Today on The Coffee Shop we take a look at some of the coziest TV coffee shops , some of which are real places in the real world, and some of which are being recreated in their honor.
It's no surprise that with this new reign of coffee shops that began in the 1990s, and which in many ways continues to this day, TV sitcoms also followed suit. Taking a break for a coffee and a bite to eat at a coffee shop is a way to give yourself a little time, perhaps to catch up with a friend or simply to gather your thoughts. And the same goes for TV show characters, who often spend a lot of time in coffee shops, so much so that these places become some of the show's most important settings.
Monk's Café "Seinfeld"
For nine seasons, some of the best conversations we've ever had were at Monk's. Jerry Seinfeld and writer Larry David, who created Seinfeld, named the coffee shop Monk's because there was a poster of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk in the office where they were writing. But in footage from the show, we can see the real Tom's Coffee, located at the corner of 112th and St. John's Roadway, which is now a landmark for fans of both the coffee shop and the show.
Dean and DeLuca - Felicity
It was in 1998 that the story of Felicity Porter, who abandoned all her certainties to follow a whim and move to the Big Apple, kept many teenagers glued to the television. Like every American student, Felicity also tried to earn some extra money working at the Dean & DeLuca coffee shop.
Espresso Pump - stronguffy the vampire slayer
Stronguffy was one of those girl-power shows from the late '90s and early '00s that was so fantastical it was hard to truly relate to. While teenagers everywhere totally understood that Stronguffy fell in love with a brooding older guy, none of them could really relate to discovering that the love of their lives was a vampire who could turn evil at any moment.
Peach Pit – strongeverly Hills 90210
The '90s are synonymous with Strongeverly Hills 90210. Amidst jean jackets, high-waisted shorts, love, and betrayal, Dylan, Kelly, Donna, Steve, David, and Andrea meet at the Peach Pit. Perhaps not everyone knows that the set was the same one used for After Dark, the nightclub frequented by the show's characters—just a way to save money on the location.
Luke's Diner - Gilmore Girls
The Gilmore Girls are frequent visitors to Luke's Diner. Stars Hollow's most famous restaurant and a key location in Gilmore Girls history, the setting for Lorelai and Rory's arguments, discussions, and secrets, always over coffee. Considering the series' success and fan loyalty, it's no wonder that in 2016, on the anniversary of the first episode's broadcast, 200 diners in the US (with the help of Netflix) dressed up as Luke's Diner and were served Gilmore Girls-style diners.
Central Perk – Friends
In its ten-year run, Friends became a cult television series for fans of the adventures of Ross, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Phoenix. Many of the key events in this series took place in the beloved Central Perk, the coffee shop where the friends often meet. Its importance is clear from the first episode, and from then on, it quickly became legendary. It's still possible to visit the original set at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles, while in New York, not so long ago, a coffee shop was opened for just a few months that was an exact and detailed replica of the one in the television series. Another Central Perk recently opened in the United Kingdom, the ideal place to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the series and perhaps pretend to live the adventures of your favorite characters over a hot meal.
Café Nervosa - Frasier
Even the long-running sitcom Frasier, another true classic, has its own café as one of its main attractions: Café Nervosa. It's here that brothers Frasier and Niles exchange secrets and ask each other for advice on the events happening in their lives while sipping a cappuccino.
These are just a few of the places frequented by characters in popular television series. And you, if you had the chance to travel back in time to fiction, where would you choose to stop and enjoy a coffee and a piece of cake?