What was the original working title of the sitcom Friends?

The original working title of the sitcom Friends was Insomnia Cafe.

Before NBC broadcast Friends, creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman developed the project under earlier title ideas. Insomnia Cafe was one of the working titles used during development, before the production settled on the shorter name Friends.

The title reflected the show’s early concept of young adults spending time together in New York City. Development titles changed as the creators and network refined the project, and other temporary names were considered before the final title was chosen.

Insomnia Cafe is not the name of a location appearing in the completed series. Central Perk is the fictional coffeehouse where the characters meet, which is why viewers sometimes incorrectly assume it was the show’s original title. The broadcast series premiered as Friends in 1994.