USUALLY a McDonald’s in the UK is found at a service station or a shopping centre – but around the world there are some very quirky restaurants.
Sun Travel has rounded up some of the weirdest from disused planes to the ‘McBoat’ and one that has DJ sets on the weekend.
Nyugati Railway Station, Budapest
Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest is home to what’s considered one of the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s.
It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy a cheeseburger during the day but at night, it completely transforms.
Every Friday and Saturday, between 10pm and 4am, the Hungarian McDonald’s tuns into a nightclub.
There’s loud music, DJ sets, and a series of light paintings are projected onto its grand ceilings.
Sand Lake Road, USA
At 6875 Sand Lake Road in Orlando is what’s often called ‘Epic MD’.
It serves up all the McDonald’s staples as well as rare food items like McPizza.
There’s one huge difference though this McDonald’s has the largest PlayPlace in the world.
It has a massive 22-foot-tall tree-house-themed jungle play area and over 100 arcade games.
McBoat, Germany
We’ve all been through the conventional McDonald’s drive -thru – but have you seen one for boats?
In Hamburg, one McDonald’s lets visitors access their restaurant from a river, via a boat drive-thru, or ‘McBoat’.
There’s a small dock at the back of the restaurant where kayakers, paddle boarders and anyone else travelling along the river can order and collect their food.
The dock has been open for 11 years now, after launching in in 2015.
Taupō, New Zealand
In New Zealand, there is one of the most interesting McDonald’s as it’s found inside a decommissioned DC-3 plane.
The original plane stairs lead diners into the restaurant which has room for 20 people across 10 tables – even the plane’s cockpit has been preserved behind a glass wall.
The previous airline name has been replaced with “McDonald’s” and the tail end of the plane features the classic golden arches.
Outside, there’s also a playground for kids.
McDonald’s, Guatemala
The McDonald’s in Guatemala has been called the ‘prettiest in the world’.
Rather than a plain brick building – this restaurant has scenic views of the enormous Agua volcano.
It has a large beautiful cobbled courtyard full of lush green trees, bright flowers, and tables with sun umbrellas surrounding a huge fountain.
One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “I guarantee you won’t have seen a McDonald’s like it.“
McSki, Sweden
The ski resort of Lindavallen is home to the world’s first ski-thru restaurant.
McSki first opened in 1996 and has a special service window where skiers and snowboarders can glide up and order food.
So there’s no need to even take off equipment or head inside – unless you want to do so.
Skiers can order everything off the classic menu as well as sweet treats like hot chocolate and warm Swedish cinnamon buns.
Madrid, Spain
This is far from the bleak McDonald’s you generally find in the UK – this one in Madrid is found in a former jewellery shop.
It’s on Gran Via avenue inside a grand cream-coloured corner building and first opened in 1981.
Some of its original features still in the building include a winding staircase, marble pillars and statement chandeliers.
On Tripadvisor, one visitor called it a “beautiful building” with a “superb interior”.
Hangzhou, China
This McDonald’s in the eastern part of China is inside a building previously home to a former Taiwan leader, Chiang Ching-kuo.
He lived there in the 1940s and the exterior remains mostly unchanged since then.
Inside however has now been decorated with posters about Chiang’s life.
If you want a hamburger though it’s worth giving this one a miss as it’s a McCafe rather than a full-on restaurant.
Melbourne, Australia
This Melbourne McDonald’s, or ‘Macca’s’ as they call it, sits inside a beautiful art deco ‘United Kingdom Hotel’.
It was designed in the 1930s by James Hastie and does look like a building you might find in the UK with its curved sides and balconies.
During the evening it lights up and inside is a retro dining room.
Visitors can expect to find all the usual offerings from the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder to milkshakes.
Downey, USA
While it’s not necessarily ‘weird’ but it’s worth an honourable mention is this McDonald’s which is the oldest still in operation.
It’s in the city of Downey in California and first opened in 1940.
It still retains all the history with the huge golden arches and retro-look inside with red plastic chairs.
After grabbing a Happy Meal from its window, take a gander around the free-to-visit museum and gift shop.