‘Friends’ fans will love Central Perk Coffee Co. in Boston, Massachusetts
On the local and tourist-favorite Newbury Street in Boston sits a surprise coffee shop for any fan of the hit show “Friends,” Central Perk Coffee Co. It’s a delightful café with truly delicious drinks and food themed to the iconic TV sitcom in a setting that will make any “Friends” fan grin from ear to ear.
Central Perk Coffee Co. is primarily known as an online shop where you can purchase all kinds of officially licensed coffee and merchandise for home delivery. But at this moment, there is one brick and mortar location in Boston, Massachusetts, with the hope of expanding.
When General Manager Aaron Constable got involved in the Boston location, he felt the two things he could bring to the project were “coffee and culture.” With around 20 years working in the hospitality industry throughout Boston, Constable was clearly the right person for the job.
Upon my first visit to the café, it was immediately clear that although Central Perk Coffee Co. is a worldwide recognized brand, the Boston location feels very much like a community center. In addition to tourist fans visiting this “Friends”-inspired coffee shop, I saw local college students working on homework and business professionals typing away on their laptops.
Central Perk Coffee Co. made the wise decision to give the location the “Friends” feel, but it is by no means an exact replica of the TV show set. That was never the intention. Not only did that give them creative freedom, but it also means they could never fail by comparison.
Constable is proud of what he and his team have built, stating, “Something that we’ve been able to create here rather quickly is such an incredibly warm and welcoming place that definitely aligns itself with that same feel and vibe, and almost character, of the original Central Perk from the show.”
He continued, “You start watching ‘Friends’, and [Central Perk is] literally its own character. It’s in the first scene. It’s so important, but also kind of like a background player. So, I think we feel super appreciative that we can kind of be the stewards of a four-dimensional place. I think it’s been nice, because Boston has embraced us.”
I admittedly walked into the space curious about the fan-service niche of it all, but I wasn’t betting big on drink or food quality as I figured that wouldn’t be the priority. I’m delighted to say I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everything I ate and drank was of extremely high quality and made with care. I particularly loved the avocado toast.
A lot of menu options have fun names related to the show like Joey’s Meatball Sub, Chandler’s Chocolate Cold Foam Latte, and How You Doin’? House Blend. Whenever an item is added to the menu with a “Friends” twist to it, it needs to be approved by Warner Bros. This entire company and café is officially licensed, including the merchandising, theming and menu items.
In addition to all the food and drink, Central Perk Coffee Co. has had some fun events at the café. This includes musicians from Berklee College of Music, “Friends”-themed trivia nights, local DJs, and more, all taking to the orange stage with the orange couch. They even hold private events for birthday parties and beyond.
Although none of the cast members have visited Central Perk Coffee Co. yet, the sitcom’s showrunner, Kevin S. Bright, has stopped by. He is a graduate of Emerson College, located just a short walk from the café. Marta Kauffman, the show’s co-creator, is also a graduate of Emerson College.
If you’re a tourist visiting Boston, or even a local “Friends” fan, Central Perk Coffee Co. has plenty of souvenir merchandise and coffee available to shop. From baseball caps, to shirts, mugs, themed coffee blends and more, there’s something for all “Friends” fans.
When asked whether or not we can expect any more Central Perk Coffee Co. locations to open, Constable had this to say: “I think the elephant in the room is always New York, right? It’s the most logical in terms of recognition. But I think we just want to make sure that we do that super carefully and with the right intent. And that we’re very, very ready. I think we need to really look at it thoughtfully and make sure that we are clear in who we are and what we want to do. … I think, at the end of the day, we’re a community-based cafe where you come to celebrate, you come to study, when you’re down you just want to hang out with friends or just be by yourself. It’s that comfortable place that is there for you when you need it, whatever the occasion.”
Central Perk Coffee Co. is open seven days a week at 205 Newbury Street in Boston, Mass. Learn more and shop online at CentralPerk.com.
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