
Speed Dating 34-55yrs
Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 23rd May, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
77 people already going

Speed Dating Collingwood
Our Collingwood Speed Dating is like Tinder IRL, minus the ghosting! At Paradise Alley or Above Board, you’ll have 12 five-minute dates faster than you can say “hipster coffee.” Chat about Smith Street’s street art or debate the best brunch spots. Tick your matches, and wake up to contact details. Then why not suggest a romantic stroll through Collingwood Children’s Farm for date #2? It’s the perfect way to ditch the apps and dive into Collingwood’s quirky dating scene!

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 23rd May, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
77 people already going

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 30th May, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
68 people already going

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 13th Jun, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
55 people already going

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 20th Jun, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
49 people already going

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 27th Jun, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
44 people already going

Diesel Bar & Eatery
Sat, 4th Jul, 5:00 pm AEST
202 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets from $29.90 AUD
38 people already going
Genuine feedback from people who came along, met new people, and had a much better night than they expected.
@speed_dating_social
Attend each Month
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Average event attendance
Singles events each year
Speed dating Collingwood events are for singles who live in or around one of Melbourne's most interesting inner suburbs and want to meet real people in person rather than spending another month on the apps going nowhere. Collingwood sits 3 kilometres northeast of the CBD, bordered by Fitzroy, Abbotsford, and Richmond, and draws a crowd that reflects what the area actually looks like. Creatives, professionals, hospitality workers, people in the arts, tradies who own their own business, and everyone in between.
The suburb itself gives you more to talk about than most parts of Melbourne. Collingwood has gone through more change in the past decade than almost anywhere else in the city. The Smith Street strip has some of the best bars and restaurants in Melbourne. Johnston Street still has its own character. The Collingwood Arts Precinct on Wellington Street brings a specific kind of person to the area. If you live here or spend time here you already have an entire conversation's worth of opinions about the neighbourhood before anyone sits down.
Speed dating Collingwood events run on Saturday evenings from 5pm to 7pm. When you arrive the hosts check you in, give you a name tag, and get you set up in the Matching App 4.0 by scanning the QR code at your table. Get there 10 to 15 minutes early, grab a drink from the bar, and you are settled before the rounds start. From there you have 12 five minute face to face conversations. Women stay seated and men rotate between tables. Halfway through there is a short break before the second round kicks off.
The matching is completely anonymous. You mark each person as a match or a friend privately in the app during the night and nobody knows who you selected until your results land in your inbox at 8am the following morning. Anyone who mutually selected you gets their contact details sent straight to you. No post event awkwardness, no trying to work out if someone liked you, no community gossip about who matched with who.
For a follow up date Collingwood and the surrounding area gives you genuinely good options. Bianca on Smith Street for a proper dinner, Lygon Street in Carlton if you want something more relaxed, Easey Street for burgers if you want to keep it casual, a walk along the Merri Creek Trail through Northcote if you both like being outside, or the Collingwood Children's Farm on St Heliers Street for something completely different. Suggest something specific before you leave the venue and you are already ahead of most app conversations.
How It Works
Speed dating Collingwood events run on Saturday evenings from 5pm to 7pm at venues in and around the inner north. When you arrive the hosts check you in, hand you a name tag, and get you set up in the Matching App 4.0 by scanning the QR code at your table. Get there 10 to 15 minutes early, grab a drink, and you are settled before the rounds start. Collingwood is easy to get to from anywhere in Melbourne, the 86 tram runs straight down Smith Street, Collingwood Station is a short walk, and there is paid parking along Johnston Street if you are driving in from the eastern suburbs.
