Search Results for: southern food

These days it seems like you can't go anywhere in the world without being greeted by those familiar Golden Arches. Sometimes the vision of them can be comforting, especially when you're traveling abroad and surrounded by mysterious, slightly intimidating food. Sometimes it can be annoying, like when you get off the interstate craving a steak and McDonald's is the only restaurant in sight. Usually, though, that meal of a Big Mac and fries is always welcomed. Most McDonald's are comfortingly identical: the red-and-yellow color scheme, beige floors, plastic tables, cardboard cutouts of Ronald McDonald, and a ball pit for the kids. Around the world, though, there are some innovative examples of franchise owners creatively blending into (or standing out from) their surroundings, thanks to top architects hired by the brand. From the New Zealand location that incorporates a decommissioned airliner to the minimalist "Quarter Pounder" store in Tokyo, see the slideshow below to find out the top 10 coolest McDonald's locations in the world. McDonald’s in the Mountains WHERE: Guangxi, Southern China Pinterest Nestled in the gorgeous, remote landscape of the scenic province of Guangxi in Southern China is…a McDonald’s. This particular McDonald’s is more exotic than most—it has its own bridge. McDonald’s With a Whole Plane Attached to It WHERE: Taupo, New Zealand Daily Mail This McDonald’s has a whole decommissioned plane as part of the store for some reason. You can even eat on the plane if you enjoy eating McDonald’s on an airplane without the whole “flying” part. Before it retired and moved into a McDonald’s, this plane was one of three used by South Pacific Airlines, from 1961 to 1966. McDonald’s That Looks Like a Space Observatory WHERE: Tbilisi, Georgia The Daily Meal One might look at this building on the busy streets of Tbilisi and think, “Why does that space observatory say ‘McDonald’s’ on it?” and then be startled to find out that the reason is “because it is a McDonald’s and not a space observatory.” It looks like a space observatory though, so it’s an honest mistake. Boat McDonald’s WHERE: St. Louis, MO Redfin This McDonald’s is a riverboat, on the Mississippi River. It’s a whole boat and also it is a McDonald’s. Spaceship McDonald’s WHERE: Roswell, New Mexico Atlas Obscura This McDonald’s is shaped like an actual spaceship, which isn’t surprising because of Roswell’s history of UFO activity. McDonald’s With an Eagle on It WHERE: Porto, Portugal EaseMyTrip.com Housed in a building from the 1930s, this McDonald’s is immediately confusing, as there is a gigantic and very regal looking eagle statue sitting atop the sign. Inside, it is, of course, decorated with stained glass, chandeliers, mirrors, and other things that aren’t supposed to be inside of a McDonald’s. Actual Mansion McDonald’s WHERE: New Hyde Park, New York The Daily Meal This is another house-shaped McDonald’s, except this McDonald’s, is shaped like an actual mansion. They’ve got a grand staircase. They’ve got a glass-enclosed porch. If ever you’ve wanted to visit a mansion and a McDonald’s at the same time, this is your lucky day. Giant Happy Meal McDonald’s WHERE: Dallas, Texas Fodors This McDonald’s is a gigantic happy meal, and inside is the biggest McDonald’s Playplace you’ve ever seen. For being so gargantuan and generally goofy looking on the outside, the inside is startlingly fancy, decorated with Ralph Lauren wallpaper, mahogany booths, and crystal chandeliers for some reason. We have no idea what is going on with this McDonald’s, but it is excellent. Palatial McDonald’s WHERE: Madrid, Spain Madrid This McDonald’s looks like an actual palace on a street of other historical buildings that also look like actual palaces. They sell chocolate-dusted cappuccinos, which are fancy drinks that aren’t typically sold at McDonald’s. This location is a bit more “regular café” than “McDonald’s, the fast-food restaurant.” This Former Sea Captain’s Home McDonald’s WHERE: Freeport, Maine New York Post This McDonald’s is just a fancy, Greek Revival–style house, and was once the home of a sea captain. Now it’s a McDonald’s, but also still looks like the home of a sea captain. Credits: fodors.com