Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and anyone still looking for love might want to head down to the Crescent City. According to Time Out’s 2025 Best Cities in the World survey—a definitive ranking of global cities based on factors like nightlife, culture, food and dating—there’s no better place for romance than New Orleans. With its sultry jazz clubs, elegant restaurants and friendly locals, it’s easy to see why.
Nearly everyone who visits New Orleans falls in love with some aspect of the city, whether it’s the food, the culture, the music or the nightlife. But 56% of survey respondents from New Orleans said that dating is easy in the city. New Orleans is the only U.S. city that ranked in the top ten best cities in the world for finding love, tying Amsterdam for seventh place. It bested Dallas, D.C., Atlanta and Orlando in the U.S. The survey also revealed that New Orleans is the friendliest city and the easiest city to meet people.
We can certainly understand what makes this city tick when it comes to romance. First, there’s the food. Tackling messy—but delicious—local delicacies like boiled crawfish, po’boys or beignets is the perfect way to break the ice. Or dining in one of the city’s cozy, dimly lit restaurants—like Coquette and Jewel of the South—create the ideal atmosphere for sparks to fly.
Then there’s the nightlife. Whether you’re swinging to live jazz at The Spotted Cat, sipping a cocktail at Arnaud’s French 75 or dancing all night to DJ Soul Sister at No Dice, the city’s vibrant bar and club scene is perfect for chance encounters and spontaneous dates. And with New Orleans’ signature Southern hospitality and plethora of joy-inducing festivals, meeting new people is easy—strangers become friends, and friends turn into something more.
But the real magic? The city itself. A slow walk through the French Quarter or a sunrise stroll on the banks of the Mississippi—it’s all straight out of a romance novel. Whether you’re looking for a whirlwind romance or a love that lasts a lifetime, the Crescent City is ready to play matchmaker.