Discover the 22 most unusual McDonald's restaurants in the world

By David STEIN on April 27, 2021 at 3:00 PM

Some McDonald's restaurants are located in the most unusual places and buildings. Here are some of the strangest McDonald's restaurants on the planet.

The McDonald's in Downey, California is the oldest of the chain's restaurants to retain the appearance it had when it opened

It is the oldest McDonald's still in operation in the world, and it doesn't even have a drive-through—the last straw in car country! Instead, customers can walk up to the restaurant windows to order.

The place even has a vintage sign with the brand's very first mascot

Speedee, a chef with a hamburger for a head, appeared on the original McDonald's signs alongside the brand's logo of two interlocking golden arches.

Some signs also advertised the price of McDonald's burgers—only 15 cents at the time.

This McDonald's restaurant in Hangzhou, China is located in a 90-year-old villa that once housed a former Taiwanese leader

Before it was turned into a McDonald's and McCafé restaurant, the building was considered a cultural relic. It was the residence of politician Chiang Ching-kuo for a month in the 1940s.

The restaurant has been called 'the most controversial McDonald's outlet in the world'

Many locals opposed the opening of the restaurant inside the historic building, calling it a perfect example of Western capitalism invading Chinese culture. Nevertheless, the restaurant has become something of a tourist attraction since it opened in 2015, welcoming visitors from all over the world.

This McDonald's restaurant in Taupo, New Zealand, is located inside a decommissioned aircraft

At the self-proclaimed 'coolest McDonald's in the world,' customers can enjoy everything from classic Big Macs to Chicken McNuggets to McCafé drinks, all inside the plane.

There are even plane-style seats where customers can sit and enjoy their meal

Patrons of this unique McDonald's can also see the cockpit of the old D3 plane.

This McDonald's restaurant in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, Australia, was designed in the Arts Deco style of the 1920s and 1930s

The building was originally the United Kingdom Hotel and was designed by architect James Hastie Wardrop. Built between 1937 and 1938, it has been called one of the most beautiful McDonald's restaurants in the world.

Built in 1983, the McDonald's Rock-N-Roll in Chicago, Illinois, was known nationwide for its setting

Filled with music and pop culture memorabilia, the eatery stood two storeys tall and was a replica of the first Ray Kroc McDonald's.

The decor was straight out of the 1980s, but in 2017 the fast food giant decided to renovate

Another iconic McDonald's restaurant that has permanently closed is, surprisingly, the chain's Times Square location

Known for its giant sign made up of thousands of light bulbs, the restaurant—perhaps surprisingly—is not closing because of the coronavirus pandemic, but rather as part of McDonald's regular review of its restaurant portfolio, a spokesperson said.

The world's first floating McDonald's restaurant opened in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1980

Moored just south of the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River, this McDonald's was the chain's first ever riverboat opening.

It was open for 20 years before closing in 2000.

The McDonald's restaurant in Freeport, Maine, looks more like a house than a standard fast food franchise

Some McDonald's establishments try to blend in with the local landscape and are designed in a more friendly manner.

This McDonald's, however, was built inside a pre-existing 150-year-old colonial mansion. Located in Freeport, a small coastal town in Maine, the building was transformed in 1984 into the town's only McDonald's.

This Parisian McDonald's is housed in a historic building built in 1892

The restaurant is located on rue Saint-Lazare in Paris. Although the building is now a McDonald's, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This McDonald's in Dallas, Texas, was built in the shape of the iconic Happy Meal box

Although the location of the restaurant is less colourful today, it still has the same shape and features giant sculptures of a hamburger, fries and a Coca-Cola cup.

Dubbed the 'Flying Saucer McDonald's,' this unique fast food restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico is truly out of this world

Inspired by the Roswell alien story, the interior of the 'ship' houses a play area, also designed with an outerspace theme.

An establishment in Porto, Portugal, was previously occupied by Café Imperial, a famous café open since the 1930s

The giant bronze eagle was designed by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira and is usually the first thing customers notice when they approach the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, guests can gawk at crystal chandeliers and a huge stained glass window behind the counter

The stained glass windows date back to when the café occupied the premises and features beautiful coffee-related scenes.

The restaurant is considered by some to be the most beautiful McDonald's in the world.

Independence, Ohio is home to a McDonald's known as one of the finest fast food restaurants in the country

It was designed to meet the building requirements of the city where the median household income is over $100,000 (about £72,000), according to census data.

Inside, guests are greeted by gold chandeliers and a majestic banister

'The building is one of a kind and it's a joy to take a break and go to the second floor to enjoy the view while I have breakfast or lunch,' wrote one Tripadvisor user.

This unique establishment is located in Batumi, Georgia

Located in downtown Batumi, this McDonald's features a reflective glass exterior. Customers eating inside the restaurant can also look out over the pond and manicured lawn surrounding the building.