Coffee is more than just a drink; it’s an experience, and sometimes, those experiences come to life through the pages of our favorite books or the scenes of our favorite TV shows.
Fictional coffee shops often have a way of capturing our hearts. Maybe the atmosphere or the characters. Maybe it’s the coffee itself.
Whatever it is, these iconic coffee shops become more than just settings in a story. They are characters in their own right.
So, with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to highlight some iconic fictional coffee shops we’d all love to visit!
9 Fictional Coffee Shops We Wish Existed in Real Life
1. Central Perk (Friends)
Could there BE any other coffee shop?
Probably the most iconic of the fictional coffee shops on this list, Central Perk, is the coffee shop where the six friends from Friends spent countless moments together.
The laid-back, cozy vibe of Central Perk, with its mismatched furniture and comfy seating, made it the perfect gathering spot for the gang. As a long-time Friends lover (it’s one of my all-time favorite shows), I’m always on the lookout for fun Friends-themed products to help me recreate my own version of Central Perk at home. Which is why I enjoy drinking coffee from the Central Perk Coffee Company.
What’s great is you can actually visit the Central Perk set at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in California.
2. Luke’s Diner (Gilmore Girls)
Another iconic fictional coffee shop location (and another personal favorite) is Luke’s Diner in Gilmore Girls.
And I know what you are thinking: It’s a diner, not a coffee shop.
But I cannot think of Luke’s without thinking of coffee. The diner is practically a character in itself throughout the show, and so many iconic coffee quotes and important moments happen at Luke’s Diner.
Luke’s Diner was the perfect place to unwind with a cup of coffee, and for that alone, it makes a spot on this list.
3. Legends and Lattes (Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree)
I never knew I needed a fantasy coffee shop in my life until I read the novel Legends and Lattes, but now it’s a must!
The story follows Viv, a retired orc barbarian, who decides to open the first-ever coffee shop in the city of Thune.
I would LOVE to step into this coffee shop and get a latte along with a thimblet or a famous cinnamon roll.
But instead, I’ll have to settle for this thimblet recipe and a bag of the Legends and Lattes coffee from Fable Grounds Coffee.
If you are looking for more books set in coffee shops, check out this list!
4. Cafe Nervosa (Frasier)
Cafe Nervosa is the cozy, upscale coffee shop from Frasier that served as the main hangout for the show’s characters.
It’s a place that has that perfect European charm, where you can sip a cappuccino while pretending you’re a sophisticated intellectual. I think it would be fun to be an “extra” and enjoy a latte while soaking up the charm and humor of the show.
If you want to recreate this fictional coffee shop in your own home, check out this cookbook!
5. Espresso Pump (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
The Espresso Pump is a coffeehouse featured in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it quickly became the go-to spot for Buffy and her friends when they weren’t out saving the world.
With its moody lighting, open-air seating, and mellow vibe, it offered a rare moment of peace in the supernatural chaos of Sunnydale.
As far as fictional coffee shops go, the Espresso Pump nails that perfect balance of cozy hangout and cultural hotspot, and I think it would be a cool place to visit.
6. Pete’s Coffee and Bookstore (Beach Read by Emily Henry)
Beach Read was my first Emily Henry novel, and I really enjoyed it.
One of my favorite things about the story was Pete’s Coffee and Bookstore, a delightful small-town gem that blends the best of both worlds: a cozy café and a charming bookshop.
It boasts a laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes me want to find a lakeside town and escape the hustle and bustle of real life.
Not to mention, the character Pete was hilarious and such a fun secondary character throughout the story.
7. Kabul Coffee House (The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez)
Set in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital, the Kabul Coffee House is more café in the book The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul. This vibrant and resilient spot serves as a cultural crossroads, where expats, aid workers, and locals gather over strong coffee and heartfelt conversations.
Despite the tension and danger outside its walls, which is an Afghanistan war zone, inside the coffee shop, there’s a sense of community, courage, and unexpected friendship.
With rich aromas, bold flavors, and the hum of stories being shared, the Kabul Coffee House feels like a beacon of warmth and hope in a complex world, something I’m always searching for today. And it’s a reminder that coffee connects people in the most powerful ways.
8. Farbucks Coffee/Celtic Coffee (Shrek 2 and Shrek 3)
Called Farbucks Coffee in Shrek 2, the name of this coffee shop in the Kingdom of Far Away was changed to Celtic Coffee (let’s be real, probably because of Starbucks and copyright reasons…).
Farbucks Coffee/Celtic Coffee is not a prominent setting in the movies, but it makes a few brief appearances.
And honestly, it’s on this list purely because it’s silly, and I wish I could see a menu for this place because I bet it would be quirky and amazing.
9. Digital Bean (Lizzie McGuire)
The Digital Bean is a coffee shop from the series Lizzie McGuire. It serves as a hangout for Lizzie and her friends, and it’s also where Lizzie gets her first job as a busboy (Season 2, Episode 5, if you want to watch it!)
With its bright colors, funky furniture, and occasional live performances, the Digital Bean felt like the coolest after-school spot a middle schooler could dream of.
I hope you enjoyed this fun list of fictional coffee shops.
Whether you’re escaping to a magical realm, joining friends for a chat, or simply taking a break from life’s hustle, these fictional coffee shops don’t just remind us why we love coffee but also why we love the places where we drink it.
Are there any fictional coffee shops not on this list that you want to visit? Tell me the name and what TV show, movie, or story it comes from!
8 thoughts on “9 Fictional Coffee Shops We’d Love to Visit”
What a fun post! I never realized how many iconic coffee shops existed in fiction until now. Central Perk is a classic, but I’d also love to hang out at Cafe Nervosa from Frasier! This list made me want to rewatch a few favorites with a cup of (iced) coffee. Thanks for the nostalgic trip!
What fun! I would also love to visit Central Perk and Legends & Lattes. You also reminded me about Digital Bean, somehow forgot about that coffee shop from Lizzie McGuire. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other fictional coffee shops I would like to visit, though I’m sure that there have been some neat ones in shows and books I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Great article! I’ve always wanted to visit Central Perk in Friends. Such a cute, cozy vibe! 🙂
Agreed! It’s probably my favorite on this list!
My teen heart would want to visit Crashdown Cafe from the TV series Roswell 🙂
That would be so much fun! There are so many good shows that feature coffee shops/cafes!
Great post! I would love to go to that cute little coffee shop in the movie La La Land! I think it would be v. cute – Ash
That’s a great one! That would be a fun visit.