Ah, autumn. La chasse, hunting for mushrooms, fall foliage, and…cuffing season! As the weather starts to change, the ephemeral lakeside bars shut down, and the realization sets in that it’s going to be dark at 4pm soon, seasoned singles know it's time to pair up. To help out, we’ve rounded up (and tested) some ways to ensure you won’t have to spend the long Swiss winter alone.
Apps
Online dating got a boost in Switzerland during the Covid pandemic and lockdown. According to the Swiss government, 20% of couples in Switzerland meet online. Some of the more popular ones in Suisse romande include Tinder, Meetic, Parship, Bumble, Match.com, or Adopte (formerly adopteunmec). With lots of options to choose from, be sure to find the right app for your objective and age. Tinder tends to be better for those looking for short-term or hookups, while Hinge and Bumble attract those looking for something more serious, and Parship or Meet cater to older crowds.
Soirée Messages
If apps aren’t your thing, the restaurants Bleu Lezard and the Java propose weekly “soirées message”. The concept is simple yet ingenious (and seriously fun), and has been around in Lausanne for over 20 years: paper and pens are handed out, and you can send completely anonymous messages to anyone you’d like. A group of young messengers, with their own secret codes that allow the original sender to remain a mystery, deliver the notes. If you receive one and find the pick-up line charming, you’re free to respond on the same note. Notes can get sent back and forth numerous times, and it’s up to the senders if they’d like to meet or exchange numbers at the end.
According to one of the messengers, most people who come to the Bleu on Tuesdays are there for the messages. The Bleu tends to draw a younger crowd (in the 20s-30s), while Friday nights at the Java skew a bit older. But in either case, autumn is the best time to come. “Summer is pretty empty, everyone is out on the terraces. But once fall comes, it really picks up. We’re heading into the busy season.”
While there are no statistics on the success rate, connections are made, and on a recent Tuesday night at the Bleu, a couple who met through messages 17 years ago was in attendance! The notes a friend and I received spanned from cheesy pick-up lines to drawings and word games. While no connections were made, it at least made for a very fun night out with girlfriends.
Where and when:
Java, every Friday from 20.30 – 23.00
Bleu Lezard, every Tuesday from 21.00 – 00.00
Speed Dating
Several options exist for speed dating in Lausanne. No Swipe Lausanne offers opportunities to meet others in your age group and with similar interests face-to-face, with the possibility of exchanging numbers at the end of the night. For 35 CHF, you’re guaranteed to meet at least 5 people.
Venues such as the Base Bar organize speed dating evenings, so be sure to check their social media pages for updates on upcoming events.
While not speed dating per se, Barberousse organizes “singles night” on Thursdays. Starting at 9pm, you get a bracelet that shows your status: red if you’re in a couple, green if you’re single, yellow if you’re in an open couple, and blue if you’re just looking for a hook-up. It tends to draw a younger crowd.
Good luck!
