‘Central Perk’ Comes to Life: Permanent Friends-Inspired Coffee Shop Opens in NYC

Fans of the hit sitcom Friends will soon be able to enjoy their favorite coffee spot in the heart of New York City. Central Perk, the café made famous by Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe, is opening its first permanent Times Square location this fall. The new café comes after the success of pop-up shops and the first permanent location in Boston, which opened in 2023.

The Times Square coffeehouse will serve artisanal drinks and Friends-inspired food created with guidance from Tom Colicchio, a James Beard Award-winning chef and Top Chef judge.

Visitors can also expect a replica of the iconic orange sofa, themed merchandise, and take-home coffee blends. The café aims to give fans a chance to step inside the world of Friends while adding a modern twist.

Peter van Roden, EVP of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, told Variety, “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.”

“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.”

Paul Landino, a company executive at CenPer Holdings, added that the Boston café showed strong interest from fans and helped shape the New York experience. “Boston showed us the appetite for Central Perk is real, and New York lets us build on that excitement at an even bigger scale.”

“The way fans engaged with the coffeehouse – what they loved, what they wanted more of – directly informed how we’re bringing the experience to Times Square. What makes Central Perk so special is that our customers naturally create their own personal ‘Friends’ experience within the café,” Landino said.

The new location will be on the northeast corner of 7th Avenue and 47th Street, right in the middle of Manhattan’s busiest area. It promises to be a must-visit spot for fans visiting the city or locals looking to relive the magic of the show.

Opening a permanent Central Perk in Times Square feels like a perfect way to celebrate the legacy of Friends. It gives fans a chance to step into the show’s world and experience it firsthand. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, it looks like a fun and nostalgic place to visit. Would you go to the new Central Perk? Share your thoughts in the comments.