,455
Beast Analysis: What pulled the Windy City down to No. 13? An apparent dearth of gyms. But while Chicago men may not spend their days on Nautilus machines, they love their sports. The city boasts two baseball teams and the Chicago Bulls and Bears, so there's plenty of spectating for sports-loving couples.
Popular Meeting Spots: McGee's Tavern and Grille and Excalibur
What the Locals Say: "Chicago's a great place to get creative with dates, with a number of museums, architecture tours, intimate music venues, and the great Lake Michigan. However, with over a hundred sprawling neighborhoods and a totally inefficient CTA system, it seems hard for a lot of people to motivate themselves to venture (and date) out of the comfort of their own square-mile radius, especially during the infamous winter months."âAlyse Liebovich, dog-walker, teeanger's chaffeur, and grad student
Ranking: 14
Population: 3,803,383
Beast Analysis: The bright lights of L.A. have pulled in good-looking guys since the talkie days. Yet when it comes to education, the city lands halfway down our survey. There's no shortage of universities, but it may be the glitz and sunshine, not the higher learning, that's attracting transplants to the City of Angels. Intellectual types might fare better heading north or east.
Popular Meeting Spot: Bardot
What the Locals Say: "The city runs rampant with aspiring actors/waiters, which, unless you're into that sort of thing, means you're out of luck. One thing that I really find missing from the twenty-something population in L.A. is ambition."âGarrett Greer, 24, works in the television industry
Tom Merton / Getty Images
Ranking: 15
Population: 636,919
Beast Analysis: Grad students at Johns Hopkins have raised this city's smarty quotient since 1873, but Baltimore proper fared poorly by our education metric. At its heart, "Bawlamer" is still a working-class enclave, where hardy men have lingered to work in manufacturing and shipping. The city's ranking was buoyed by a high percentage of single guys.
Popular Meeting Spot: Sooner's Tavern
What the Locals Say: "Post-industrial Baltimore is raw and real, sometimes in a tender-tragic Poe-like way, sometimes in that edgy Wire way, but it generally means that intriguing-looking person slurping oyster shooters next to you at Cross Street Market is liable to be really, really cool."âFern Shen, editor of the Baltimore Brew.
Matt Gray / Getty Images
Ranking: 16
Population: 581,099
Beast Analysis: Move over, Madison. Forbes ranked America's brewery capital among its top cities for singles this year, with high marks in job growth and "coolness." It was also once deemed the "sexiest city" by Marie Claire magazine, to the surprise of humble locals. Our own ranking puts it squarely in the middle.
Popular Meeting Spot: Mikey's
What the Locals Say: "Milwaukee is a very open and welcoming city. It's a very personable city and our demographic reflects that notion."âNoah Heaney, general manager of Mikey's
Ranking: 17
Population: 540,104
Beast Analysis: Tucson is the quirkier Arizona metropolis, and offers great Mexican food and Old West charm. Though there are plenty of single men here, this perennially sunny city may not be the hottest spot to find a date. The social scene outside of the University of Arizona campus is wanting, and U of A's party-school reputation may not be far off the mark. According to our numbers, Tucson ranks low in education.
Popular Meeting Spot: Club Congress
What the Locals Say: "Dating in Tucson is a total crapshoot. Iâve met everyone from self-absorbed political types to videogame-playing 40 year olds with moody artists and kooky archeologists in between."âRyn Gargulinski, blogger
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Ranking: 18
Population: 2,023,601
Beast Analysis: Though Houston features date-friendly sites like the Houston Zoological Gardens and the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Texas' largest city falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to eligible bachelors. It's particularly hurt by a lack of single men compared to its competitors. If you do find yourself in oil country, head to Midtown for well-educated empty-nesters and nightlife.
â¨Popular Meeting Spot: Poison Girl
â¨What the Locals Say: âI would personally go to Rice Village if I wanted to meet a guy. Since it is located near Rice University it usually attracts attractive, smart men.ââJill Hazlewood, 31, researcher for a pharmaceutical company.
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Ranking: 19
Population: 601,129
Beast Analysis: Nashville is a music lover's haven. The country-music industry attracts songsters to the city's Music Row, and local bars are loaded with crooning cowboys slinging their guitars, hoping to make it big. But its largest employer is actually the health-care industry, which may explain the high number of men with bachelor's degrees.
Popular Meeting Spot: Eastland Cafe
What the Locals Say: "There's always guys down on Broadway. If you want someone to buy you drinks, there's always a guy who'll buy you one. But I haven't met a nice guy down there. So now I'm trying to meet a guy at the hockey game."âKim Gunn, who's been single in Nashville for five years
Ranking: 20
Population: 589,445
Beast Analysis: Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg may trail Florida's glamour center, Miami, but residents should take heartâthey are far ahead of the Sunshine State's worst city to find single men: Jacksonville. The area's proximity to beaches ensures a vital nightlife and men who stay in shapeâin fact, Tampa ranked third out of our 36 cities for number of gyms, but was pulled down by its relatively small population of single guys.