From there you have 12 five minute conversations with real people from Collingwood and the surrounding inner north suburbs. Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Richmond, Carlton, Northcote. The crowd reflects what this part of Melbourne actually looks like. Creatives, people in hospitality, professionals, people working in the arts, tradies who own their own business. Women stay seated and men rotate between tables. Events are capped at 20 men and 20 women so the ratio is always balanced. Halfway through there is a short break before the second round and if you want to keep the night going afterwards Smith Street has no shortage of good options. Bianca, Bar Liberty on Johnston Street, or the Builders Arms Hotel on Gertrude Street are all worth knowing about.
Speed Dating Social was founded in 2020 by Darcy Todd and has hosted over 1287 events with more than 57915 introductions made across Australia. Early bird tickets are $29.90 and last release tickets are $34.90 at speeddatingsocial.com.au. The no refund policy applies within 30 days of the event so it is worth locking in a date you can commit to. Any questions go to matches@speeddatingsocial.com.
Twelve five minute dates, anonymous matching through the app, and your results in your inbox by 8am Sunday morning.
Easy to get to from anywhere in Melbourne
The 86 tram runs straight down Smith Street from the CBD. Collingwood Station is a short walk from most venues. Paid parking is available along Johnston Street and Cambridge Street if you are driving in.
12 five minute dates with inner north locals
The crowd comes from Collingwood, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Richmond, Carlton, and Northcote. Real people from one of Melbourne's most interesting parts of the city, not a generic mix from the suburbs.
Anonymous matching through Matching App 4.0
You mark each person as a match or a friend privately during the night. Nobody knows who you selected until your results land in your inbox at 8am Sunday morning along with the contact details of anyone who mutually selected you.
Keep the night going afterwards
Smith Street and Johnston Street give you genuinely good options after the event. Bianca on Smith Street for dinner, Bar Liberty on Johnston Street for wine, or the Builders Arms Hotel on Gertrude Street for a more relaxed end to the evening.
Who You’ll Meet
The crowd at speed dating Collingwood events reflects what the inner north actually looks like. People working in hospitality, design, tech, education, healthcare, and the arts. People who moved to Collingwood five years ago and never left because Smith Street has everything they need. People who grew up in Fitzroy or Abbotsford and are still there. A genuine mix of people who are interesting to talk to and are at a similar stage of life.
Collingwood draws a specific type of person. Someone who has strong opinions about coffee, knows which laneway bars are worth the effort, probably goes to the Collingwood Arts Precinct openings on Wellington Street, and has a view on what the suburb was like before it got expensive. That shared local knowledge means conversations at speed dating Collingwood events tend to have a natural starting point that events in other parts of the city do not always have.
The broader inner north crowd fills the room out further. People from Fitzroy bring the gallery and bar scene energy. The Abbotsford contingent tends to skew slightly more settled, people who have been in the area long enough to have a favourite table at Aunty Peg's on Langridge Street or a regular Sunday morning walk along the Yarra Trail. Carlton people add academics, university staff, and people who work at the Melbourne Museum or RMIT. It is a genuinely varied room and more interesting for it.
Creative, professional, local, and genuinely varied. The inner north at its most interesting.
Inner north locals who know the area well
Collingwood, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Carlton, Northcote. People who live and spend time in one of Melbourne's most interesting parts of the city and have strong opinions about it. That shared local context gives conversations a natural starting point.
A broad mix of careers and backgrounds
Hospitality workers, designers, people in tech, teachers at Collingwood College or Fitzroy High, healthcare workers, people in the arts, academics from RMIT or Melbourne Uni. Not a homogenous crowd. A genuinely interesting room.
People who are done with the apps
Most people at speed dating Collingwood events have been on Hinge or Bumble and found the experience frustrating in the specific way that anyone living in a tight inner suburb social circle finds it. You match with someone and it turns out you have three mutual friends and already follow each other on Instagram. These events fix that by bringing in people from across the inner north rather than just your immediate orbit.
Specialized events for specific communities
LGBTQ+ speed dating Melbourne events, Christian speed dating, and Asian speed dating events run alongside the general events and draw from the same inner north crowd. If a more specific event suits you better those run regularly through the same platform.
