I’ve been a HUGE FRIENDS fan for decades now. It’s one of the TV series that I rewatch every year — like once or twice a year — because I love all characters, the cast, and the storylines. So when we heard that, FINALLY, The FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: The One in Manila is happening here in the Philippines, I just cannot miss it! Here’s my full review of our visit plus some tips for those who haven’t gone to this walkthrough experience yet.

But before we get to that, a little back story. My brother, Ken, is also a big fan of FRIENDS. It’s one of the TV shows that we’ve bonded over throughout the years, and in fact, he already visited the FRIENDS set at Warner Bros Studio tour. I was sooo jealous when I saw his videos and photos at the different iconic sets of the show. So just imagine my excitement to finally get to experience that myself.

My boyfriend, Chris, also fell in love with FRIENDS when I rewatched the show with him. He also cried when Chandler finally proposed to Monica, we were disappointed with Ross when he kept on insisting to Rachel that THEY WERE ON A BREAK! He also fell in love with Joey and Phoebe. We also bawled our eyes out when we found out about Matthew Perry’s passing (we still haven’t moved on from this). 💔

From his reactions, I knew he’s my lobster. 😍😉 So we were both excited for our visit.

Now, let’s get on to our The FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: The One in Manila review.

You can also watch my full review of our The FRIENDS Experience visit on Tiktok, Youtube, Facebook or Instagram

Tickets & Perks

When we checked The FRIENDS Experience Asia’s website, we were convinced to book VIP tickets right away because the perks were too good to pass up — priority entrance and lanes at 3 photo points, 10% discount on merch, and a FREE tote bag that you can’t get anywhere else.

We figured there’ll be a longggggg line since I know there are also many FRIENDS fans here in the Philippines, They also have the Ultimate FRIENDS Ticket bundle, but given the price difference from VIP tickets, we opted to get the latter.

Getting There & First Impressions

We had a 3pm slot, but ended up arriving late, around 3:30pm. Thankfully, they weren’t strict with the schedule. We still had to get our physical tickets printed outside, and the line was long, but since we were VIPs, we got in pretty quickly. Like as soon as we got to the line, we were let in.

We initially thought that entrance inside will be by batch or timed slots, like if you’re booked at 3pm, you’ll be the only ones inside from 3-4pm. But NO, unfortunately. People are being let in when the queue started moving along.

At the waiting area inside, before the iconic purple door opened, they played funny clips from the show and also asked some FRIENDS trivia questions. I think there were prizes, but didn’t get to hear what’s happening at the front because there were a lot of people waiting there with us. I think though that it was the perfect warm-up for the nostalgia we were about to dive into.

By the way, our batch almost filled the waiting area. As mentioned earlier, I initially thought it’ll just be us inside, but apparently, it’s a free-for-all if your schedule has passed. We didn’t expect the amount of people inside though.

Here’s a quick rundown of the sets at The FRIENDS Experience and stops you’ll find inside.

The Sets & Photo Spots

⛲ The Fountain Scene

The first stop was the fountain area from the show’s intro. We were surprised by the amount of people lined up here. It was PACKED. But since we were VIPs, we got our turn quickly. We were asked to line up, but it was a li’l chaotic. We got to take photos & videos right away though.

The FRIENDS Experience staff were available to take photos and videos for guests (a big plus), though some of our shots had awkward framing, like this one — not sure why there’s a HUGE white space below us, and the props around (fake fountain and lamp) were barely seen. 😅

They also have an umbrella prop that you can use, but I had trouble opening it so it was a li’l awkward, especially with people looking at us.

🎬 Behind the Scenes Displays

When you turn the corner, you’ll find the signed scripts, cast costumes, and details about the show’s set and costume designs.

Seeing Matthew Perry’s costume (Chandler Bing) — the one that looked like there’s a vest — in person honestly made me tear up. 💔

They also had a display of Rachel Greene’s (Jennifer Aniston) hairstyles throughout the show. We fans all know her hairstyles were iconic, but I’ll always be a fan of The Rachel.

You’ll also find dedicated character walls, but I think we missed Ross and Monica’s. I won’t show it here so you can still have something to read when you visit, but you can check my video below this post.

