The Rise of “Social Clubs” in NYC

Jun 30

Being social can be challenging when you live in a big city. Despite the large population of strangers you encounter in just one day, people are just so busy, rushing to work, getting to their next appointment, running to the grocery store, just quickly dipping out for an afternoon coffee break, that they don’t usually stop to socialize with the people around them.

Over the past year or so, I’ve been more intentional about how I spend my time in the city and have swapped out a few solo dinner dates for supper clubs and happy hours to meet new people. I found some great networking events and gatherings on “social club” apps. These events were great for meeting people, whether looking for new friends, networking professionally, or finding a significant other. Here’s what I found.

Parlor Social

I enjoy meeting people who share my hobbies and activities, which is why I liked attending group events that I would typically go to alone. Parlor Social Club is one of the best ways to fill your calendar with cool social, cultural, and professional events. My favorite events have been dinner at Manuela, a new, eclectic SoHo bar and restaurant that features contemporary artwork throughout the venue, and the Luna Luna Surreal Carnival Experience at The Shed in Hudson Yards.

I recommend starting with a Mixer Event, then working through the curated “happenings.” My first experience was a HIIT Workout with Maddison Hauer at NeueHouse. I thought it would be a good way to meet other early risers and fitness lovers, but there really wasn’t much time to talk to anyone because most people rushed out to work after the workout.

There are two membership tiers, so I started with the Standard tier at $40/month to get a feel for who and what is available in this community. Because I was experimenting with several other social clubs, I never upgraded. But if, after attending a few events, you decide the community is a great fit for you and have been successful in meeting the type of people you’re looking for, I definitely recommend going all-in with the Premium membership for $70/month. It’s worth the investment, in my opinion.

Closer

Closer is another “social club” platform that fosters meaningful encounters among its members by hosting tons of activities, like cocktail-making, art classes, supper clubs, and weekend trips. I started with a basic membership for $20 per month, but an annual membership is also available for $85. As a prerequisite for joining the community, my first experience was a curated dinner with a themed discussion.

I enjoyed the Intro Dinner at Sagaponack in Flatiron and made two new friends. But if I’m being honest, my experience wasn’t the best. While I didn’t mind the family-style dinner, there just wasn’t enough food for the 15 or so people who attended, let alone to justify the $130 ticket. And the host rubbed me the wrong way, since she kicked off the event aggressively, trying to collect phones in a basket. We’re all adults here. A better approach might have been to make an announcement to the room, encouraging folks to put their phones away to remain present and connect with their fellow diners.

Other than that, I think Closer is a great, cost-effective option to meet other people, particularly if you just moved to New York. I remember meeting quite a few people who had just moved here or worked a lot and didn’t get out much to meet new people.

Time Left

Time Left is just as advertised… Dinner with 5 strangers! It’s a very low-stakes commitment for a Wednesday night. It’s perfect for an introvert who doesn’t want a monthly financial obligation. Leading up to the dinner, I downloaded the app and took the most detailed personality quiz to determine which strangers would be the most compatible. I answered questions about my preferences for sharing food and my feelings about phones at the table.

Group details were revealed on Tuesday, the day before dinner. And I found out the dinner location on Wednesday morning — ATLA, a new Mexican restaurant in NoHo. The food was just okay, but the drinks were great, and the company was even better. We were all a great match personality-wise, and no one cancelled at the last minute, which was a win. I enjoyed getting to know these new people, but it was disappointing to learn that most of them were only in town for a few days for work. So the chances of any of us reconnecting are pretty slim.

While there is no membership fee, you do pay $20 per dinner, which probably covers the entry fee at the next venue. Assuming dinner goes well, your group is typically invited to keep the conversation going at a nearby bar or cool rooftop. I opted out because I prefer to get home early on a school night.

The DinnerTable

Sharing food is one of my favorite ways to connect with people, so I’ve gone to several dining experiences hosted by The Dinner Table… “where strangers become friends through culture, cuisine, and community.” These dinners have been a hit or a miss for me, but for the most part, I’ve walked away feeling good that I tried a new restaurant and had interesting conversations with a diverse group of people. The last dinner I attended at Kalye, a new Filipino restaurant on the Lower East Side, was well worth the train ride into the city. The guys and gals were such good company. And I look forward to a potential group hike in Cold Spring, New York.

The Dinner Table also hosts events in Washington, D.C., Miami, FL, and Los Angeles, CA. So the next time I’m in one of those cities for work, I’ll definitely try to attend one. There is no membership, but these events typically cost just under $100. Check out their calendar of upcoming events and drop me a comment about your experience!

Hot & Social

Hot & Social is known as NYC’s best singles-only event curator, where you can find lively parties and unique experiences to meet new people. I connected with the founder, Liv Schrieber, at my first meetup, and she told me the whole idea started because she was trying to find her twin brother a girlfriend. And now the H&S community is taking over the city.

As an intro, I checked out the Monthly Coffee Meetup at Bluestone over at Chelsea Piers, and it was so much fun. I’m a morning person, so I love pre-workday events, especially if there’s coffee or matcha involved. Everyone was very super friendly and approachable. Liv actually greeted me as soon as I walked through the door. For any introverts reading this, wondering if it’ll be too much, just DM Liv ahead of time, and she will make you feel right at home.

This event checked so many boxes for me! I met a few cute guys, some corporate girlies whose marketing teams at work were hiring, and a few cardio queens who invited me to join them for a run on Tuesday nights — the Slow Girls Run Club, which welcomes runners of all levels.

Next stop… The Girl Dinner event that sells out so fast, you better jump on those tickets the second you get an email. While I met some great ladies and had the best time at these dinner events, I felt there wasn’t enough food to justify the $100+ ticket price. I’ve also attended a few Guy & Girl Dinner events downtown, where I met some of my really good girl friends. Love my girls, but that wasn’t really my intention, so I’ve stopped going to any singles mixer events. Quite frankly, most of them are overrun by women, and there are never enough men to connect with.

Final Thoughts

Some of these events are members-only, so you'll need to join the community or download an app first. When signing up for these profiles, I recommend being very honest, so you'll get curated experiences with people at events tailored just for you. For example, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that I love taking photos of my food. So when surveys ask me about my phone preferences at the table, I answer very honestly… Phone eats first!

I met a lot of people who just moved to New York, so if that’s you, I think these mixer events are a great way to make new friends in a new city and experience the best NYC has to offer, without getting caught up in the tourist traps or “Insta-worthy” restaurants serving small portions.

For anyone else who moved out of the city during the pandemic, I understand that the commute home is a big deciding factor. Staying late for an event after work can be a big time commitment, but it’s important to put yourself out there and meet new people. You’re not going to meet anyone by staying home every night.

If you need more social club recs, just let me know. I really found a group for everything this year — foodies, cocktail queens, wellness girlies, runners, and everything in between. There’s literally a group for everyone in this city!

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