If you enjoy the classic sitcom “Friends,” the iconic Central Perk coffee shop may feel as familiar to you as your own living room. While visiting Central Park, you might wonder if you can visit the real-life Central Perk coffeehouse.
Actually the interior and exterior of Central Perk coffee shop was filmed in a studio in Los Angeles.
But Friends apartment exterior located in Greenwich Village. The address is 90 Bedford St., placing it close to Washington Square Park and New York University.
The ground-floor currently houses an eatery called The Little Owl, which has occupied the premises since 2006.
So, head on inside for a bite! You should note, however, that the interior does not resemble Central Perk, and you are not going to spot the iconic orange sofa anywhere. That said, the restaurant does have nice vibes and offers delicious cuisine! If you stop there on your visit, you’ll be glad you did.
One more thing to know about Central Perk in real life is that there was at one point a pop-up café based on the fictional coffeehouse at 199 Lafayette St. in Manhattan. While very popular, that attraction closed long ago. It was always intended to be temporary, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the show.
Since a visit to 90 Bedford St. to admire the exterior location of the Friends apartment building will take you a little ways from Central Park, you might be looking for a break when you return to the park. Consider a relaxing Central Park pedicab tour, where your guide does all the work, and you just get to kick back and enjoy the sights. If you are pressed for time, this is also a great way to ensure you catch all the highlights.
During a tour you will see a “Friends Fountain”, which by the way was the inspiration for the fountain in the Tv Show Friends. To save money they recreated a version on the Warner Brothers lot. As well as you will see Chandler’s office building.