A study from the dating app Bumble made local headlines last month when it declared Fresno one of the worst places in the United States to be single.
In honor of “National Singles Week,” Bumble evaluated 100 US cities based on levels of dating satisfaction, social satisfaction, dating affordability, and percentage of singles in order to rank them from one to 100 “best cities for singles.”
Fresno came in at number 96 on this list, with a dating satisfaction score of 14.94 out of 100 and a social satisfaction score of 7.31 out of 100.
We at The Collegian couldn’t help but be a little taken back by the data, because while we’re at Fresno State many of us will be trying to build and maintain romantic relationships here in Fresno. It’s not encouraging to hear that 50% of Fresno is single when you find out they’re single because dating here is allegedly so awful.
So we’ve identified the perfect places to take someone out on a date here in Fresno, be it with someone new or a longtime partner.
Taking your date to check out the Tower District is a great (and affordable!) way to spend the day. The one thing Fresno had going for it in Bumble’s study was its dating affordability score of 67.57 out of 100, after all.
Tower District is home to various thrift and novelty shops to spend the day exploring, plus artistic cafes like Hi-Top Coffee and The Revue. Have brunch at Irene’s upon arrival and dinner and drinks at Bobby Salazar’s or Sequoia Brewing Company in the evening.
If you and your date like dancing, Splash or Fab is the place to go. If you want something more lowkey, Goldsteins is a local favorite featuring craft beers and ciders that welcomes furry friends.
During baseball season you can attend a Fresno Grizzlies game at Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno, featuring Fresno’s beloved taco trucks and oftentimes a fireworks finale. Downtown Fresno also hosts ArtHop on the first Thursday of every month, lining the streets with food trucks and local arts and craft vendors and opening businesses up for various arts and music-related events.
Fresno is lucky to have unique music venues that have featured indie and mainstream artists alike. Strummer’s Bar and Grill in Tower District and Fulton 55 in downtown Fresno frequently host indie musicians. Save Mart Center near Fresno State is the place to go for major touring artists.
A picnic at the park is simple here — either take your date to your favorite spot on campus or to Woodward Park nearby. Five bucks get your car in Woodward for the day, where you can explore hiking or bike trails and visit the Japanese Friendship Gardens for the gorgeous views.
Most born and raised in Fresno have had at least one date in River Park, the nearby shopping center that features a movie theater, brewery and various dining options as well. The River Park Farmer’s Market is also held every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, packing the center with food trucks, craft vendors and more.
Campus Pointe at Fresno State similarly offers shopping and restaurant options close to campus. Linger to talk over boba at Sweet Lyfe, coffee at Collect Coffee Bar or ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Later in the day, we have dinner together at Mad Duck Craft Brewing or Wahoo’s Fish Taco, and then go catch a movie at Maya Cinemas.
Many theaters in Fresno have recently been remodeled, including Edwards Cinema in River Park, Manchester Theatre next to Manchester Mall and Sierra Vista Cinemas near Sierra Vista Mall. The Madera 2 Drive-In, Madera’s drive-in theatre, offers a retro experience less than an hour drive from campus, featuring double features of recent blockbusters for $10 per person with a snack bar available on site to satisfy the usual movie cravings.
Those looking to go the traditional dinner and movie route can try something simple and close for a first date, like Sushi N Pop on Barstow and Cedar next to campus. There’s something on the menu for everyone, even if they’re not sushi fans, and the seating is private enough without too much pressure.
Those looking for more romantic options might want to try Tandoori Night on Blackstone and Herndon, an Indian restaurant with intimate seats and an affordable option to try something new. A slightly more expensive evening at The Annex Kitchen off Shaw and West cooks up Italian food with a cozy ambiance.
Fresno is also only a few hours away from either Yosemite, Pismo Beach, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. Take advantage of this rare proximity while you can and plan a day trip for you and your partner to go to a concert in a big city or a hiking trip in the mountains. Maybe even on the same weekend.
One way to look at this study from Bumble is that it’s so hard to date in Fresno that 50% of the population is single. Another is that if you’re single, chances are half the people you meet are single too! Take your date to one of these places and prove that dating in Fresno can wind up with a success story — or at least a fun day out.