Rachel’s 18-page letter to Ross is also on one of the walls — yes, FRONT AND BACK! I took photos for reading later. 😆

🛋️ The PIVOT Stairs

One of our most anticipated spots at The FRIENDS Experience — the PIVOT stairs! They have a photo box on standby here if you’d like a more professional photo (for an extra fee) that you can have printed outside. Just make sure to get a PHOTO TICKET with QR like the one below.

Since I didn’t want to pay extra, we just asked the staff to take our photos and videos instead. We tried to recreate the dialogue too and it took us 2 takes, which was HILARIOUS given the line of people in front of us waiting for their turns. 😁😅

You can watch my full review of our The FRIENDS Experience visit on Tiktok, Youtube, Facebook or Instagram to see our actual video where we were yelling “PIVOT!!!” and “SHUT UP!” 😂

As soon as we were done here, we found Ross’ comic strip Science Boy on the wall — the one Phoebe stole from him when they were kids — and “Chanandler Bong‘s” wall. 😁

🏠 The Boys’ Apartment

Next up is Joey and Chandler’s apartment where we found so many memorable details — from the La-Z-Boy recliners to the foosball table, the yellow sofa where Ross and Joey took naps together, Joey’s entertainment unit/cabinet, and the wall of Magna Doodles with messages written on it throughout the show.

And, of course, from another iconic scene where Joey was wearing all of Chandler’s clothes. I had to deliver his famous line, “Could I BE wearing any more clothes?!” 😅 And yes, there were people right in front of me while I did this. 😁 The BF was too shy to do it. 😅

🪜 The Hallway

Since there was a bottleneck at the Girls’ Kitchen queue, the people at the back of the line, including us, were told to move to the Hallway queue since the line was shorter. The FRIENDS Experience staff said since we’re VIPs, we’ll be prioritized at the Girls’ Kitchen anyway, so we moved.

We took photos at the boys’ apartment door, then went straight to the Hallway. Kunwari we’re just coming home to our apartments. 😁 Unfortunately, the staff wasn’t able to include the part where we look like we’re entering the apartments. 😅 Just watch our video na lang.

🍪 The Girls’ Apartment

Next up: Monica and Rachel’s kitchen! Sadly, the living room wasn’t part of the tour, but the kitchen itself was picture-perfect. Ang ganda! You’ll really feel like you’re in Monica’s kitchen, which made me really, really happy. So happy, I almost took home the cookie jar. 😅

VIPs had a separate line here, so we didn’t wait too long to get our photos and videos taken. This is one of my favorite sets at the FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: The One in Manila.

We wanted to recreate Monica’s scene where she was trying to cool herself off at the fridge, but it couldn’t be opened. Sayang!

Up next is the iconic purple door. The staff helped us take photos as we re-enacted one of the Thanksgiving scenes. You know what I mean. 😉

It was a li’l tricky to get the shots so I can only imagine how the cast were able to do this given there were 4 of them at the door. The BF had to kneel just so I can also insert my head there. 😅

☕ Central Perk — The Grand Finale

The last set (and my personal favorite): Central Perk and THE ICONIC ORANGE COUCH! 🧡 We waited a bit since there’s no VIP priority lane here, so we took videos here by the window setup with Phoebe’s guitar. Sadly, no one tipped us. 😅

They also had Ross’ keyboard set up at the corner so you can also take photos/videos there.

The FRIENDS Experience Central Perk set looked amazing! My FRIENDS fan heart got all so giddy na I almost got teary-eyed. OA, I know, but I just fricking love the show! For long-time fans, sitting at THE orange couch felt so surreal.

There’s a separate queue for the bar area where you can pretend to be a Central Perk wait staff like Rachel or Gunther (RIP 💔). Unfortunately, we forgot to tell the staff who took our photo and video to move a little so she can better capture our moments here. Anyway, it’s all good.

There are also a few tables and chairs you can sit at and take photos. But don’t miss the couch by the Central Perk window. We actually sat here to take a li’l break since not a lot of people were taking photos/videos here.

