9 Unique McDonald’s Around The World, From A French-Style Cottage To An Ancient Chinese Inn

Unique McDonald’s around the world

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The global chokehold that McDonald’s has on humankind is undeniable. Even within a local context, we kind of grow up with McD’s in every step of our lives; be it affordable after-school hangouts and satisfying our hunger pangs at 24-hour Macs outlets, or collecting the cute Happy Meal toys and coveted Hello Kitty toys. For travellers who get a kick out of sampling overseas versions of fast food we know and love, kick things up a notch by visiting these unique McDonald’s around the world.

From an ancient wooden inn in China to an actual decommissioned airplane in New Zealand, it’ll bring a whole new experience to you scarfing down those fries, McNuggets, and Quarter Pounders.

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Where to find the most unique McDonald’s around the world

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An expedition of the coolest, most extraordinary McDonald’s around the world will take you far and wide. Here are the regions at a glance, with stops in Oceania, Europe, and America:

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1. Nanhou Street, Fuzhou, China

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Ancient Chinese wooden inn

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You’ll find a stretch in Fuzhou, China called San Fang Qi Xiang – which translates to 3 lanes and 7 alleys. This UNESCO heritage site has over 200 preserved traditional folk houses, making it seem like you’ve been transported to a bygone era.

In order to have modern dining options catering to both locals and tourists while still adhering to the old-timey environment, the 2-storey McDonald’s here is modelled after an ancient wooden inn.

Image credit: @nonstandardmcd via Twitter

The popular photo spot has a terraced roof and traditional red lanterns hanging around the perimeter. Even the interior has ancient Chinese architectural elements, sporting intricate wooden carvings and pavilion-style structures. It provides a fascinating juxtaposition against the digital menu boards we’re familiar with.

Pssst…located along the San Fang Qi Xiang stretch is a unique Starbucks cafe with the same aesthetic.

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2. Queens Parade, Melbourne, Australia

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Art Deco-style heritage-listed building

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Image credit: @dionbphotography via instagram

Built in 1937, this unique building in Melbourne, Australia was formerly a hotel. When the hotel was delicensed in the 80s, the facade was thought to be so iconic that it had to be preserved even when the space was to be taken over by McDonald’s.

The Maccas – as locals would say – now sits in the space which used to be the hotel’s pub. This 2-storey building features intricate brickwork, rounded balconies, and a central “fin” which perfectly escalates into McDonald’s signature golden arches sign. To preserve this distinguished architectural work, the building has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

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3. Roberts Street, Taupo, New Zealand

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Dine in a decommissioned airplane cabin

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Image credit: @meldin_is_love via Instagram

Ever wanted to chow down on your favourite McD meal within an airplane? Instead of attempting to smuggle some soggy takeaway onto your next flight, head to the Roberts Street McDonald’s in Taupo, New Zealand instead. There is an actual airplane residing beside the fast food restaurant’s main building, and you can head in to dine and snap loads of pictures.

Image credit: @nikkifox81 via Instagram

For those who can’t get enough of aerospace facts, this vehicle is a decommissioned DC-3 propeller-driven aircraft. You can even check out the bells and whistles of the cockpit, preserved behind a see-through partition. Do note that the dining cabin is only open from 9am to 4.30pm daily, so that it can be properly cleaned and maintained.

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4. Sand Lake Road, Florida, USA

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Biggest McDonald’s in the world & 24-hour entertainment hub

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Image credit: Family Destinations Guide

When it comes to a list of the most notable McD’s in the world, you obviously have to make a stop in the birthplace of McDonald’s – the United States of America.

The biggest McDonald’s in the world is located near Disney World Orlando in Florida, USA. Nicknamed “Epic D”, this mammoth measures 1,800sqm. To put that in perspective, it is around 15 times the floor area of an average 5-room HDB flat in Singapore.

Image adapted from: @linda_1801 & @aceqger via Instagram

Inside, there is a full-fledged arcade with game machines galore, plus an indoor playground with areas catered to toddlers as well as older kids. Food-wise, they serve exclusive items like customisable pizza (from USD$8.99, ~S$12.17) and pasta (from USD$10.99, ~S$14.87) on top of the regular McDonald’s menu items.

This outlet is open 24/7, so if you ever run out of activities in the middle of the night during your Florida trip, you know where to go. They even host activities like magic performances and karaoke nights. So happening!

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5. N Main Street, New Mexico, USA

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UFO-style structure with LED lights

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Image credit: @gregnaeseth via Instagram

Back in 1947, there was an alleged UFO crash in Roswell, a city in New Mexico, USA. Ever since then, Roswell’s reputation has been cemented as the site pointing to the possibility of UFOs and extraterrestrial beings. A tribute to that is none other than the McDonald’s along N Main Street, modelled to look like a UFO.

