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Central Perk from ‘Friends’ opening permanent Times Square location
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Sep 16, 2025
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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Sep 16, 2025
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Well, at least the tourists will like it: The real-life version of the fictional coffeehouse from “Friends” is opening a permanent Times Square location.
Central Perk Coffee was frequented by characters on the popular yet wildly-unrealistic-about-life-in-New-York sitcom, which aired on NBC for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. But long-in-syndication “Friends” never really ended, so strong was its grip on popular culture. And now Central Perk specifically will not only be undead, but reborn, orange couch and all.
Central Perk has previously made the jump from TV to reality on multiple occasions in the city, but only ever as a pop-up. The new coffee shop — which will be located on the northeast corner of Seventh Avenue and 47th Street, near an Olive Garden and just a block from the Disney Store — will be a bona fide cafe.
It also has a bona fide sister location in every New Yorker’s favorite city to be associated with: “The One in Boston.” It opened last year.
The Times Square Central Perk is slated to open in “late fall” 2025, according to a statement from presenter Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and the cafe’s owners.
The menu is designed by "Top Chef" executive producer and James Beard Award winner Tom Colicchio. And the selling power is courtesy of aching nostalgia in a fractured cultural landscape.
Tagged
Times Square
food
friends
manhattan
new york city
restaurants
television
Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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