What To Wear And Say
Smart casual is the right call for speed dating Collingwood events. The venues are good inner city bars so you want to look like you made an effort without overdoing it.
Collingwood has its own sense of style and the speed dating events reflect that. The venues are proper bars on Smith Street and Johnston Street so smart casual is the right call. For men a well fitted shirt, dark jeans, and clean shoes hits the mark. Nothing too formal, nothing too casual. For women a good dress or tailored trousers with a statement top works well. The independent boutiques along Smith Street and Gertrude Street are worth a browse if you want to pick something up beforehand. Gorman on Smith Street, Alpha60 on Smith Street, and the vintage stores along Brunswick Street in Fitzroy all have options that suit the Collingwood aesthetic without trying too hard.
Melbourne evenings turn cool quickly so a jacket you can drape over your chair is worth bringing. The simplest way to think about it is this: you are going on up to 12 first dates in a single Saturday evening. Dress the way you would for a first date at a good bar on Smith Street, feel comfortable, and let the conversation do the rest. A fresh haircut from one of the barbers on Smith Street or Gertrude Street beforehand does not hurt either.
Collingwood gives you more natural conversation material than most parts of Melbourne. Ask where someone goes for coffee in the area, whether they have a regular spot or whether they rotate. Ask what they think of what Smith Street has become in the past five years because everyone who lives in the inner north has an opinion on that. Ask whether they follow the Collingwood Magpies and how they handled the last season. Footy loyalty in Melbourne tells you a surprising amount about a person and in Collingwood it comes up faster than anywhere else.
Food is always reliable ground in this part of the city. Ask whether they have been to Lazerpig on Smith Street, what their go to spot is for a Saturday morning brunch, or whether they know any laneway spots worth the effort. Ask about the Collingwood Arts Precinct on Wellington Street if you want to go somewhere more interesting than restaurant recommendations. Ask whether they walk the Yarra Trail on weekends or take their dog to Cambridge Street Reserve. These questions reveal how someone actually spends their time in the area rather than just what they do for work, which is far more useful information in five minutes.
Popular Venues
Speed dating Collingwood events run at venues in and around the Smith Street and Johnston Street strip because the right bar makes a genuine difference when you are meeting someone for the first time. Collingwood has some of the best drinking spots in Melbourne and the events take advantage of that.
The Grace Darling Hotel on Smith Street is one of the area's best known venues and a natural fit for these events. High ceilings, good drinks, and enough space to feel relaxed without being so large that the atmosphere disappears. It has been a Collingwood institution for years and has the kind of energy that makes a first conversation feel easy.
Builders Arms Hotel on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is another option right on the edge of Collingwood. One of Melbourne's best kept pub secrets. Intimate front bar, excellent food if you want to keep the night going afterwards, and an atmosphere that feels genuinely local rather than performatively hip.
Bar Liberty on Johnston Street rounds out the area's best options. One of Melbourne's most respected natural wine bars. Knowledgeable staff, interesting drinks list, and a setting that is comfortable enough for a genuine conversation without being so loud you are leaning in to hear someone repeat themselves.
Proper Collingwood and inner north bars chosen because the right venue makes meeting someone significantly easier.
The Grace Darling Hotel, Smith Street
A Collingwood institution with the right energy for a speed dating event. Good drinks, high ceilings, and an atmosphere that makes first conversations feel natural rather than forced.
Builders Arms Hotel, Gertrude Street Fitzroy
One of Melbourne's best pubs sitting right on the Collingwood and Fitzroy border. Intimate front bar, excellent drinks, and a genuinely local crowd that reflects exactly who shows up to these events.
Bar Liberty, Johnston Street
One of Melbourne's most respected natural wine bars. Comfortable, quiet enough to actually talk, and interesting enough that the venue itself gives you something to discuss before the rounds even start.
