Few TV shows are as timeless as Friends.
Nearly three decades after it first aired, people still quote Chandler, debate Ross and Rachel’s relationship, and plan trips to New York just to see where the show was filmed.
While most of Friends was shot on studio sets in Los Angeles, the series is deeply tied to New York City.
And yes, there are real filming locations in NYC that you can visit today.
In 2026, they remain some of the most photographed TV-related spots in Manhattan.
Here’s exactly where to go and why these places still matter to fans.
The most famous Friends location in NYC: Monica’s apartment building
If there is one Friends location every fan recognizes instantly, it’s the exterior of Monica and Rachel’s apartment.
đź“Ť 90 Bedford Street, corner of Grove Street
đź“Ť Greenwich Village, Manhattan
This building appears repeatedly throughout the series, especially in exterior shots and opening transitions. It is meant to represent:
- Monica and Rachel’s apartment
- Joey and Chandler’s apartment across the street
Even though the interiors were filmed on a soundstage, this building became the visual anchor of Friends’ New York.
Fun fact
The apartment number shown in early seasons was later changed because the producers realized the numbering didn’t make sense for the building’s real layout. Yes, fans noticed.
What’s actually inside the building today?
This is one of the reasons the location works so well for visitors. It’s not fenced off
It’s not a studio. It’s part of real NYC life.
Inside and around the building, you’ll find:
- Little Owl, a popular café often associated with the Friends location
- local restaurants and shops
- real apartments
You can grab coffee, take photos, and sit on the corner imagining Phoebe singing Smelly Cat nearby.
Was Friends really filmed in New York?
Here’s the honest answer fans appreciate.
- Interior scenes: filmed in Los Angeles on Warner Bros. sets
- Exterior shots: filmed in New York City
- Opening credits: filmed at multiple NYC locations
The show deliberately used real New York exteriors to ground the story in reality, even though the cast rarely filmed in NYC.
That balance is exactly why the city still feels essential to the show.
The Friends opening credits fountain (and the truth behind it)
The famous fountain from the opening credits is one of the biggest misconceptions.
Despite popular belief, it is not located in Central Park.
The fountain scenes were filmed:
- on a studio backlot
- and partially composited
However, fans often pair their Friends tour with a walk through Central Park anyway, because it fits the show’s mood and era perfectly.
Why Greenwich Village was the perfect choice
Greenwich Village wasn’t chosen randomly. It represented:
- creative freedom
- close friendships
- walkable neighborhoods
- late-night coffee culture
All core themes of Friends.
Even today, the area feels exactly like the life the characters were meant to live: vibrant, social, slightly chaotic, and deeply New York.
How to visit Friends filming locations in one easy stop
You don’t need a full day. This is one of the easiest TV locations to add to your itinerary.
Best way to do it:
- Walk around Greenwich Village
- Visit the Bedford Street corner
- Combine it with nearby cafés, bookstores, and record shops
It pairs perfectly with other TV and movie filming locations in the city. For a complete overview, see NYC movie and TV filming locations!
Friends trivia fans still love
- The purple apartment door color was chosen to stand out on camera, not because it matched the characters’ taste
- Chandler’s job was intentionally vague in early seasons because even the writers thought it was boring
- The cast negotiated their salaries together, a rare move that changed TV history
These details helped turn Friends into more than a sitcom. It became a cultural reference point.
If you loved exploring iconic sitcom locations, you’ll also enjoy discovering And Just Like That filming locations in NYC, where Sex and the City gets its modern reboot across Manhattan’s most stylish neighborhoods.
