From Supper Clubs to Run Clubs, Here Are 7 Ways to Make New Friends in Your 30s and Beyond

Tried, tested, and true.

One thing they don’t tell you will be hard when you’re an adult? Making new friends.

While many of us form tight-knit friendships while conveniently thrown together in high school and university, the reality is, a lot of them also don’t last beyond those eras. And by the time we’ve reached our thirties and are all set in our work lives, daily routines and our existing – and sometimes shrinking – circle of friends, the ease with which we used to meet new people seems to become less and less.

But it doesn’t have to. Sure, it does require some ‘getting out there’ – a tired but true cliché – but there is plenty of fun to be had along the way.

If you’re looking to make new friends – or even find that special someone – keep reading for seven fun ways to meet people in your thirties (and beyond).

Join a run club

You've probably seen on social media how run clubs are having a moment. If you’re going to run, you might as well maximise the moment to meet some new people, right? Besides being a great workout and a chance to get some fresh air, run clubs are often free and most likely to attract a crowd with common interests and lifestyles. Many also have a solely social component after the run, from getting coffee (or something stronger) to breakfast and swims or ice baths at the beach.

And if you’ve always wanted to run but are worried you won’t ‘keep up’ – don’t fret. Lots of clubs are open to people of all levels and allow you to go at your own pace. Plus, with running buddies to motivate you, you’ll be much more likely to enjoy the process – and make some new friends along the road (pun intended).

Start latin dance classes

Learning partnered Latin dance styles like salsa and bachata, among many others, opens you up not only to a new (addictive) hobby but also the opportunity to meet plenty of new people, both in classes and out at social dancing events in your city. The best part? It’s a skill you can take all over the world to meet people everywhere through dance nights and festivals in different countries.

For me, the proof’s in the pudding – I made countless new friends in the year I started learning salsa, bachata and kizomba by attending classes, socials, festivals and even doing performances together. Hoping to find your dance partner for life? A number of the friends I made even met their significant others through Latin dancing.

And, five, six, seven, eight…

Try cooking classes and supper clubs

Nothing brings people together quite like putting on a spread, so if exchanging anecdotes over a cheese course appeals to you more than breaking a sweat, cooking classes and supper clubs are right up your alley. While both involve congregating around good food, cooking classes are ideal if you are looking to up your culinary skills or learn about different cuisines. Many schools have a feast after class, where you all get to enjoy the fruits of your labour and connect across the table.

Don’t feel like doing the heavy lifting? Supper clubs, like Club Sup in Australia, which can be hosted in restaurants or even people’s home – where you often won’t know the menu or even the venue ahead of time – are an exciting opportunity to encounter people you otherwise wouldn’t meet over a good meal. Although these are more common in big cities like London and New York, you will also find them across the UK and US, with a plethora of themes and cuisines to choose from.

Bon appétit!

Travel solo

Whether you follow your own itinerary or join a group tour – and there are ones specially designed for solo travellers – travelling alone will have you meeting new people in no time. When you’re by yourself, you have no choice but to speak to new people, opening up the possibility of forming friendships that could last anywhere from the length of your trip to a lifetime.

Personally, on a solo jaunt to Sicily, I ended up tagging along with a group of fellow Australians on their trip to Taormina after finding myself at the restaurant table next to theirs. I had a similar experience in Nice, France, where I connected with a lovely young Canadian woman who happened to be one lounge chair over from mine at the beach club and was also travelling solo, and we’ve stayed in touch since. Et voilà!

Try a friendship app

Don’t let any bitter feelings about dating apps deter you from the prospect of meeting friends via them. A surprisingly effective way to make friends when you take romance out of the equation as there is generally much confusion about intention, apps like Bumble through its BFF feature or Meetup can be a fantastic conduit for finding like-minded people.

I made two of my best friends to this date back in 2019 via Bumble BFF (not sponsored in any shape or form). Incidentally, I found out shortly after meeting both of them that they were also friends and had met each other through other people they’d matched with on the app! Boom – instant new circle of friends.

Learn a language

Whether you’re brushing up or starting from scratch, a second language is not only an excellent skill to keep in your back pocket, but also a gateway to meeting new people. From in-person classes to events and language exchange meet-ups where you can practise with fellow learners and natives alike, there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet other language lovers.

Further to that, as your skills sharpen, you’ll be able to travel to the countries where the language you’re learning spoken and open up even more doors through conversation with people you otherwise never would.

Join a book club

If sinking your teeth into a bestselling novel then talking about it over drinks sounds like your idea of a good time, book club has your name all over it. With groups defined by everything from genres to themes to authors, you’re sure to find one (or many) that suit your interests.

Don’t have a lot of in-person options where you live? There are numerous book clubs that are online-only and can still offer the same friend-making factor.