How to make friends in a new city
Moving somewhere new is exciting for about two weeks. Then you realise everyone already has their friends, their routines and their group chats.
Friendships come from seeing the same people again and again, in a relaxed setting. Here is how to make that happen faster.
Become a regular
Pick a café, a gym class or a cowork and go at the same time each week. Familiar faces become hellos, and hellos become coffees.
Say yes to things with a schedule
- Weekly sports: run clubs, padel, football, climbing
- Classes: language, cooking, dance, yoga
- Volunteering and community projects
- Coworking events and lunches
- Expat and newcomer meetups
Meet the people who are already around you
Notai is made for exactly this moment. At a Notai place, you scan the card on your table and see who else there is up for company right now: lunch, a coffee, a workout or just a chat. A chat only opens if they say hi back, you agree who comes over, and you share a table. No sign-up, no swiping, and you disappear when you leave.
Every Notai place also hosts a weekly open table at a fixed time, so there is always someone to meet. After a visit, you can see who you crossed and follow each other to keep in touch.
Questions
How long does it take to make friends in a new city?
It varies, but it gets faster when you see the same people regularly: a weekly class, the same café or cowork, a weekly open table.
What is Notai’s weekly open table?
Every Notai partner place hosts an open table at a fixed time each week. No booking, just come and sit down with whoever is there.