After years spent scrolling on our phones and chatting with people who seem to have stepped out of a catalog, it’s time to rediscover live dating. And the new trends are more fun and surprising than ever.
“Ligar en Mercadona”: Love Among the Supermarket Aisles
In Spain, the trend “Ligar en Mercadona” is taking off thanks to TikTok.
Imagine this: you’re grocery shopping with a pineapple in your cart, searching for the last piece of fresh bread, and BAM! A simple bump between your carts introduces you to your next romantic match at the deli counter.
It’s 7:00 PM, and in Spain, it’s the so-called “hook-up time”! Yes, you heard that right: this trend encourages you to find your soulmate among the shelves. All you have to do is put a pineapple in your cart. It’s a genius idea that transforms supermarkets into true love spots for singles.
Esselunga: Gathering of Singles
However, Spanish singles aren’t the only ones thinking outside the box.
Let’s talk about Milan, January 7, 2016.
The Esselunga on Viale Papiniano turned the supermarket aisles into the perfect environment for speed dating. A cliché? Perhaps, but it made many people smile and attracted thousands of interested participants.
Speed Dating Reboot
If you think dating is boring, get ready to change your mind. In fact, today it’s reinventing itself with events like “tram dating”—a date on the move through the city, with no risk of uncomfortable seating or awkward silences—or “social trekking,” where, in the worst case, you explore a new trail. These events, therefore, bring the concept of speed dating to unexpected places.
It’s not entirely innovative, but it’s definitely vintage!
Meetings in iconic locations like the ballrooms of the 1950s were lively social experiences where people met and flirted between dances. Additionally, the speakeasies of the 1920s were mysterious and fascinating, much like the drive-ins of the 1960s, perfect for romantic evenings. And let’s not forget the nightclubs of the 1970s, the realm of flirtation and mirror balls, along with the shopping malls of the 1980s, for shopping and casual encounters.
Today, events like treasure hunts for singles and tram dates bring back that magic of “retro dating,” encouraging discovery and connection.
Is this the end of dating apps? Modern dating is nostalgic and shows that, even if the locations change, the desire for authentic connections remains alive.
