Guides · Comparison
The Brunch vs Timeleft: which is right for you?
Both help you meet new people by seating you at a table with strangers. The difference is in the meal, the rhythm and whether you see the same people again. We run The Brunch, so read this knowing that; we've tried to be fair, and Timeleft is a good product.
How do The Brunch and Timeleft compare?
| The Brunch | Timeleft | |
|---|---|---|
| Meal | Brunch, in daylight | Mainly dinner; also drinks, coffee and walks |
| Table | Six people | You and five strangers at dinner |
| How often | Every two weeks | You book the days you want |
| Same people again? | Your choice: same group or new faces | New people each time |
| Matching | Interests, languages and why you're coming | Personality quiz, age range and language |
| Price | Waitlist free; €14.90 a month for your seat every two weeks and the matching, or €39.90 with one wellness activity a month; food and drinks paid at the café | Per booking or monthly packages, varies by country; food and drinks paid at the venue |
| Extras | Optional wellness: pilates, breathwork, padel | Bar meetups and other formats in some cities |
| Cities | Lisbon first; Porto, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, London and Zurich on the waitlist | 200+ cities in 52 countries, including Lisbon and Porto |
| Status | Opening: a city starts at 50 sign-ups | Running since 2023 |
Timeleft details from its website and press coverage, checked 25 October 2026. Prices and formats change; check timeleft.com for your city.
What is Timeleft?
Timeleft is an app that matches strangers for meals and meetups. It started in Lisbon in 2023 and now says it runs in 200+ cities across 52 countries. You take a personality quiz, choose a day, and Timeleft forms a balanced group by age range, personality and language. Its best-known format is dinner with five strangers, and it also offers drinks, coffee and walks. You pay for the booking, and your own food and drinks at the venue.
What is The Brunch?
The Brunch is a friendship club built around brunch. It matches you into a table of six people with a similar rhythm and sends you to a partner brunch spot every two weeks. You choose whether you want the same group each time or new faces. Membership is €14.90 a month and covers your seat, the matching and access to wellness events at an extra cost; Brunch + Wellness, at €39.90, includes one wellness activity a month. Food and drinks are paid at the café. Lisbon opens first, when 50 people have saved a seat.
Which should you choose?
Timeleft is probably better if…
- You want to meet as many new people as possible, with different faces every time.
- You prefer evening plans, and enjoy an optional drink afterwards.
- You live in, or travel between, cities where The Brunch isn't open yet.
The Brunch is probably better if…
- You want to see the same people again, so acquaintances can turn into friends.
- You prefer daytime plans that don't revolve around drinking.
- You like a steady rhythm: one table, every two weeks, in your city.
- You'd enjoy wellness on the side, like a pilates class before brunch.
Why does seeing the same people matter?
Friendship takes repeated time. Research by Jeffrey Hall at the University of Kansas found it takes around 50 hours together to become casual friends and over 200 to become close friends. Meeting new strangers every week is great for range; meeting the same table every two weeks is better for depth. That's the main design choice behind The Brunch.
Prefer brunch, and the same table?
Founding seats are open in Lisbon. Joining the list is free.
Save your seatFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between The Brunch and Timeleft?
Timeleft matches you with five strangers for dinner, drinks, coffee or walks, with new people each time, in 200+ cities. The Brunch matches you into a table of six at a brunch spot every two weeks, and lets you choose to keep the same group so friendships can build. The Brunch is opening in Lisbon first.
Is there a Timeleft alternative in Lisbon?
Yes. The Brunch is a daytime alternative in Lisbon: a table of six at a partner brunch spot every two weeks, with the option to keep the same group. Lisbon opens when 50 people have saved a seat, and joining the waitlist is free.
Can I use both Timeleft and The Brunch?
Yes. They don't exclude each other. Many people like an evening dinner with new faces and a slower weekend-style brunch with a group they get to know. Using both simply means more chances to meet people.
Is food included at Timeleft or The Brunch?
No, at both you pay for your own food and drinks at the venue. At Timeleft, you pay for each booking or a monthly package. At The Brunch, €14.90 a month covers a seat at a brunch every two weeks, a table matched for good dynamics and similar tastes, and access to wellness events at an extra cost; €39.90 a month also includes one wellness activity a month.
Sources
- Timeleft website (format, matching, cities; checked 25 October 2026)
- Timeleft: Timeleft expands to Porto
- TechCrunch: The apps promising to help you make new friends (April 2026)
- Jeffrey A. Hall, "How many hours does it take to make a friend?", Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2018.
The Brunch wrote this comparison and is not affiliated with Timeleft. Timeleft is a trademark of its owner. If anything about Timeleft here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.