Popular Meeting Spot: MacDinton's, The Rack, and Hyde Park Cafe
What the Locals Say: "It's a fun city. People in their 20s want to have fun, not get dragged down by something too serious. And there are lots of different ways to meet people. You have a club scene, a strip of bars called SoHo (South Howard), and downtown more artsy dive bars. It's really dog-friendly so people go to dog parks and that's also a great way to socialize."âRyan Walker Buchanan, 27
Ranking: 21
Population: 1,904,979
Beast Analysis: The problem with having a sister city is that sometimes she drags you down. Pity Dallas, which got yanked down the ladder by the dearth of single men in Fort Worth. But at least these cities offer diverse options. If you're looking for sophisticated urbanites, head for Dallas. If pickups and Wranglers are more your style, poke around Fort Worth.
Popular Meeting Spot: Park on Henderson
What the Locals Say: "There are a lot of douchey bars. That's a big part of the singles scene, but if you dig deeper, you can definitely find something more. There's a lot of expendable income and a lot of pretty people. Dallas might belong a little higher on this list."âJesse Hughey, clubs and music listings editor at the Dallas Observer
Walter Bibikow / Getty Images
Ranking: 22
Population: 777,493
Beast Analysis: Unemployment doesn't bode well for a city's dating scene, and the U.S. headquarters of the auto industry has had a grim run. It may not be the most romantic city in the world, but the Motor City has one thing going for it: single men.
â¨Popular Meeting Spot: Old Shillelagh
â¨What the Locals Say: "There are single, desirable men in Detroit," but "it's not the happiest place right now and people arenât out on the prowl dating because they don't have the expenses."âLeslie Byrd, Flood Bar and Grill says
Ranking: 23
Population: 8,363,710
Beast Analysis: Sex and the City tricked a nation of women into believing that New York was the ultimate destination for single women looking for love. Of course, those four women spent most of the series doing more looking than finding. The cityâwhich includes, lest we forget, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronxâis lower than you'd think on single guys.
Popular Meeting Spot: Too many to count
What the Locals Say: "Being a single, successful young woman in New York makes you part of the majority. The single men in this city get their pick of the litter when it comes to dating and the competition is fierce."âMegan Baker, manager at an Internet company
Ranking: 24
Population: 1,525,257
Beast Analysis: This nondescript desert metropolis doesn't offer much in the way of meet and greets; it scored low for social life. But there's a big military contingent at Luke Air Force Base, and a chance to scope out talent during Spring Training.
Popular Meeting Spot: Postino Central
What the Locals Say: "Many of the men in Phoenix and Scottsdale are very attractive, but once you look past the surface of it all, you realize there really isn't much difference between this guy and the next one."âTaylor Larson, 22, student
Ranking: 25
Population: 1,447,395
Beast Analysis: A major-league city, to be sure, but we're sorry to say that Philadelphia resides in the bush leagues when it comes to men. Women outnumber guys in our nation's erstwhile capital, and local dating expert Martin Milton warns against asking Philly's bachelors about their feelingsâapparently they're not the sensitive types.
Popular Meeting Spot: The Reading Terminal Market is a the perfect spot to find an arugula-munching male, a rare species in Philly.
What the Locals Say: "The men in Philadelphia are like pretty much everything else in Philadelphia: a lot like New York but older, dirtier, and slightly broken. That being said, every girl has her type. I wasn't put off by it."âNayeli Rodriguez, student
Ranking: 26
Population: 685,002
Beast Analysis: After New York City, Charlotte is the country's banking capital, making it home to a number of young yuppies in training. Though highly educated, the city has a serious shortage of available bachelors. You'd be better off hedging your bets on Wall Street.
Popular Meeting Spot: The EpiCentre
What the Locals Say: âA lot of the people who move to Charlotte come here as married couples and then they have kids. Itâs more of a place to settle down. But thereâs a weird dichotomy. Singles find it more difficult to find somebody to settle down with, so thereâs sort of a hookup culture. The men say the women are difficult to date in the sense that people donât go out as much, and the women say that the guys are in a perpetual state of adolescence and theyâre just trying to get laid; theyâre not interesting in wining and dining.ââCarlton Hargro, editor of Charlotteâs alternative weekly, Creative Loafing.
Ranking: 27
Population: 916,715
Beast Analysis: California may be for the dreamers, but San Jose finishes last among the Golden State's cities for attracting eligible bachelors. Compared to its more cosmopolitan sister city to the north, San Francisco, the geekier San Jose has a hard time hosting singles who want to mingle. Nightlife here is a bit dim.
Popular Meeting Spot: Double D's Sports Grille
What the Locals Say: âI donât consider it a meat market. Itâs more of a comfortable place for people to go out and walk from bar and bar. Thereâs definitely a good, thriving singles scene. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, 80 percent of the people are single." Michael Smith, owner of Dive Bar, on nightlife in San Jose
Bernd Geh / Getty Images
Ranking: 28
Population: 798,594
Beast Analysis: The Indianapolis 500 might as well refer to the number of eligible men left in this city. The city runs laps around others when it comes to education and social life, but the number of single guys is shockingly low.
