Almost every McDonald’s in the world is more or less the same. Almost.
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is synonymous with aliens and UFO sightings, and even the McDonald’s “Playland” area for kids there is shaped like a flying saucer. The inside of the store is decorated with an outer space mural depicting Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and the rest buzzing through the cosmos. Even better: the UFO is covered in lots of neon lights, so it looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie after dark.
Taupo, New Zealand
Taupo is known for its breathtaking scenery, which includes gorgeous views of Mount Tauhara. It also boasts the world’s only McDonald’s partially located in a decommissioned plane. The location’s DC-3 airliner flew the friendly skies between the ‘60s and the early ‘80s until Taupo’s mayor bought it. The plane was eventually turned into a dining area for visitors at the McDonald’s that overlooks the Colonel Roberts Nature Reserve.
New Hyde Park, New York
When McDonald’s purchased a dilapidated mansion in 1985 to replace it with one of their restaurants, the locals of this small town on Long Island became quite upset. Originally named the Denton House, the Georgian-style abode dated back to 1795 and was once one of New Hyde Park’s most beautiful residences. They managed to convince the town’s officials to designate it as an historic landmark. Rather than put the mansion up for sale again, the company decided to convert it into one of their most beautiful franchises. After several years of restoration work, the staff served their first Happy Meal in 1991. The interior currently features a grand staircase and a dining area with a glassed-in veranda.
Best, the Netherlands
This McDonald’s is designed to look like one of the burger chain’s early 1950s locations. Inside, visitors will find lots of pop cultural knickknacks, including an old-fashioned jukebox, a life-sized statue of Marilyn Monroe, and a Corvette attached to the ceiling. There’s also lots of Michael Jackson collectibles. Why? Because the owners purchased a 32-foot-tall statue of the King of Pop and stuck in the parking lot.