Belly up to the (fictional) bar

It looks like life really does imitate art. Real-life versions of Central Perk, the fictional coffee shop from the American television series Friends, are popping up worldwide. According to The Guardian, “to celebrate Friends’ 20th anniversary, a pop-up Central Perk has had fans queuing for more than an hour for free coffee and a chance to look at ‘Joey’s ceramic white dog.'” This New York location joins other Central Perks across the globe.

While queuing for hours to sip coffee in a replica of a 90s TV show set is not for everyone, it does pose an interesting question. If you were able to go to a pub, bar, or restaurant from a work of fiction, which establishment would you most like to visit? The surreal Double R Diner from Twin Peaks? The Tabard Inn from The Canterbury Tales? Nuovo Vesuvio from The Sopranos? Ten Forward from Star Trek: The Next Generation?

At many of these establishments, the food and drink is often just a footnote to the real action, so this question may be too esoteric for diehard foodies. But a few fictional places do look intriguing from a food standpoint, such as The Pie Hole from Pushing Daisies (check out indexed blog The Kitchn’s take on pies inspired by The Pie Hole).

Even if the drinks weren’t the focus of our daydream, most of us have probably imagined sidling up next to our hero at the bar and striking up a conversation, or perhaps we imagined sitting down to an elegant dinner with the leading man (or woman) at their favorite eatery. Let us know which fictional restaurant or bar you would most like to visit.