All on or near the Smith Street strip
Every venue is walkable from Collingwood Station and a short tram ride from the CBD on the 86. Easy to get to from Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Richmond, and Carlton without needing to think too hard about it.
Post Event Dates
Second date ideas in Collingwood and the inner north that actually work.
Naked in the Sky on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy is one of the better rooftop options in the inner north for a first proper date. Good views across Melbourne, relaxed enough that you are not performing for each other, and the pintxos and drinks give you something to do with your hands while you figure out whether the connection from the speed dating night holds up in a longer setting.
Le Bon Ton on Smith Street is worth suggesting if the night went well and you want somewhere with more atmosphere. Southern American food, craft cocktails, and booths that are actually intimate enough for a real conversation. The live music on certain nights adds to it without being so loud that you are leaning in to hear each other. Book ahead because it fills up on weekends.
Bianca on Smith Street is the straightforward dinner option if you want somewhere reliably good without overthinking it. One of the better Italian spots in the inner north, comfortable without being too formal, and easy to extend into a longer evening if things are going well.
If you want to keep the first follow up low pressure, a walk along Smith Street with a loose plan works well. Start with coffee at Proud Mary on Smith Street, wander through the shops, and see where the afternoon goes. The street gives you enough to react to together without needing a structured plan. Good for people who find sitting across a restaurant table a bit intense for a first proper catch up.
Easey's on Easey Street is worth knowing about if you want something genuinely casual. Burgers in a converted train carriage on a rooftop. Unusual enough to be interesting, relaxed enough that there is no pressure, and easy to follow up with a drink somewhere along Smith Street afterwards.
The Merri Creek Trail through Northcote and Clifton Hill is the outdoor option if you are both active. A walk along the creek gives you an hour or two of easy conversation with somewhere to stop for coffee at the end. Low pressure, no bill to split awkwardly, and easy to cut short or extend depending on how things are going.
Age Ranges
Speed dating Collingwood events run across four age brackets so everyone in the room is at a roughly similar stage of life. You select your bracket when you book and the event is structured around that group. Here is what each one actually looks like.
The 20s events draw students finishing their degrees, people a year or two into their first real career, people working in hospitality or the arts, and people who moved to the inner north and are still building their social circle here. The crowd reflects what Collingwood and Fitzroy actually look like in your 20s. Interesting, varied, and mostly fed up with the apps.
The 30s events are consistently some of the highest matched age groups of any bracket. People at this stage have usually been through enough to know what they want and the conversations reflect that. More direct, more interesting, and less time spent on small talk. The crowd comes from across the inner north, Richmond, Carlton, Northcote, Abbotsford, and tends to skew professional with a strong creative contingent.
The 40s events draw professionals, business owners, people coming out of long term relationships, and people who have a full life already and are looking for someone worth adding to it. The Stomping Ground Brewery on Gipps Street in Collingwood is a natural follow up venue for this age group if you match with someone and want somewhere relaxed and local for a first proper date.
The 50s and over events attract retirees, empty nesters, people who have lost a partner, and people who have simply decided they are ready to meet someone again. The Abbotsford Convent on St Heliers Street is worth suggesting as a follow up date for this group. Sunday markets, a walk through the grounds, and coffee at Lentil as Anything make for a genuinely relaxed first proper catch up.
Four age brackets so you are always in a room with people at a similar stage of life.
20s bracket
Students, early career professionals, creatives, and hospitality workers from Collingwood, Fitzroy, and the inner north. People who are done with the apps and want to actually meet someone in person.
30s bracket
The highest match rate of any age group. People who know what they want, ask better questions, and are genuinely ready to meet someone worth seeing again. Comes from across the inner north and tends to be a broad professional and creative mix.
40s bracket
Professionals, business owners, and people coming out of long term relationships who have their lives sorted and are looking for someone worth sharing them with. More direct conversations and less tolerance for anything that is going nowhere.
