The Ultimate Guide to Dating in Melbourne

Convinced that no good dates exist in Melbourne? Think again! This ultimate guide to dating in Melbourne has everything you need to know about the best places to go on dates and how to progress these dates further into actual relationships with amazing women.

Meeting People

Online dating has become increasingly popular, but it’s not right for everyone. Some people prefer face-to-face interactions; you might feel more comfortable talking in person instead of through text or social media. When meeting new people (whether they’re friends or romantic interests), look for signs that your "person of interest" is into you—like flirting and physical contact. Earlier signs of interest such as them asking you questions, and making effort to continue conversations may also indicate interest. You should also get a sense of what your date is looking for from their interactions with others: If they’re rude to servers, chances are they won’t have kind words about you once you two get together. Now that Melbourne is slowly emerging out of lockdown, people are motivated and excited to meet new people! Make the most of it!

Talking to People

Let’s face it—sometimes it’s easier to talk about dating than to actually go out and do it. Whether you know exactly what you want or are yet to work that out, having conversations with a range of different people is extremely valuable. Striking up friendly conversations is a great way to start to build your confidence so that when you approach the woman of your dreams, you are putting your best foot forward. An exercise we often recommend to our clients is to make the extra effort to put yourself out there, whether that's in the waiting room at an appointment, or at the check-out in the supermarket. After all, successful and memorable dates are usually filled with great conversations, so get practicing!

Attracting Women at Bars and Clubs

Meeting people and talking to people are skills that will help you progress to building attraction. Bars and clubs are great settings in which you can meet women. There are a few unwritten rules for attracting women to bars and clubs, and if you can stick to them, you should be able to meet some great people. First of all, don’t sit around waiting for things to happen – go out and make them happen. Be confident and approach a woman – any woman – and try to find something about her that interests you. If nothing comes up, move on! Chances are that she’s just not your type anyway. If you start talking, try not to give too much away about yourself straight away – let her do most of the talking initially and ask her lots of questions about herself. Especially in settings like bars and clubs, be genuine, and respectful, and show an interest in getting to know the woman for who they are. A large and arguably one of the most beneficial components of our program is having an expert dating coach go out into these settings with you and help you with your approaches.

Speed Dating

You want to meet new people, but you're not sure how to do it without the awkwardness of the singles bar scene. Melbourne speed dating offers a more comfortable way to meet like-minded singles in Melbourne, and you'll have plenty of chances to talk one-on-one with anyone who catches your eye. This fun and efficient process will get you out of the house, help you connect with people who share your interests, and give you a great chance at meeting someone special—all in just one night! Lucky for you, we're partnered with Melbourne's speed dating leaders. Be sure to check out Speed Dating Melbourne!

Getting Their Number

Asking for a phone number isn’t as nerve-wracking as asking for a date, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances of receiving it. It’s fine to ask for their number during an evening out, but don’t forget that you want them thinking about you afterwards—so instead of taking up valuable time by asking for their number right then and there, plan on having one last drink at a bar or cafe after you ask. That way, if they give you their number and say they want to see you again later on, it makes sense. Plus, if they don’t give you their number after your post-coffee chat, well... Maybe they weren’t feeling it anyway!

Making Date Plans

It can be hard making plans, particularly if you’re both busy people. When first meeting someone, see if you can pick up on their interests to tailor a date that shows that you care. For example, if she says she likes art, have a look at upcoming exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria and suggest you go there. Being up to date on events in Melbourne will help you in this planning phase. One of the most popular questions we get asked is: "How do I organise the first date?", we usually suggest asking a general question, such as "Do you have anything fun planned for Monday and Thursday evenings?". That way, if they say no, you can make your suggestion, "There's an exhibition at the NGV on Monday night, would you like to go?", or, if they say yes, ask what they have planned and use that to learn more about them and what they like to do. Then, you can ask again at a later time. The good thing about this approach is you give the woman more than one option, so you maximise your chances of them being available, but, if they're not available, you haven't been "rejected", because you were merely asking them if they have anything fun planned.

For those of you already seeing someone, if one of you is usually responsible for organising dates, try changing things up once in a while. Not only will it mean that neither of you gets stuck with doing all of the organising, but it will also give both partners an opportunity to discover what they really want from their time together. Is he more into quiet nights at home, or would she prefer it if you went out dancing every weekend? You don’t have to do things exactly as you have before—not every date has to be long walks on romantic streets or candlelit dinners.

The bottom line is that if you’re looking for love, Melbourne is an awesome place to date. You can see 8 of our great date ideas here. From romantic walks on St Kilda beach to scoping out high-end art galleries, you won’t run out of ways to spend quality time with your partner. The best part? If things don’t work out with one person, there are thousands more single Melbourne singles just waiting for you! Have fun!

For information about our programs, or to have a free 20-minute Dating Breakthrough call with one of Melbourne's expert dating coaches, be sure to contact us.