Friends Locations in New York City

How you doin'? If you’re a Friends fan on a break in New York City, you have to check out these familiar locations.

Friends Header

Despite first bursting onto our screens over 30 years ago, Friends remains ever-popular with audiences old and new. From the apartment in the Greenwich Village to the famous fountain in the opening credits, here’s our list of top Friends New York spots to visit, including...

  • 90 Bedford Street
  • Bloomingdale’s
  • The Plaza
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Madison Square Garden
  • And more!

90 Bedford Street

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The first stop on any Friends fan’s tour of the city has to be 90 Bedford Street. You’ll see the memorable exterior of the apartment building where Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey lived for 10 seasons. And though it’s not Central Perk, there is a café below the apartments called The Little Owl where you can stop for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

While you’re in the area, take a tour of Greenwich Village to get a feel for the area where the gang lived and hung out.

The Plaza

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While The Plaza is a beautiful building so worth a visit in its own right, Friends fans will appreciate that it’s where Monica and Chandler intended to celebrate their engagement at the end of Season 6. In "The One with Monica’s Thunder," the friends face various hurdles and plot twists and never actually make it to The Plaza. Why not raise a glass of champagne in their honor?

Bloomingdale’s

Visit the luxury department store where Rachel began her fashion career as a personal shopper. You'll be able to walk the aisles of Bloomingdale’s and admire the luxury clothes and accessories. Inspired to do a little shopping yourself? Put together a stylish outfit Rachel would be proud of.

Solow Building

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This building on West 57th Street is home to Chandler’s office where he works as a... “transpondster?” This famous building with its glass facade has also been featured in other TV shows and films Sex & the City, Zoolander, Cloverfield, Superman, and Lost in America.  In reality, law firms and hedge funds make up the building’s offices, as well as the designer brand Chanel. Fancy!

If you’re interested in other filming destinations around NYC, check out our guide to Central Park movie and TV locations 

American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History

Another place of work: the American Museum of Natural History. Sort of. Ross actually works as a paleontologist at the Museum of Prehistoric History, which doesn’t exist. Visit the next best thing at the American Museum of Natural History to see the fossils and dinosaurs up close.

Check out our guide to the American Museum of Natural History to make the most of your visit.

Newark Airport

Newark Airport

If you’re flying in or out of Newark Airport, New Jersey, note that this is where Rachel gets off the plane in ‘The Last One.’ Rachel is due to fly to Paris but decides to get off the plane at the last minute to be with Ross. Earlier in the episode, Ross and Phoebe mistakenly race to JFK airport to try to catch her, so make sure you don't make the same mistake!

 

Madison Square Garden

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In the fourth-ever episode of Friends, Chandler, Joey, and Ross watch a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden. You can catch a game like the guys, just try not to get hit in the face with a hockey puck, as Ross did!

If you can’t get tickets to a game, you can take a tour of Madison Square Garden to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the famous stadium.

The Lucille Lortel Theater

Head to this off-Broadway theater to see where Joey acts in a play in Season 3 and receives terrible reviews. There's no reason why you shouldn't see a play there yourself, though! Check the website to see what’s on at Lucille Lortel Theater during your visit.

Theater fans will also be interested in taking a walking tour of Broadway to learn all about its history (and secrets)!

So that's a wrap on our list of the top NYC destinations for Friends fans. Be sure to get a photo with these famous locations, (especially on Bedford Street)! Hopefully, this list will give you a chance to experience where the Friends gang lived, worked, and had their adventures over the 10 seasons.

New York skyline at night

So that's a wrap on our list of the top NYC destinations for Friends fans. Be sure to get a photo with these famous locations, (especially on Bedford Street)! Hopefully, this list will give you a chance to experience where the Friends gang lived, worked, and had their adventures over the 10 seasons.

