Where to try speed dating in Melbourne

A pair of personal lubricant entrepreneurs and the primary purveyor of lasagne in Melbourne’s inner north – the start of a corny gag, or a match made in heaven? Alongside their work making waves in the world of lube, the founders of FIGR have uncovered a penchant for organising some of Melbourne’s best, most inclusive speed dating events. They’ve formed a dream team with Thornbury restaurant 1800 Lasagne to create Heart Attack: real life dating, sped up. On the first Saturday of every month, you can come along for a night of tasty nibbles, giggles and real conversation in a safe, cosy environment. Whether or not you find ‘the one’, it’s a great place to hop outside your comfort zone and meet some sexy people – and who knows, the person of your dreams could rock up for a slice of lasagne, too.

Ready for an algorithmic approach to speed dating? Aside from all the trappings of a modern speed dating event that won’t make you want to run for the hills – like genuinely cool bar settings, approachable hosts and a warm, relaxed vibe – CitySwoon promises a level of accuracy that other speed dating events simply can’t meet. After taking a few minutes to fill out a profile, CitySwoon’s algorithm will pair you up with six to eight of your most compatible matches to give you the best possible chance of walking away with the feeling that you just met your soulmate – or a few beguiling prospects at the very least. There are events happening around the city constantly, at trendy haunts like State of Grace and atmospheric hangouts like Polly Bar, so you can book whenever you’re ready. And did we forget to mention, over 95 per cent of attendees receive a mutual match? With statistics like that, it’s worth giving this science-backed method a try.

If the idea of speed dating makes you blanch a little (but you’re still curious), Dear Pluto’s fun, easygoing and inclusive dating nights will bring you around to the idea in no time. Dear Pluto’s speed dating parties were born from founder Em Daniel’s desire to create cool, community spaces like vintage clothing sales, film screenings and, yes, speed dating. The atmosphere is like a low-key night out with friends. Geared towards younger folk in the 25-35 bracket and hosted in breweries, bars and eateries like Dr Morse and 1000 Pound Bend, hosts encourage an easy breezy vibe where you can collide with a variety of intriguing strangers. The night revolves around 15-25 four-minute dates and you’ll be informed of matches via email afterwards, so there’s no pressure to exchange details in the heat of the moment. Whether you find a spark or a new friend, Dear Pluto will hook you up.

Choose a classic format event run by Social Events Melbourne to experience speed dating in its truest form. These guys have speed dating events down to an art, hosting regular nights all across Melbourne with 15-20 attendees who you’ll meet in five-minute intervals. The benefit of attending a speed dating night run by the pros is that you can pick an event that caters to your specific niche. You can choose an event by suburb, which really narrows things down – and also prevents you from accidentally falling in love with someone who lives on the other side of the Yarra. That’s practically long distance! There are options for different religious and cultural groups too, so you can curate your experience as needed and make sure all your boxes are ticked. Keep speed dating simple and give yourself the best chance of meeting someone memorable.