Is Central Perk a real coffee shop?
While Central Perk exists solely on a Los Angeles soundstage, the space that would house the corner-side café below the building where Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey lived is very much real. Little Owl opened in May 2006, just two years after one of the most popular television series of all time aired its finale. First, because it has remained a NYC staple for the past decade, and second because of its iconic location: yes, its tall brick building was the one used in the filming of the show “Friends”! Little Owl is no “Central Perk”, but a quaint restaurant on a quiet corner of the West Village.It’s annoying,” said joey campanaro, chef and owner of little owl restaurant, located in the same 90 bedford st. central perk coffee shop where the characters lounged.