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Seren Morris
Go City Travel Expert

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A Guide to the High Line in New York City

The High Line is one of the world’s most unique public parks. The park in New York City is made from reclaimed elevated rail running above Manhattan’s West Side. It was originally slated for destruction after remaining unused for decades. But locals and the city decided to repurpose the stretch of rail for public benefit. They opened the High Line in 2009. Today, it’s one of the more unusual tourist attractions in NYC, but it’s also becoming increasingly popular with visitors. If you’re looking for a quick guide to the High Line NYC, we’ve got you covered. When is the High Line Open? As a public park, the High Line does have regular operating hours. These vary seasonally, with the longest hours in the summer months. Regardless of the time of year, the park is open at 7 am every day, including weekends. Gansevoort Street – 17th Street Tiffany & Co. Foundation Overlook (at Gansevoort St.). This dramatic overlook marks where the original rail line was taken apart in the 1980s to make way for construction. Whitney Museum of American Art: Located just east of the overlook, this popular museum features over 21,000 modern works of art. Donald Pels & Wendy Keys Gansevoort Woodland (between Gansevoort & 13th St.): A lush garden space filled with striking flora, this is a great spot for photos. 14th Street Passage (between 14th St. & 15th St.): A quasi-enclosed passageway, here you can find an original video series on display at dusk each evening. Diller-Von Furstenberg Sundeck & Water Feature (between 14th St. & 15th St.): This water feature marks the spot where water tended to gather during the days when the High Line was still a railroad track, drawing inspiration from life. Chelsea Market Passage (between 15th St. & 16th St.): Running right along the iconic Chelsea Market, this section of the park is the perfect place to descend if you’re looking for a snack or souvenir. Chelsea Market: This expansive complex is beloved for its food hall. It is brimming with vendors selling everything from cheese and wine to coffee and bread. There’s also a retail component with many popular and hyper-local options. Northern Spur Preserve (at 16th St.): This section of the park honors the indigenous plants that grew on and around the High Line before it was converted into cultivated parkland. 10th Avenue Square & Overlook (at 17th St.): Featuring a giant “window” down onto 10th Ave., this area also encompasses an amphitheater with public performances. 21st Street to 34th street Chelsea Thicket (between 21st St. & 22nd St.): Another piece of wilderness brought to downtown Manhattan, this section of the New York High Line boasts a variety of dense trees and shrubs indigenous to the region. 23rd Street Lawn & Seating Steps (at 23rd St.): A great spot for picnics, this elevated lawn area is also home to many local art installations like a massive mural that changes each year. Philip A. and Lisa Maria Falcone Flyover (between 25th St. & 27th St.): Designed specifically to allow visitors to encounter larger trees like magnolias and sassafras, the path elevates several feet above the rail line. 26th Street Viewing Spur (at 26th St.): A great place to get views of the city below, and gain perspective on your position relative to the bustle. Crossroads (at 30th St.): This is the widest section of the High Line Greenwich and therefore often the most accessible to those wanting to sit for a bit. It’s also where the High Line switches from a North-South orientation to an East-West one. Spur (at 30th St. & 10th Ave.): The final section of the original trail to be converted to park space, the public art here is spectacular—keep an eye out for the High Line Plinth! Pershing Square Beams (at 30th St.): A delightful place for the little ones to play, the exposed steel beams have been coated in a safe silicone surface, turning them into a playground. Interim Walkway (between 30th St. & 34th St.): Stop here for panoramic views of the Hudson River. Stay for the wildflowers and uncultivated plants. CSX Transportation Gate (at 34th St.): The only point at which the High Line New York hits street level. This is where you can most easily access it from downtown Manhattan. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity or use the hashtag #GoCity in your vacation photos and we'll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers, and events and inspiration for your chosen destination too!
Katie Sagal
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Things to do in Midtown

