Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Beijing The Central Perk, Beijing
The Central Perk, Beijing is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

AO Edited

The Central Perk, Beijing

This working replica of the 'Friends' coffee shop is more accurate to the show than the set itself.

Beijing, China

Added By
Rob Rubsam
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Central Perk Cafe   Goldsea.com
Chinese Friends fans watch reruns of the show.   Goldsea.com
The original Central Perk set.   William Warby on Flickr
  emiliekinss / Atlas Obscura User
  emiliekinss / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

One Beijing man’s obsession with the American TV show Friends has driven him to create a working replica of the show's main hangout spot, the Central Perk cafe.

On the TV show, the Central Perk was the titular friends' local coffee shop, and owner Du Xin, who describes the show as his religion, has slavishly recreated every aspect of its bohemian style.  Fitted with identical brick walls, tables, and even the ever-present orange couch, Du’s Central Perk is a mecca for local fans of the show.  The TVs in the shop even play episodes of Friends with Chinese subtitles, and each menu item is food actually mentioned on the show with an annotation stating which episode the snack appeared in. 

The café is popular among local college students, who often watch reruns of American TV shows to practice their English.  For them, Friends has proven chock full of colloquialisms and mannerisms that cannot be picked up in class.  And according to reports, it also offers another rarity in Beijing: cheap coffee, another godsend for college students.

And in case a visit to a working coffee shop from a fictional television series which has been off the air for almost a decade isn't enough of a "Friends experience," Du has also constructed an exact replica of character Joey’s apartment next door to the Central Perk, complete with foosball table and oversize TV stand. Diehard fans of the show can rest assured that Central Perk will be there for you.

Related Tags

Television Natural Wonders Shops Unique Restaurants & Bars Nature

Community Contributors

Added By

Rob

Edited By

Martin, hrnick, EricGrundhauser, emiliekinss

  • Martin
  • hrnick
  • EricGrundhauser
  • emiliekinss

Published

September 12, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2010/06/25/central-perk-caf-friends-comes-beijing
  • http://www.npr.org/2013/01/23/170074762/friends-will-be-there-for-you-at-beijings-central-perk
  • http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294212-d3723207-Reviews-Central_Perk-Beijing.html
  • https://www.thebeijinger.com/directory/central-perk
The Central Perk, Beijing
0616, Bldg A
Chaowai SOHO
Beijing
China
39.920452, 116.454341
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Dongyue Temple

Beijing, China

miles away

Destination Club

Beijing, China

miles away

Beijing Ancient Observatory

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Dongyue Temple

Beijing, China

miles away

Destination Club

Beijing, China

miles away

Beijing Ancient Observatory

Beijing, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beijing

Beijing

China

Places 24
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Tradition in the mountains

    Imlil, Morocco

    Kasbah du Toubkal

    A Moroccan getaway in the mountain range that plays the Himalayas' stunt double.

  • Melnik, Bulgaria

    Historic Melnik

    This tiny Bulgarian town offers a stunning location in the mountains and a storied history.

  • The salt ponds

    Newark, California

    Salt Ponds of San Francisco Bay

    From the sky, a kaleidoscope of color brightens the grey landscape of the San Francisco Bay.

  • Gwangju, South Korea

    Wang Dong's Rock Quarries

    Rocks that take on the likenesses of several recognizable living entities crowd the Wang dong Rock Quarries.

  • (Flickr/DrJohnBullas)

    Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

    Diavik Diamond Mine

    Ice roads, deep holes and 3,500 pounds of diamonds.

  • Ruins of Hacienda Nápoles

    Puerto Triunfo, Colombia

    Hacienda Nápoles

    Former drug lord’s manor, now a theme park. Watch out for the hippos.

  • VW Bug at the Museo Subacuático de Arte

    Cancún, Mexico

    Museo Subacuático de Arte

    Underwater art project will double as a massive artificial coral reef to help regenerate the damaged ecosystem.

  • The scenery in Villavicencio.

    Las Heras Department, Argentina

    Thermal Baths of Villavicencio

    Mineral springs believed to hold therapeutic properties draw in visitors from all over.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.