Where to meet your Zurich girl(friend)Without Bumble BFF
You downloaded Bumble BFF with high hopes. You wrote a witty bio, swiped right until your thumb hurt, and maybe even had a few chats that seemed promising. But more often than not, it leads to one of three things:
The conversation fizzles out into nothing.
You schedule a one-on-one "friend date" that feels more awkward than a job interview.
You meet up, have a nice time, and then never see them again.
If you’re tired of the swipe-and-fade, you’re not alone. Friendship apps often fail because they lack the two core ingredients for real connection: shared context and consistency. Here are better alternatives.
Alternative #1: The Niche Hobby Group
What it is: A book club, a hiking group, a cooking circle.
Why it works: You’re connecting over a genuine, shared interest. This provides a natural, low-pressure context for conversation. Seeing the same people regularly builds the familiarity needed for friendship to grow.
The downside: It can be a slow burn, and you’re not guaranteed to click with everyone in the group.
Alternative #2: The Structured Course
What it is: A weekly language class, a 6-week pottery course, a coding bootcamp.
Why it works: It forces consistency. You’re committed to showing up at the same place and time, working alongside the same people toward a common goal. This shared experience is a powerful bonding agent.
The downside: The primary goal is learning, not socializing. Friendships can be a happy byproduct, but they aren't the main event.
Alternative #3: The Designed Community
What it is: A curated social club like Playhard.
Why it works: It takes the best of both worlds and eliminates the downsides. It’s a community explicitly designed for making friends but facilitates connection through fun, shared group activities (like a hobby group). The shared context is the desire for connection itself, and the event schedule provides the consistency.
The downside: You have to actually show up! (But we make that part really, really fun).
