Wedged between two ornate Haussmannian buildings along the bustling Rue Saint-Lazare in the heart of Paris, this unique McDonald's is set in an Alsatian dating back to the 19th century. 

Its narrow facade, adorned with quirky details like a stork on the chimney and a belly statue of Gambrinus, the ‘King of Beer’, bears witness to the influx of Alsatians to Paris after Alsace-Lorraine's annexation by the German Empire in 1871.

Once a brewery, the building is a historic structure constructed in 1892, which confers the McDonald's it houses today the unique honour of being a Unesco World Heritage Site.

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Renowned Hong Kong-based designer, Steve Leung, showcases his passion for diverse design in two signature Cube concept outlets in China.

The name of the McDonald's restaurant concept, ‘Cube’, references the ubiquitous Happy Meal cardboard box for children’s meals, whose elements Leung abstracted using design elements blending sophistication with a playful touch. 

One outlet, located in Shenzhen, boasts square and cubic elements adorning the walls, lighting fixtures, and outdoor pavilion. Warm tones reminiscent of burger components, such as brown-red, lime-green, and grey furnishings, create a delightful ambience.

The ‘hidden smile’ design, represented by curved forms like seats and a unique wall lamp, embodies the joy of a Happy Meal. Reflective orange accents infuse dynamism into the flagship Chengdu restaurant, offering a cheerful and inviting revamp to McDonald's iconic colour scheme.

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It's not hard to see why Business Insider dubbed this McDonald’s in Porto, Portugal, as “the most beautiful McDonald's in the world” located as it is in the old Imperial café, one of the city’s historic cafés.

The cafe was an icon in the 1930s, and a giant bronze eagle still guards the entrance by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira. Its interior retains many original Art Deco features, including ornate ceilings and four grand crystal chandeliers.

The magnificent stained glass windows are Portuguese artist Ricardo Leone, which you can feast your eyes on while deciding on your meal, as they are behind the order counter.

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Located on Coolsingel, one of the city’s most famous shopping streets, this McDonald’s was once housed in a building voted the ugliest in the city by the residents of Rotterdam. However, since McDonald’s still had 40 years on the lease, it was decided that a new building would be constructed in its place.

The two-storey structure that now stands in its place as conceived by local firm Mei Architects as a golden pavilion with a facade of pixillated imagery. Unlike the old building, which was built against the wall of a historic post office building, the new outlet stands in the centre of the pavement to make it look more like a pavilion.

Clad in glass, diners can enjoy nearly unrestricted views of the surroundings, and since passersby can look into the structure, they can enjoy a view of the sweeping spiral staircase.

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Located in the inner-city suburb of Clifton Hill, the “Maccas” here stands out “like a monkey in the Arctic.”

For starters, the Golden Arches inhabits a landmark 1930s art deco building designed in the late 1930s by James Hastie Wardrop (the architect behind the Shrine of Remembrance).

Heritage-listed as a standout example of the jazz moderne style, the two-storey brick building has curved wings, deep rounded balconies, slim metal railings and a central stepped fin.

Originally The United Kingdom Hotel, a pub then took over which was delicensed in 1988. It was then converted into a McDonald’s soon after. However, due to the heritage status of the building, the fast food company was obliged to maintain its unique, sculptured structure inside and out. 

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Heralded as “The Alien Capital of the World,” Roswell went down in the annals of American UFO history after the crash of an allegedly extra-terrestrial “flying disc.”

Not far from the supposed crash location, McDonald’s referenced this incident with a UFO-shaped restaurant with holographic lighting.

The interior of the “ship” holds the massive play place, which is similarly space-themed, complete with the mascots in space suits. Unsurprisingly,  this is the only space-ship-shaped McDonald’s in the world.

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Although the Georgian seaport of Batumi is known for its ornate churches and state buildings, McDonald’s is such a fine example of modern architectural splendour that it was awarded the Best Commercial Building of 2014 by the architecture website, ArchDaily. 

Designed by architect Giorgi Khmaladze, the futuristic glass structure is polyhedral and encased in a cantilevered glass shell that juts out over a gas station.

Its bold edges are softened by a reflective pool streaming along its perimeter. At the same time, a sloping garden offers green respite in the dining area while also serving as the canopy over the gas station.

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