Popular Meeting Spot: St. Elmo's Steakhouse
What the Locals Say: "Downtown, it's more of a weekend warrior-type scene. During the week, it slows down a bit. There are a lot of men here if you're not into the music lounges."âJosh Caplinger, owner of the Slippery Noodle Inn
Ranking: 29
Population: 635,626
Beast Analysis: Memphis was once called out for being the most sedentary (and obese) U.S. city by Forbes. And according to our numbers, gyms are certainly few and far between. You're more likely to find a good BBQ joint than a guy with washboard abs.
Popular Meeting Spots: Center for Southern Folklore and Cafe and Peabody Rooftop Party
What the Locals Say: "There really isn't too much of a dating scene in the traditional sense. A lot of people here find their husbands in high school or college and are married well before 25." âLaura Moore, 22, policy analyst
Paul Giamou / Getty Images
Ranking: 30
Population: 577,419
Beast Expertise: All those wedding chapels must be for out-of-townersâfor singles unfortunate enough to live in Sin City, good luck getting hitched. One-night stands may be in the cards, but don't be surprised if you're sent on your way without so much as a phone number. Don't forget: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
â¨Popular Meeting Spot: Rao's at Caesar's Palace
What the Locals Say: "Vegas is great if you want the party girl, but there isn't a large population of young professionals at all."âEddie Cortez, young professional
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Ranking: 31
Population: 514,895
Beast Analysis: Welcome to the desert of dating. This sleepy southwestern town has Native American folklore and petroglyphs, but slim pickings for social life. Save this Route 66 stopover for your next road trip instead.
Popular Meeting Spot: Blake's Lotaburger
What the Locals Say: "We definitely have a diverse group of single peopleâvery well educated, pretty food savvy and wine savvy. On a Friday night, I would say 50 percent of the clientele is single and ready to mingle. I think people are looking for a little more than just a hookup.ââMatthew Ludeman, owner of Nob Hill Bar & Grill
Ranking: 32
Population: 546,873
Beast Analysis: The Oklahoma Christian University lists Krispy Kreme as one of 76 places to take your date in Oklahoma City. Another suggestion: Sam's Club, for the free samples. No wonder it's tough going here.
Popular Meeting Spot: Krispy Kreme
What the Locals Say: "Contrary to all of those age-old stereotypes, Oklahoma City is not some rural farming community where we're all hitching up our horses at the neighborhood watering holes. There are plenty of great places to see and be seenâand date. Practically every person I know found a slew of date-worthy people everywhere from downtown bars to NBA games and even at places like the dog park. I'm sure if you're looking for hotties at Krispy Kreme, then you're probably not having great luck, but I can't think of anyone who would seriously grab a glazed donut and troll for potential dates."âAndrea Miller, 32, freelance writer
Ranking: 33
Population: 566,869
Beast Analysis: The Kentucky Derby may be the biggest party in the South, but Louisville, home to the nation's famous baseball bat factory, lacks a deep storehouse of sluggers. Situated in the heart of the Bible Belt, most of the men here are already taken.
Popular Meeting Spots: Prime Lounge and Phoenix Hill Tavern
What the Locals Say: "I actually think Louisville is a very bad place to be single and meet people because many people don't come out of their comfort levels. It is great in terms of bars and restaurants to go to, just tough to meet new people."âAndrew Magee, a teacher born and bred in Louisville
Ranking: 34
Population: 1,292,997
Beast Analysis: Remembering the Alamo draws lots of tourists to this city every year, but San Antonio actually has a relatively low population density. So unless there's a convention in town (and there usually is), the options in this city can be few and far between.
Popular Meeting Spots:
Olmos Perk Coffee Bar and
Fiesta
What the Locals Say: âIt is very much the sort of town where people entertain and hang out in each othersâ homes. People have backyard parties a lot, they get together that way. Most folks I know ranging from 25 to 45, it seems to me, those people are hooking up pretty regularly and happily.ââElaine Wolff, editor in chief of the San Antonio Current
Ranking: 35
Population: 811,953
Beast Analysis: This is the city that never seems to end, sprawling for nearly 900 square miles. Despite all that space, Jacksonville has hardly any single guysâor social lifeâaccording to The Daily Beast's findings.
Popular Meeting Spot: Club TSI
What the Locals Say: "[Jacksonville is] a military town first of all" and "a travel-through city."âVictor Jones, operating partner at local hotspot Twisted Martini
Ranking: 36
Population: 602,422
Beast Analysis: Bottoming out our roundup is hot and dusty El Paso. Though it's at the western-most tip of Texas, don't picture yourself riding off into the sunset with a cowboy. This city is truly hurting for venues to meet smart, fit, and single men. El Paso came in dead last in three of our four categories (single guys, social life, and gyms) and nearly last in education.
Popular Meeting Spot: Club Dedo
What the Locals Say: âIt used to be that Juarez was a destination point. Itâs a rite of passage for a teenager, itâs where you had your first drink because they didnât care how old you were. But with all the drug cartel violence there, JuarezâI wouldnât say itâs sealed offâbut, for example, the military doesnât allow its personnel to go there.ââDoug Pullen, arts and entertainment writer for the El Paso Times, and an El Paso native who returned there following a 25-year hiatus
Philip & Karen Smith / Getty Images