It truly comes alive past sundown, where multi-coloured LED lights flash to give it even more of an outer space appearance. If you look closely, you’ll see that the surroundings of the building are paved with rocks and gravel, intentionally made uneven to create the illusion that the McDonald’s actually crash-landed into its spot.

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6. W State Route, Arizona, USA

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Turquoise arches & desert-inspired facade

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Image credit: @sharonsharbear via Instagram

Imagine a town that is so dedicated in their upkeep of aesthetics that they can order a change in something as iconic as McDonald’s world-renowned golden arches. That’s what happened in the desert town of Sedona in Arizona, USA.

A local opening of a McDonald’s franchise in 1998 was ordered to change the signature yellow colour of the arches logo, as it was deemed by the local government to be too jarring a contrast from the surrounding nature elements.

Image credit: @yukie.y.photography via Instagram

Turquoise was the compromise they came up with, and we can’t help but notice that it looks rather similar to the iconic shade of Tiffany Blue from the Tiffany & Co. jewellery brand. This makes it quite an atas outlet, on top of being a very unique McDonald’s. The contrasting red brick and sandy beige exterior also pays homage to Sedona, known for its red rock deserts and canyons.

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7. Praça da Liberdade, Porto, Portugal

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Former cafe built in the 1930s with stained glass murals

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Image credit: @zampandoboy via Instagram

This super regal McDonald’s outlet in Porto, Portugal was a historical cafe called “The Imperial”, built all the way back in the 1930s. In 1995, the space was taken over by McDonald’s and, to date, is affectionately referred to as McDonald’s Imperial. The entrance retains the majestic bronze eagle sculpture that was part of The Imperial’s branding.

Image credit: @godsdog23 via Reddit

All the fixtures you see now are restored from their glory spanning over a century ago, from the colourful stained glass murals to the regal chandeliers. It certainly makes a simple McDonald’s meal feel closer to fine dining.

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8. Coolsingel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Glasshouse with a spiral staircase

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How it started out.
Image credit: Building Design & Construction Network

Operating at the same site since the 70s, this McDonald’s outlet in Rotterdam, The Netherlands was formerly voted “the ugliest building in Rotterdam” by locals – talk about motivation for a major glow-up! The facade was apparently so hideous that the city council almost elected to demolish it entirely, but McDonald’s still had 40 years left on the lease.

Post-glow-up.
Image credit: Arch Daily

An architectural firm was brought in to transform it. Today, it is a classy glasshouse with a spiral staircase connecting the 2 storeys. Its sleek new digs definitely makes it more fitting to be situated in Coolsingel, regarded as one of the trendiest and most bustling districts in Rotterdam.

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9. Rue Saint-Lazare, Paris, France

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Antique cottage-style architecture sandwiched between buildings

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Image credit: @artististraveling via Instagram

This old-timey dollhouse-like building housing a McDonald’s outlet was constructed in 1892, making it one of the oldest buildings in Paris, France. The 2 neighbouring buildings are of an architectural style called Haussmannian, while the McD’s building wedged in the middle is of Alsatian style.

For those who aren’t well-versed in architectural jargon, just know that Alsatian constructions revolve around timber frames and pitched roofs, looking more rustic and cottage-like. Meanwhile, Haussmannian buildings are larger and more elegant, showcasing stone facades and ornamental balconies.

The result is a stark contrast that’s sure to catch your eye on the busy and visually captivating Parisian streets.

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Bonus: W Randolph Street, Illinois, USA

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Try international McDonald’s offerings on a rotational basis

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The global McDonald’s headquarters is located in Chicago, a city in Illinois, USA, and they operate on one of the most unique McDonald’s concepts. Every couple of months, they switch up their rotational menu of international McDonald’s offerings.

That means that in a single visit, you could taste region-specific menu items like a BBQ Bacon Stack from the United Kingdom, Salted Caramel McFlurry from Korea, and McPops pastry desserts from Spain. Now isn’t that the dream?

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Journey to these unique McDonald’s with outlandish themes

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Apart from checking off famous landmarks and attractions on your travel itinerary, it can also be an exhilarating affair to hit up local fast food places on your overseas adventures.

True blue fast food fans know how fun it is to try exclusive menu items abroad, or to compare the differences in the tastes of familiar orders back home. If you’re planning a trip to the cities in this list, you’ve got to check out these unique McDonald’s while you’re there.

For more unconventional dining experiences, check out our guide to unique restaurants around the world, which take you from limestone caves to a forest’s treetops. And for more out-of-the-box sites, look no further than our compilation of strange attractions around the world, which includes a reptile cafe and toilet tours.

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Cover image adapted from: @meldin_is_love & @gregnaeseth via Instagram