New faces, new friends: Social mixers to try in Singapore

Let’s face it: when you get to a certain age, your friendships and social circle are pretty much set in stone. You have your friends from school, work, interest groups, and the occasional past romantic relationships (no judging, you do you). 

While having dependable friends to fall back on is a comfortable position to be in, it won’t hurt to make a new connection or even a companion once in a while. 

That being said, if you’re ready to spice up your social life then you’ve come to the right place. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the latest social mixer events and online friend-making platforms you can check out. 

In-person events

1. Offline 

Founded in December 2022, Offline hosts social networking events for people between the ages of 25 to 35 years old. 

Each Offline Weekender event is broken down into two segments; a hosted portion where co-founders Dong Weiyue and Jarell Low run games together with a few regulars, and a free-and-easy one where participants can mingle freely. These events are hosted once or twice a month, and are usually on a Friday or Saturday night.

Click here to join their waiting list.

2. Dinner with Strangers (DWS)

When you sign up for a Dinner With Strangers event, you’ll first have to take a questionnaire consisting of eccentric questions like “What animal your best friend would describe you as?” or “What song would you share with your 15-year-old self?”

While the questions differ for each pre-dinner survey, your answers help founder Joell Tee select and put together a group of strangers who she thinks will click, setting up for an intimate social event. 

Once selected, you will have to pay a non-refundable deposit of $20 to secure your spot. 

Visit their Instagram page for more information. 

3. Friendzone SG

Each month, Friendzone hosts a slew of social events for Gen Zs and millennials to make friends with other adults in their neighbourhoods and bond over conversations on how to navigate friendship, career and adulting. 

Established in 2018, Friendzone has now hosted over 500 events. Recent events have covered topics like career breakthroughs, bridging the gap in intergenerational conversations and a heart-to-heart talk on views of parenthood. 

These events are hosted in various parts of Singapore, and you can check out their upcoming events here.

4. Stranger Conversations

Located in Pearl’s Hill Terrace, Stranger Conversations is a space designed to foster a community for learning and experimentation. With a revolving door of strangers that gather at the space, this is where you can meet regular folks who are walking their own paths. 

Every month, Stranger Conversations organises a number of events, held in their Stranger Space. Some of these include a show-and-tell party, how to build your own Dungeons & Dragons characters, and even a “social anxiety” hangout — a safe space for socially anxious or shy people to connect and relax together. 

This space is also open to the public to come and hang out, 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and 10AM to 3PM on weekends. 

Visit their Instagram page for more information. 

5. Timeleft

While it was only launched in Singapore in July 2024, Timleft has already hosted dinners in 300 cities, including Paris, London, and Istanbul. 

These weekly dinners take place on Wednesday nights as the friend-making platform believes that the midweek ritual will help refresh your week with connection and adventure.

Similar to other organisers on this list, you’ll first take a personality quiz where you indicate your interests and beliefs. Then, Timeleft’s algorithm will match you with a group of six to seven people based on compatibility. You’ll even receive a breakdown of your groups’ nationalities, industries, and zodiac signs. 

The best part about their dinners is the element of surprise; they’ll only reveal the meeting place on the day of your dinner. But fret not, it will usually be in the city centre to ensure accessibility for participants. 

Visit their website for more information. 

6. Kampung Spirit 

If you stay in Pasir Ris, chances are you might’ve heard about Kampung Spirit, an initiative by the Pasir Ris Central Youth Network Community, that connects neighbours in this area to foster a community of care. 

While it’s not strictly a friendship social mixer, the events hosted by Kampung Spirit are certainly a great way to get to know and make friends with your neighbours – especially if you’re living in the area. 

Some past events they’ve held include a clay pottery workshop, a viewing party for Squid Game’s second season and a board game night, among many others. 

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

7. Never Strangers

Never Strangers hosts dating and friends social mixers to bring back the joy of connecting with people organically.

After you fill up a questionnaire to indicate your values, beliefs and world views, their AI-powered algorithm will find you ideal matches. All you have to do after receiving an invite is to show up with an open heart and mind. 

If you’re looking to make friends overseas, Never Strangers also organises events in Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Bali. 

Visit their website for more information. 

Interest-based groups

8. Aliwal Chess Club

Whether you’re a novice or a Grandmaster, Aliwal Chess Club’s events are the perfect place to try your hand at the game while striking up a conversation with strangers. 

Unlike typical chess games, which can look boring or serious, the atmosphere of each meetup is vibrant and inclusive, with groovy music and funky set-ups. 

Aliwal Chess Club tries to organise meets twice a month, alongside various events held at different locations across the island. When in doubt, go for their street chess meetups where you, as per their motto, drink teh, then play.

Visit their Instagram page for more information. 

9. Meetup

Meetup is a free-to-use platform where you can find hundreds of social meetup events happening in Singapore. As most of the meetup groups are hobby-based, the events on Meetup offer something more than just talking over food and drinks; the whole interaction is grounded in an activity.

Some of the most popular groups include the New Mothers Support Group, Table Tennis Enthusiasts and a good number of walking groups. 

Scroll through the events happening this month or click on specific categories to find an event that interests you and suits your level of friend-making. Do note that since each event is hosted by different organisers, the price, date, and location of each event may vary. 

Visit their website for more information. 

Online friendship-making platforms

10. Bumble For Friends

Chances are you’ve probably used the Bumble dating app to make new romantic connections. How about using it to find friends instead?

On Bumble BFF, you set up your profile like you would a dating app, crafting a short bio and answering prompts such as, “I’m using BFF for…” or “ Beach or mountains?”

Then, start swiping left or right on potential BFFs. You can even send compliments, before being matched up, if you really want to get the ball rolling. 

Check out their website for more information.