Step inside of recreations of classic Friends sets and pose in front of familiar costumes at this photo-friendly pop-up in Lakewood (Lakewood Center, 4661 Silva St).
Yes, it’s one of those: an opportunity to snap photos in front of recognizable backdrops (the touring event originated in 2019, for reference). But for Friends fans, there are enough reproductions of recognizable sets (Monica and Rachel’s apartment, Joey and Chandler’s apartment, the “pivot!” couch staircase, Central Perk) to make it a fun walkthrough. It’s housed in a former Nordstrom Rack, and the sterile drop ceiling tiles don’t exactly melt away, but they also don’t negatively impact photos if that’s all you’re after (and really, that’s the main sell of a $30-and-up ticket).
Unlike the other touring locations, Southern California already has another genuine Friends venue: the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. So what separates the two? At Warners, you can pose for a photo inside the actual Central Perk set on the studio lot where the beloved show was shot. Aside from that, the studio tour offers a pastiche of set tributes that’s part cafe seating area, part gift shop. It’s also only the tail-end of a three-hour-or-so studio tour, and one that costs considerably more than this Long Bech-area event at $70. The Friends Experience is also considerably closer than Burbank for the large chunk of the county that lives south of the 105.
