Where is the best city to be a single person dating? According to actor, producer, and author Issa Rae, it is not her beloved Los Angeles, despite what her hit HBO series “Insecure” showcased in the five seasons the show aired.

In a recent interview for Bustle to promote her new essay collection, “‘I Should Be Smarter By Now,”’ Rae admitted that ‘Insecure’ tricked people into thinking that Los Angeles was a great city to date in. She said, “I don’t think L.A. is a good dating city,” she says, shrugging. “I for sure romanticized it in Insecure, knowingly. I was like, ‘I’m deceiving people. I don’t care. This is what I want it to be.’”

Being born and bred in Los Angeles, Rae knows a thing or two about the vibes, the scene, and the offerings. The Los Angeles that Rae created for ‘Insecure’ gave the leading ladies unlimited options for dating. While many of those dating stories didn’t pan out, the women always had options. This may not fully be the case when it comes to dating in Los Angeles. In fact, before ‘Insecure,’ Rae pitched a comedy series to Shonda Rhimes called ‘I Hate L.A. Dudes.’ That title alone says everything she truly thinks about dating in L.A.

Is there such a thing as a good dating city? There are some cities that tend to show up a lot when you look at community size, culture, opportunity, and social life. Of course, when it comes to determining what’s good or even what’s best, that’ll depend on what you care about (single men available, income level, accessibility to fun/interesting outings, etc).

Considering all that, here’s a shortlist of a few cities that may be better to date in that L.A. (for Black women). Emphasis on the may.

Houston, TX

Houston ranked on BLK’s 2025 list of best U.S. cities for Black singles for its strong community size, cultural events, good mix of Southern friendliness, and that good urban (Black folks) energy.

Atlanta, GA

ATL has always been a go-to (for some). There is a presence of deeply nuanced Black culture, an abundance of Black professionals, events, nightlife, and with lots of people moving in, there are always new faces and opportunities to connect.

Chicago, IL

This might be one of the U.S.’s biggest and Blackest cultural hubs (Bronzeville, etc.) There’s no shortage of community, good arts/music/food. Chicago offers both resources and a variety of people and experiences. BLK also ranked the Windy City very high.

Washington, D.C./DMV

Black folks in D.C. are highly professional people, which means the network is strong. Despite the political nature of the city, there are lots of cultural, intellectual, and artistic events, which makes it more likely to meet people who are socially conscious or ambitious.

New York City

One of America’s most culturally robust cities, NYC boasts culture, arts, food, nightlife, and an endless list of things to do and experience. The vibes are unmatched. There are also many different sub-communities, so if you’re looking for niche interests or people with specific values, the odds are better here.