Central Friends: The one with the Concert
The second we entered this room by Insolito Escape Room, we recognized the set. There was the iconic orange-brown sofa, the terrible red-patterned carpet, the bar with all its coffee mugs, knick-knacks and little mock bites to eat as well as the chalk-board listing all of the day’s specials and extras. In short, our group had found itself in the middle of Central Perk, the famed café from our beloved TV-show «Friends».
However, the references did not stop there. This room and its riddles were full to their brim with allusions to the show, its quirky characters and most of all, one specific storyline in which Phoebe performs her best known song «Smelly Cat» on stage in a corner of the bar. There was only one problem: Phoebe was running late and it was up to us to set the stage and make sure the concert could happen in time for the music agent to hear the song and Phoebe to potentially secure a record deal.
Anyone who has played this room will confirm that its creators are indeed big fans of the show. In fact, it was hard to not just stand in the middle of the room and look at all the little details and nods to «Friends» that were hidden in every corner and every nook.
On top of that, a special shoutout has to go to the acting in this room. The actress did a wonderful job staying with us all throughout the game, playing a character that would have fit perfectly into the show and gently guided us through the experience all the while making jokes and keeping the mood light and fun.
All in all, «Friends» is a solid room that invites players to come and forget their daily lives for a while, stepping into the nostalgia of the late 90s and early 2000s and just have a bit of fun for 90 minutes. But be sure to be quick if you also want to experience this adventure since the room will only be open until the 30th of November 2025! After that, the seasons will change and with it, the «Friends» episode that you can live at Insolito Escape Room.
