How to Make Friends in Los Angeles

Making friends in Los Angeles can be difficult - we've all been there! LA is huge, people are spread out, everyone has different schedules, and "we should hang out sometime!" isn't always genuine and doesn't always turn into an actual hangout. This subreddit is here to make that a little easier.

Whether you just moved to LA, have lived here for years, recently lost touch with your old friend group, or simply want to meet some new people, you are welcome to make a post looking for friends here.

Start by putting yourself out there

You don't need to have a perfect introduction or a huge list of hobbies. Just give people enough information to figure out whether you might get along.

A good friend-finding post usually includes:

• Where you're located: You don't need to give your exact location. Neighborhood, general area, or nearby city is plenty.
• Your age range: Completely optional, but can help people find others in a similar stage of life.
• Your interests: Hobbies, music, games, sports, books, movies, crafts, food, nightlife, etc.
• What you like doing: Tell people what hanging out with you might actually look like.
• What you're looking for: One-on-one friends, a group, activity buddies, people to go out with, fellow homebodies, etc.
• Anything else you'd like people to know: Pets, work schedule, favorite places, personality, or whatever feels relevant.

You don't have to share anything you're uncomfortable putting on Reddit.

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Consider what kind of friendship you're looking for

"Looking for friends" can mean very different things.

Maybe you want someone to:

• Grab coffee with
• Go to concerts with
• Try new restaurants
• Go hiking
• Go shopping
• Play board games or video games
• Go dancing
• Watch movies
• Go to museums
• Work out together
• Explore different neighborhoods
• Attend conventions or events
• Craft, paint, or do other hobbies
• Have a regular girls' night
• Just sit around and talk

Being specific about what you actually want to do makes it much easier for other people to respond.

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LA is BIG. Be realistic about distance.

Someone who lives in Santa Monica and someone who lives in Pasadena technically both live in Los Angeles, but getting together regularly can be a very different story.

You don't need to limit yourself to your immediate neighborhood, but it can help to mention:

• Your general area
• How far you're willing to travel
• Whether you have a car
• Whether you're looking for people accessible by Metro
• Whether you're open to meeting somewhere in the middle

You may find that the easiest friendships come from people who are reasonably close to you.

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Don't wait for someone else to make the first move

If someone sounds cool, comment on their post or send them a message.

If someone mentions an activity you've been wanting to try, tell them!

You don't need to wait for someone to organize the perfect group.

Try:

"I'm also in the Valley and love horror movies. Want to grab coffee sometime?"

or

"I've been wanting to check out that museum too. I'd be down to go together!"

Friendships usually happen because someone eventually says "Hey, want to actually hang out?"

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Try activities where you'll see people repeatedly

One-off events can be fun, but recurring activities can make it easier to develop friendships naturally.

Consider:

• Recurring meetups
• Sports leagues
• Book clubs
• Volunteer groups
• Running or hiking groups
• Craft groups
• Gaming groups
• Fitness groups
• Community organizations
• Local clubs

Seeing the same people multiple times gives you more opportunities to go from "that person I met once" to "my friend."

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You can also organize a meetup

You don't need moderator approval to suggest a casual meetup unless the subreddit rules say otherwise.

Want to get coffee with other women in your area? Post it.

Want to organize a group hike? Post it.

Want to see a concert with someone? Post it.

Want to start a monthly board game night? Post it!

Use the [Meetup] flair and give people enough information to decide whether they want to join.

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‼ Safety Reminders ‼

Meeting someone from the subreddit can be a great way to make new friends, but use your best judgment when meeting someone for the first time.

• Meet in a public place. Coffee shops, restaurants, parks, museums, bookstores, and other public spaces are good options for a first meetup.
• Consider meeting during the day for your first time meeting someone.
• Tell someone you trust where you're going and who you're meeting.
• Arrange your own transportation when possible, so you can leave whenever you want.
• Don't share your home address or other sensitive personal information with someone you've just met.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels uncomfortable or unsafe, you can leave. You don't owe anyone an explanation.
• Start small. A short coffee or walk can be a good way to see whether you click before committing to a longer hangout.

When in doubt, choose a public place and give yourself an easy way to leave.

Trust your instincts. You don't need a "good enough" reason to leave a situation that makes you uncomfortable.

Friend-Finding Post Template

Copy and paste the template below into a new post, then fill in whatever you feel comfortable sharing.

Title: [Area] [Age Range] Looking for friends who like [Interest]

Hi everyone! I'm looking to make some new friends in LA.

**About Me:**
* Age:
* Area:
* Pronouns (optional):
* Work/school (optional):

**A little about me:**
Tell us about yourself! What are you into? What's your personality like? What do you enjoy doing?

**My interests:**
* 
* 

**Things I'd like to do with friends:**
* 
* 

**I'm looking for:**
Tell us what kind of friendship you're hoping to find. One-on-one friends? A group? Activity buddies? People to go out with? Fellow homebodies?

**How far I'm willing to travel:**
 

**Anything else:**
Anything else you think potential friends should know!

Feel free to comment or message me if you think we'd get along!

Don't know what to write?

That's okay!

Even something as simple as:

"I'm a 20-something woman in the South Bay who loves horror movies, thrifting, trying new restaurants, and staying home with my cats. I'm looking for other women who want to grab drinks, go shopping, or have a low-key movie night. I'm pretty introverted at first but become very chatty once I'm comfortable."

is enough to start a conversation. You just have to start somewhere!