And, of course, the part you shouldn’t miss: the Central Perk door! It’s one of the most important “prop” in the show that I can’t believe some people skipped taking photos or videos here (maybe they were just excited about the merch?!). There were soooo many times the cast entered and exited this door, so we had to do it too. (Watch our video here)😁

When you head outside, you can also take photos by the outdoor Central Perk window. I loved it since it really looks like a cafe from the view outside. 😍

🛍️ FRIENDS Merch Haul

Once you exit Central Perk, you’ll end up in The FRIENDS Experience merch area and the photo printing booth.

Here are The FRIENDS Experience merch price lists for your reference:

I thought they only had a few things for sale here, but they had shirts, hoodies, keyrings, mugs, picture frames, cards, tumblers, plushies, aprons, and more!

Sadly, the black Central Perk mug was already sold out. The FRIENDS Experience staff told us they ran out during their soft opening. So it’s one of the most in demand merch. I wanted it soooo bad! 😭

Anyway, we took home the Central Perk coffee cup — with a screw cap! A picture frame key ring where you can insert your own photo. And the Hugsy keyring.

And yes… the Hugsy plushie himself! You can even remove his little vest — so cute! Definitely my favorite FRIENDS merch ever. (Don’t tell Joey I took him home. 😅)

💡 Tips for Visiting The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila

To make it a little easier for our fellow FRIENDS fans who are heading to The FRIENDS Experience soon, here are some tips to set your expectations so you won’t be as stressed as we were in the beginning of our tour. 😅

#1: Go VIP if you can.

The free The FRIENDS Experience tote bag, merch discount, and priority lanes (Fountain, Pivot Stairs, Girls’ Kitchen) make it super worth it, especially with the long lines. TRUST ME! We arrived at around 3:30pm and our tour ended at almost 6pm. We already had VIP tix, so I can only imagine how long it took for those who had GenAd tix.

#2: Eat and hydrate before entering.

You can only buy snacks after the merch area, and re-entry isn’t allowed, especially in some areas. Expect to stay for 2–3 hours at least! We saw someone with their tumbler inside, so I guess resealable water bottles are allowed.

#3: Wear comfy clothes and shoes. Bring a portable fan too!

Some areas get warm and crowded, but not too hot naman. The harsh lighting at the sets can make it warmer for some people, like what happened to me. 😁 Good thing I always bring my mini fan.

And since you’ll be queuing for hours, best to wear your most comfy footwear while still keeping it stylish enough for your photos and videos. 😉

#4 (Not really a tip tip): They’re not strict with time slots.

We arrived late and still got in right away. I thought we’ll have to wait for the next batch or hour. So it got a little chaotic since there’s no strict batch control. Based on our experience, you can enter any time after/past your booked schedule.

#5: Bring a friend (or two) to take photos with! Or ask nicely.

It’s more fun — and someone can take better pictures and videos for you. 😉

#6: Plan your shots & be clear with your vision.

Decide which scenes you want to recreate or how you want to pose at each set, and clearly tell the staff how you want your photos and videos framed. Don’t be shy to ask for a retake too!

#SEVEN, SEVEN, SEVEN!: Kapalan ng mukha!

Everyone’s taking their time too, so don’t be shy. Just make sure not to put on a major production naman. 😅

#8: Enjoy the moment.

Don’t rush — soak in every FRIENDS moment, and just have fun!

We left The FRIENDS Experience with full hearts (and lighter wallets 😆), but every second was worth it.

Overall Thoughts

Despite some crowd control issues and awkward photos/videos taken by the staff, we had a really fun time at The FRIENDS Experience: The One in Manila. Everything was well-made, nostalgic, and full of photo ops for die-hard fans like us.

If you’re still deciding whether to go — DO IT! It’s so worth it, especially if FRIENDS holds a special place in your heart. 😍

To all my fellow FRIENDS fans who’ve visited The FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: The One in Manila already — how you doin’? 😉 Share your experience in the comments below!

Here’s my full review on Tiktok:

@pinayreviewer We finally went to THE FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: The One in Manila at The Space in Solaire. And we couldn't BE more excited! 🤩 From PIVOT-ing to chilling at Central Perk, it was every FRIENDS fan's dream come true! 😍 Watch till the end for some TIPS based on our own FRIENDS experience if you're planning to go. 😎 #TheFriendsExperience #FriendsExperienceManila #FriendsExperiencePH #FriendsTVShow @solaireresort ♬ original sound – Pinay Reviewer