50s and over bracket
Retirees, empty nesters, and people returning to dating after a significant relationship. The conversations tend to be the most self assured and genuinely interesting of any age group. Clear about what they want and honest about it from the first five minutes.
Collingwood Speed Dating FAQ
These are the practical questions people often ask before attending a speed dating event in Collingwood.
Forget the ball gown or tuxedo, Collingwood speed daters! You want to look smokin’ without seeming like you tried too hard. For the ladies, a chic jumpsuit from Gorman on Smith Street is your secret weapon, comfy for all that chair-hopping, but stylish enough to turn heads. Gents, keep it cool with a smart casual shirt from Pickings & Parry on Gertrude Street, paired with your favorite jeans. Accessories? Less is more, but a quirky lapel pin or statement earrings can be great conversation starters. Remember, confidence is your best accessory, it goes with everything, just like a good flat white from Proud Mary.
Picture this: a room full of Collingwood’s most eligible, with a dash of Fitzroy hipsters and Abbotsford yuppies thrown in for good measure. We aim for a cool 40 people, split evenly between the lads and lasses. But let’s be real, sometimes life gets in the way (or liquid courage fails), so we overbook to 50. Even with up to 15% no-shows, you’re still looking at about 20 gents and 20 ladies. That’s more potential matches than you’d find swiping through Tinder during your morning tram ride! And hey, if someone doesn’t show, that’s just a bonus 5-minute breather to touch up your lippy or practice your chat-up lines.
Collingwood’s got more flavors than a Messina ice cream menu, and your speed dates are the perfect taste test! Kick off the chat by asking if they’ve tried the latest brew at Stomping Ground or caught a gig at The Tote. If they light up like the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign, you’re onto a winner! Suggest a follow-up date that’ll showcase your shared interests, maybe a street art tour followed by craft beers, or a vinyl-hunting expedition down Smith Street. Remember, common ground is great, but it’s the differences that keep things spicy. So don’t be afraid to introduce them to your secret passion for competitive dog grooming, it might just be the quirk that wins their heart!
Collingwood speed dating is like a human tapestry of Melbourne’s inner north. You’ve got tech whizzes from Zendesk on Exhibition Street, looking to debug their love life. There’s always a sprinkling of creative types from Collarts, ready to compose their next great love story. Don’t be surprised to bump into a few cool teachers from Collingwood College, trading in grading papers for trading numbers. Our Fitzroy contingent brings a hefty dose of hipster charm, while the Abbotsford crew adds a splash of yuppie ambition. It’s a melting pot of personalities, professions, and potential partners, just like Collingwood itself!
Look, speed dating in Collingwood isn’t all craft beers and instant connections. For starters, if you live further than Warrandyte, you might spend more time on the Eastern Freeway than on actual dates. Plus, you’ve gotta be 18+ for our bar events, sorry, youngsters, stick to Tinder for now. No-shows happen, but we’ve got you covered with a 5-minute chill session to grab a drink or perfect your Blue Steel. The pressure to impress in five minutes can be more intense than finding parking on Smith Street on a Saturday. And let’s be real, sometimes it feels like a meat market where looks trump personality. But hey, at least it’s not as soul-crushing as swiping left for hours!
Speed dating is like Tinder in real life, but with less ghosting and more actual conversation. Picture this: you’re at a hip Collingwood spot like Paradise Alley, surrounded by local hotties. You get 12 five-minute mini-dates, each one a thrilling chance to spark a connection or practice your exit strategy. It’s like musical chairs for grown-ups, but instead of fighting for seats, you’re vying for hearts. Fun fact: this love-in-the-fast-lane concept was dreamed up by Rabbi Yaacov Deyo in Los Angeles back in ’98. Who knew matchmaking could be more efficient than your morning coffee run at Proud Mary?
