Did you just move to San Francisco? If so, you probably know that it is surprisingly difficult to meet people in San Francisco. This is especially true if you don’t live in San Francisco proper, but instead live in one of the outlying cities like Mountain View or Fremont. In this guide, we’ll tell you how you can meet new people and maybe make some new friends.
Meet People at Alumni Events
If you went to college, there’s a good chance that your college or university has an alumni association in the San Francisco area. These associations often hold events that are open to the public, and they can be a great way to meet new people. For example, the UC Berkeley Alumni Association often hosts events like wine tastings and art openings. You can also go to alumni association sponsored single’s nights. These are events where you can meet other alumni who are single and looking to mingle. They also sometimes host lectures where you can learn about different topics and meet people before and after the lecture.
Meet People while Volunteering
There are a lot of great organizations in San Francisco that are always looking for volunteers. For example, you can volunteer at a soup kitchen or at an animal shelter. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, and it’s also a great way to meet new people. Make sure to pick a cause that you’re passionate about, because you’ll be more likely to stick with it and it will help you get through sessions where you meet anyone.
Meet People on Hiking Trips
One great way to meet new people in San Francisco is to join some of the many hiking trips that leave from the city every day. There are several companies that organize these trips, and they usually take small groups of 10-20 people on day-long hikes in the surrounding hills. This is a great way to meet new people, get some exercise, and see some beautiful scenery. You can also try to organize your own hiking trip by posting a message on Craigslist or meetup.com.
Meet People in Sports Leagues
One of the best ways to meet people in San Francisco is by joining a sports league. There are a number of different sports leagues in the city, including basketball, softball, and flag football. The best thing about joining a sports league is that it gives you a chance to meet people who share your interests. And, since you’ll be playing with them on a regular basis, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know them better.
Go Back to School and Meet People
It might sound silly, but one of the best ways to meet people in San Francisco is to go back to school. You don’t necessarily have to get a degree, but you can take some classes at a local college or university. This is a great way to meet people who share your interests and who live in your area.
One of the primary reasons people go to business school is to network with other professionals. Networking is simply code for making friends with people who can help you in your career. But, it can also be a great way to meet people for social reasons.
Meet People at Work
If you are new to San Francisco and have a job, the best place to start making friends is at work. Talk to your co-workers, go to company happy hours, and participate in company events. If you work remotely, there are still plenty of ways to meet people through work. There are often meetups for people who work remotely, and many companies have online communities that you can join.
Google and some other large tech companies also have internal versions of chat roulette where you can be randomly paired with someone in the company and chat with them for an hour. This is a great way to meet people from all over the world who work for your company.
Good luck making new friends in San Francisco! If you are able to cobble together a social network, you’ll find that SF is one of the best places to live.