Making Friends Online and Meeting in Real Life: Why Tablo Is Different from Other Apps

In a world where you can match with someone thousands of miles away, the real challenge remains finding genuine friendships in real life.
Not virtual contacts. Real people — the kind you can share a drink with, exchange stories, and maybe even start a new social habit.

Today, there are dozens of apps designed to help people make friends, both in Italy and around the world. But how many of them actually get people out of the house to meet face-to-face?
In this article, we explore the main existing platforms, their strengths and weaknesses — and why Tablo stands out as something concrete, different, and increasingly in demand.

OVERVIEW OF FRIENDSHIP APPS

Bumble BFF
Born as a spin-off of Bumble (the dating app), BFF is the section dedicated to those looking for friendship, not romance.
Pros: intuitive interface, very popular in big cities, good profile verification.
Cons: based on swiping → all conversations happen through chat, with very few real-life meetups or events.
Perfect for: newcomers to a city looking for people with similar interests or age — but it requires initiative to turn chats into real meetings.

Meetup
One of the first platforms created to organize themed events. Local groups host outings, workshops, sports, and more.
Pros: global coverage, topic-based communities (yoga, cinema, hiking, etc.).
Cons: many inactive or low-activity groups, outdated interface, not always ideal for people who want to join naturally.
Perfect for: those with a clear interest looking for already-formed groups.

Couchsurfing Hangouts
Beyond free accommodation, Couchsurfing offers a local “Hangouts” feature — showing who’s available to meet in your area in real time.
Pros: widely used by travelers, easy to use, relaxed atmosphere.
Cons: highly dependent on tourism and location → in Italy, active only in certain hubs; potential mismatches (some users treat it like a dating app).
Perfect for: frequent travelers who enjoy meeting people, even just for a coffee.

Tinder Social (no longer active)
Tinder once launched a version where “groups meet other groups,” but it was discontinued due to low usage.
That says a lot: a match isn’t enough — a real context is needed to actually meet.

AND NOW COMES TABLO: THE SOCIAL DINING APP THAT GETS YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE

Unlike the other platforms, Tablo was created with one clear goal:
to get you out of the house and into a real dinner with new people… even tonight.

No endless swipes, no small talk stuck in chat, no ghosted conversations.

With Tablo:

• Discover social dinners and events in restaurants near you

• Choose the experience that inspires you most (theme, type of people, area)

• Join a real table in a welcoming restaurant — no pressure

• Meet people offline, sharing good food and good conversation

The secret? The meetup is already organized — all you have to do is show up.
Real social life begins the moment you sit down.

WHY TABLO STANDS OUT (COMPARED TO OTHER APPS)

WHEN TO USE TABLO

• If you’ve just moved to a new city

• If you’re single but not looking to date

• If you want to meet new people without pressure

• If you love good food and want to share it with others

• If you crave lighthearted fun but also real connections

REAL STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY

“I’m a teacher who recently moved to Florence. I found my ‘circle’ thanks to Tablo. The first dinner was relaxed, and then… the magic happened.”
— Claudia, 37

“I was looking for something between loneliness and dating app overload. Tablo is perfect: you meet normal people, talk, laugh, eat. And sometimes, we meet again.”
— Luca, 42

CONCLUSIONS: IT TAKES MORE THAN AN APP — IT TAKES AN EXPERIENCE

There are plenty of apps for making friends. But few truly help you step outside, naturally and safely.
Tablo does exactly that: it invites you to a real table, in a real restaurant, with real people.

Download Tablo, see who’s dining near you tonight, and join in.
Because in the end, the best connections… start with a fork in your hand.