Look Inside Central Perk, Where Friends Becomes Reality

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• Let's get one thing straight: This is less an exact replica of Central Perk and more like a mini Friends museum. The layout isn't much like the coffeehouse on the show, but the space is filled with all kinds of props.
• Props that dedicated fans can pour over.
• Even the espresso machine is the original. It's display only though — all the (free) coffee on offer is drip coffee.
• A replica of the frame that hung around the peephole on Monica and Rachel's door is enclosed in its own fancy vitrine, with clips of the show projected in an endless loop over it.
• It's easier to see the frame from the side.
• There's a small area for sitting, which also features a continuous loop of Friends clips playing in the background.
• There it is: the orange couch. That chair is also the original as is the coat stand in the background.
• Of course, there's a gift shop.
• It offers every piece of Friends memorabilia a fan could ask for, from aprons and mugs to iPhone cases and charm bracelets.
• And here's Gunther (in real life, James Michael Tyler). He'll be around for the opening, and then back again when the pop-up closes on October 18. Fun fact: white is not his real hair color. Tyler tells Eater that he bleached it for 10 years straight back

Tomorrow one of the most anticipated pop-ups of September/October will throw open its doors in Soho, and invite visitors into an (almost) exact replica of Central Perk, the coffeehouse familiar to anyone who has watched even one episode of Friends. Eater got a sneak peek inside the pop-up, which will offer free coffee and a chance to sit on the actual orange couch from the show, plus contests and live performances, and even the occasional appearance by Gunther, the barista. So now, without further ado, take a look around:

The pop-up will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. For the most part it will just be offering free coffee and the chance to take selfies on the couch, but on Friday nights there will be live performances by local artists (along the lines of Phoebe's performances, although expect these ones to actually be good). It opens to the public tomorrow, and will be open every day until October 18. Expect a crowd of 20 and 30-somethings looking to relive the 90s.
· All Coverage of Central Perk [~ENY~]