Does speed dating work? Well, does a Collingwood local know their flat whites from their long blacks? Science says yes! Research shows there’s a 69% chance you’ll like someone who likes you back, better odds than finding a park on Johnston Street on a Saturday night! Plus, the face-to-face factor means you can spot that spark faster than you can say “swipe right.” Sure, it might feel like speed-friending at first, but who knows? That person across the table could be your future Netflix-and-chill buddy or the one you’ll be arguing with about whose turn it is to do the Coles run. Give it a go, your soulmate might be just 5 minutes away!
Hallelujah, Collingwood singles! Christian speed dating is here to help you find your God-given mate faster than you can say “amen.” Whether you’re Catholic, Anglican, or Hillsong-hip, we’ve got a pew for you. It’s like Christian Mingle, but with actual mingling and fewer “God’s plan” clichés. Swap stories about your favorite South of Johnston brunch spots, debate the best Bible app, or bond over your shared love of Switchfoot. If sparks fly, suggest a follow-up date at St Joseph’s Church, nothing says “I’m a keeper” like appreciating stunning stained glass together. Remember, Jesus turned water into wine, but we’ll leave the miracle of turning 5 minutes into forever up to you!
Ni hao, Collingwood singles! Our Asian speed dating nights are spicier than the tom yum at Jinda Thai. You’ll meet a melting pot of Asian cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, all looking for their perfect match. It’s like the Asian dating app “East Meets East,” but with real-life chemistry instead of just profile pics. Held at the trendy Shu Restaurant, you can impress your date with your chopstick skills while sipping on a lychee martini. Bonding over shared experiences of strict parents or a mutual love for bubble tea? You’re halfway there! For a killer follow-up date, suggest DIY banh mi at Pho Nom or a matcha latte at Cibi. Love knows no borders in Collingwood!
Gone are the days of scribbling phone numbers on napkins, Collingwood daters! We’ve gone high-tech faster than you can say “craft beer.” When you arrive, scan a QR code to access our swanky Matching App 4.0. Pop in your deets, event code, name, starting table number, and email (no, we won’t spam you with sourdough recipes). As you speed through your dates, use the app to mark ‘Match’ or ‘Friend’, think Tinder, but with real people and less catfishing. At 8am the next day, check your inbox, it’s like Christmas morning, but instead of presents, you’re unwrapping potential soulmates. Tech-savvy romance, Collingwood style!
Attention all Collingwood fitness fanatics! Looking to find someone who appreciates your protein shake recipe as much as your personality? Fitness speed dating is here to pump up your love life! Bond over your mutual love for F45 Training Collingwood or swap marathon stories from the Tan Track. Instead of “What’s your sign?” try “What’s your PR?” If sparks fly, suggest a follow-up workout date at Bodhi & Ride or a post-gym smoothie at Greene Street Juice Co. It’s like Strava, but for your love life, tracking your progress towards relationship goals! Remember, the couple that sweats together, stays together. So flex those muscles and your chat-up lines!
So, you’ve scored a match at speed dating, high five, Casanova! Now, where to take your potential soulmate? For a quirky first date, challenge them to a game at Pixel Alley, nothing says “I’m a keeper” like thrashing your date at Street Fighter. If you’re after something more lowkey, grab a booth at Easey’s and bond over burgers in a converted train carriage. Pro tip: suggest sharing a ‘Changaz’, it’s basically foreplay with hot sauce. Remember, the couple that survives a chilli cheese fry together, stays together. Whatever you choose, keep it casual and fun, you want them falling for you, not off a barstool!
Listen up, Collingwood commitment-phobes! Our refund policy is stricter than the door policy at Chasers. No refunds, full stop, not even if you realize your ex is attending (awkward!). But we’re not totally heartless. If life throws you a curveball and you need to bail, give us at least 7 days’ notice via email to matches@speeddatingsocial.com (sliding into our DMs doesn’t count). If we’re feeling generous, we might let you transfer your ticket to another event in the same age range. But remember, this isn’t an untimed credit, use it or lose it, like that gym membership you swore you’d use this year. Choose wisely, Collingwood daters!