No visit to New York is complete without exploring Midtown. Situated at the very heart of Manhattan, the area is home to some of the city’s best cultural attractions, shopping opportunities, and dining spots. Spend the day shopping on Fifth Avenue or view the city from dizzying heights at the Empire State Building. Or, if you’re an arts lover, check out the Museum Mile or head uptown to catch a musical on Broadway. So, if you’re planning to make the visit, have a read through our guide of the best things to do in the area. With Go City, you can see more, for less. Explore the Area If you’re looking for the ultimate shopping experience, there’s no better place to be than Midtown. Stretching for six whole miles through the district, Fifth Avenue draws in millions of visitors each year – and with good reason! The street has much to offer, with popular flagships, upscale boutiques, and spectacular window displays, especially around Christmastime. Flanked with enticing attractions and buzzing with life, this major attraction delivers a shopping experience going way beyond our wildest dreams. Dive into the crowds, pick up a souvenir for your loved ones, and soak up the incredible atmosphere. Hey, what’s not to love? Though New York is most usually recognized for its towering skyscrapers and modern structures, the city is home to many beautiful historic buildings. An absolute must-see for history buffs and architecture geeks alike, St. Patrick’s Church is known as the biggest Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States. Occupying an entire city block, the venerable structure stands out amongst its neighbors with a real sense of authority and presence. Both the exterior façade and interior design of the church are incredibly fascinating, as they tell a whole lot about the city’s religious and architectural past. Still, the main draw of the site is its atmospheric underground catacombs, which showcase the intricacies of 19th Century art and innovation. One of our favorite things about Midtown is that there’s a surprise around every corner. Situated between Madison Avenue and Broadway, Koreatown (AKA ‘’Korean Times Square’’) is one of the best-kept secrets of the area. Here, visitors can enjoy interesting shops, great restaurants, and a vibrant sense of community. This small but sweet enclave would be the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after catching a show on Broadway. See the Sites It’d just be wrong to write about the Midtown area without mentioning the Empire State Building. A world-famous attraction and mainstay of New York City culture, the iconic tower is one of the most impressive highlights of the cityscape. Still billed as one of the tallest buildings in the world, this majestic structure grants captivating views of Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, as well as five different states. We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets online ahead of time to cut down on your queueing time! Of all the things to do in Midtown, one of the area’s biggest draws is Grand Central Station. Infinitely more than just a train station and commuter’s hub, this iconic tourist magnet has long served as an emblem of New York City culture. This national historic landmark is perhaps best known for its beautiful architecture and unique history – its famous golden clockwork, intricate tilework, and swooping arches and most certainly a sight to behold. Those who are interested in learning more about the background of the building can take historical tours. In addition, the attraction packs over 100 dining and shopping vendors all under one roof! Midtown presents an incredible wealth of cool things to do, see and experience. Comprised of a whopping 19 commercial buildings and spanning over 22 acres, the Rockefeller Center is a fantastic stop for any first-time visitor. Whether you’re looking for live music, historical artwork, or live tapings of your favorite talk show, this is where you want to be. Catch a show at Radio City Music Hall, tour NBC Studios, and in the wintertime, take a spin on its world-famous ice rink. The world’s your oyster! Get Cultured New York is an art lover’s dream, with Midtown presenting some of the city’s top cultural institutions. Drawing in millions of visitors each year, the Museum of Modern Art is often recognized as one of the biggest and most influential institutions of its kind. Upon entrance, visitors can enjoy an expansive collection of over 200, 000 artworks across all mediums. Particular highlights include Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Salvador Dalì’s The Persistence of Memory and Roy Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl. Looking for a memorable cultural experience? Look no further than Broadway! Situated on a popular thoroughfare of the same name, the notable theater is often considered to be the most influential playhouse in the United States. Unlike indie playhouses, the Broadway Theater runs classic crowd-pleasers which are sure to suit those travelling with friends or family. You can see famous shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, and The Lion King. The theater is located on 53rd Street, with plenty of restaurants and bars just minutes away. Another one of our favorite things to do in Midtown is visit the Morgan Library. Formerly the private collection of financier J. Pierpont Morgan, this majestic repository is a total bibliophile’s paradise. Situated on Madison Avenue, this Italian Renaissance-style palazzo shelters the largest on-paper collection of art, literature and musical works in the United States. Particular standouts include one of 23 copies of the original Declaration of Independence, Charles Dickens’s manuscript of A Christmas Carol, and a signed manuscript of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. There are endless things to see, do and experience in Midtown. From the area’s world-class entertainment venues to its fantastic shopping destinations, dining spots and architectural landmarks, it’s essentially impossible to take it all in in just one visit. Whatever you choose to do, you won’t be disappointed; rather, you’ll struggle to fit it all in. Make the best out of your travel experience with our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook.
Sarah Harris

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