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Central Perk will be there for you, New York — but not in the exact way “Friends” superfans might remember.
Inspired by the gang’s gathering place on the Warner Bros. megahit TV show (which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004), a real-life replica of the beloved fake coffeehouse opens its doors in Times Square Fri. Dec. 12, featuring a host of tributes to the storied series, along with plenty of piping hot java.
Jenny Donadio — a 41-year-old “Friends” ‘superfan’ based in New York City who watches reruns “almost every day” — was excited to be among the first to experience the latest slice of “Friends” culture, during a preview on Thursday.
“This is in the heart of it all,” Donadio told The Post, referring to the Crossroads of The World location, right at the corner of W. 47th St. and 7th Ave., across from the TKTS booth. “It’s such an amazing spot to (feature) an iconic show…You almost feel like you’re a ‘Friend’.”
The concept of a “Friends”-inspired coffee shop has been tried before — a 2014, Warner Bros.-organized pop-up in SoHo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show’s premiere delighted fans, even featuring guest appearances from the put-upon barista Gunther (James Michael Tyler).
And, before the owners of the current concept made their big city debut, they chose Boston for a trial run, opening a Central Perk Coffee Co. in Beantown back in 2023.
This is the first time, however, that fans can recreate the iconic shop experience at a permanent location in the Big Apple — the same city where Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey grew into adulthood and called ‘home’.
“It feels great — it feels fun,” 35-year-old fan Raysa Cremona told The Post. “I would totally come here with friends. I think they did the show justice.”
Avid students of sitcom lore will quickly note that Central Perk Coffee Company is not a carbon copy of the fictional coffeehouse. (Of course, die-hards will already know that for this, they can just head to the long-running “Friends” Experience on E. 23rd St., which features a true-to-life replica.)
While the bustling new spot features recognizable staples like the group’s big orange couch, pop art by Burton Morris (whose work was featured in over 100 episodes) and restrooms painted to look like Monica’s purple door, Glen Coben, the lead architect and designer behind the project, said that the shop was designed to pay homage — not as a replica.
“We didn’t want to be stuck in 1994,” Coben told The Post. “We really wanted to create a gathering place — a place for people to dine, drink really great coffee and a community place that reflected the spirit of Central Perk. But what would that look like in 2025, right?”
Phil Colicchio — a founding partner of the consulting group that helped bring the Central Perk experience to life and cousin to celeb chef Tom Colicchio (who designed the menu), added that it was important to the team to modernize the concept while focusing on functionality.
“The global popularity of ‘Friends’ is such that we needed to think about this as (a place) where these characters would be going if they were New Yorkers today at the same age,” Colicchio told The Post.
“If you walk in the door, you know you’re in Central Perk, but you also know you’re not on the set (of the show)…There’s lots of familiarity, but not pandering,” he continued.
Not to worry — there are plenty of Easter eggs left around in the colorful and busy store, for both the casual “Friends” fan and those who can quote each line verbatim.
For instance, the series’ famed “chick and the duck,” who were introduced in season 3 and would eventually become Joey and Chandler’s beloved pets, make an appearance in concept art by the restrooms.
Next to the new, longer iteration of the couch — with plenty of room for guests to sit — there’s a pair of metal ‘A’ and ‘Z’ bookends, a nod to Chandler’s own set and holiday gift of choice in “The One With The Routine” (season 6, episode 10).
The venue also features a food menu catering heavily to “Friends” fans.
There’s the “Morning After” yogurt, for example, “The Tribbiani” prosciutto sandwich and the “Rachel Green ‘Side’ Salad.”
Show-themed beverage options include “Oh.My. Gawd!” Cold Brew and Princess Consuela’s Banana Mocha.
At the heart of it all is the actual coffee — the shop brews and sells three signature Central Perk coffee blends. There’s “Pivot” (medium dark roast), “How You Doin’?” (medium roast), and “We Were on a ‘Coffee’ Break” (dark roast). Those seeking the strongest of kicks can sample the “Gunther!” espresso blend.
Colicchio noted that the venue is still awaiting a liquor license — by the end of January, he hoped, espresso martinis and other cocktails will take their place on the menu.
Kathy Choi — a 47 year-old New Yorker who watched “Friends” during its original run — told The Post that she enjoyed sharing the modernized Central Perk with the newest generation of “Friends” fans.
“It’s a different generation at this point,” Choi told The Post. “The humor lasts…It would have been great if they brought (a coffee shop) like this out years ago. This is so exciting, and as busy as Times Square is, it’s going to do so well.”
