Calling all Friends fans, especially if you live in the Big Apple or are planning a trip there soon.
The beloved Central Perk coffeehouse from the iconic 90s sitcom is becoming a reality, with a permanent location coming to Manhattan this fall. The space will be located in the bustling neighborhood of Times Square on the corner of 47th Street and 7th Avenue, and it will be the second permanent location for the brand, which opened a coffeehouse in Boston back in 2023.
Central Perk has been a fixture on social media because of their much attended pop up coffeehouses that brought a taste of Friends to different cities in a limited engagement setting. But now the brand is debuting a “modern-day version” of the cafe in the city the show was set, but didn’t actually film in, interestingly enough.
The spot is going to be a cool place to go not just for upscale coffee drinks, but also for food. Top Chef judge and James Beard Award finalist Tom Colicchio will be curating a menu of drinks and food items inspired by the series that will be available for purchase. Plus, it’ll have all of the staples of the shop fans have come to expect, like a replica of the iconic orange couch, as well as Friends merch and special coffee blends for purchase.
“Central Perk is one of the most iconic landmarks in television history. After the incredible response in Boston, bringing Central Perk to Times Square isn’t just the next step — it’s a homecoming,” EVP of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences Peter van Roden told Variety.
“This is about delivering an experience in the heart of Manhattan, where the story began, and letting fans from around the world step into a space that’s both nostalgic yet freshly reimagined,” he added. “There’s no better place than New York City to celebrate the legacy of Friends and to continue building on the connection fans feel with Central Perk.”
We don’t have an official opening date for NYC’s newest coffee shop, but hopefully we’ll hear more very soon.
Photo by Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
