The Classiest McD's Worldwide...You'd Be Surprised
We all get that craving for a burger -- or two -- at some point. And choosing the right spot to grab your grub often depends not only on the quality of the food, but also on the quality of the locale. While they haven't exactly been known for being the most stylish of restaurants (that plastic Ronald character sitting on the bench waiting for unsuspecting children always kinda creeped us out), McDonald's remain the burger joints of choice for many Americans thanks to their trademark 100% pure beef hamburgers and other drool-inducing options on the menu.
And as the world looks to designer cars, clothing and even gadgets, McDonald's is entering the world of modern, sophisticated design in ways we never would have associated with "fast food." Collaborating with well-known designers and architects, the McDonald's dining experience has been taken to a whole new level with some uber-chic locales around the world -- and we have the top 10 right here.
New York, USA
Designed by New York-based Studio Gaia, the Big Apple’s signature outlet recently underwent a dramatic makeover with the implementation of the firm’s "Urban Living" theme -- a concept designed specifically for city locations. Outfitted with a range of luxurious custom seating, including loungers, banquettes and bar stools, the new-look McDonald’s encourages diners to come in and relax in the same way they would in, say, a Starbucks. There’s even Wi-Fi internet access so that city workers can crack open their laptops and get to work while they munch on a burger, with no time wasted between mouthfuls. Other features include circular pendants hanging overhead, a wooden feature ceiling, light wood flooring underfoot and dramatic black-and-white streetscape images affixed to the walls. More high-end restaurant than fast-food chain, this outlet really does put the sex in the city.
Porto, Portugal
While turning an architectural marvel such as Porto’s Café Imperial into a McDonald’s outlet may be something of a controversial conversion, it doesn’t take away from its sheer beauty. The former coffee house is classified as a national monument, so the chain has retained some of the building’s original features, such as the logo and stained-glass windows, while adding its own touches, including a rather imperial-looking McDonald’s sign and dazzling chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling.
Holborn, UK
In 2006, McDonald’s enlisted French interior designer Philippe Avanzi to roll out a modern design concept across a number of its European stores; our favorite is London’s Holborn branch, which has truly embraced the "less is more" strategy with cool, contemporary interiors that mix replicated high-end design furniture -- including Arne Jacobsen chairs -- with sumptuous materials such as leather and timber.
Savannah, USA
Sustainability and McDonald's don't usually go hand-in-hand, what with the chain shipping food across the globe in carbon-producing trucks and planes, but one branch that can't be criticized for its earth-destroying ways is a particularly self-righteous outlet in Savannah, Georgia. Dubbing itself "the chain's first green restaurant," the property features large windows that permit daylight to reach 75% of the interior (reducing the need for both electric lighting and heating), as well as bike racks to encourage customers to cycle to the restaurant, preferred parking for hybrid cars, waterless urinals, a white roof to reflect heat, and a cistern that harvests rainwater for irrigation. With its LEED gold certification, this branch proves that McDonald's can do green as well as its signature red and yellow.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Lounging back on sumptuous leather seating with dark wood coating the walls and trendy neon strips embedded into the paneling, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the Edinburgh branch of McDonald’s on Princes Street as a stylish internet café or cool coffee house. But it’s not -- it’s yet another high-end property serving up Big Macs and fries, and we can’t think of a nicer place to pile on the pounds (though there are a number of salads to choose from, for those watching their waistlines). Other features include real-wood veneered solid-core fire doors with bespoke engravings, as well as Corian surfaces, tables, toilet cubicles, and vanity units.
Los Angeles, USA
The Echo Park branch of McDonald’s might easily be L.A.’s most popular restaurant. Yes, they’re calling McDonald’s outlets "restaurants" these days -- at least, specific ones. Not only is this space significantly more stylish than many of its L.A. counterparts -- with light wood, floor-to-ceiling windows and silver arches instead of golden ones -- but the outlet also takes pride in its communal feel. La Mesa Grande (the big table) takes center stage, crowned by a ring of 14 video screens displaying a tailored McDonald’s channel, flanked by 10 bar stools. Glass and stainless steel halogen lamps also hang overhead, while popular tunes blast out of the surround sound system.
Paris, France
Paris prides itself on its fancy fare, but that’s not to say you can’t find a tucked-away McDonald’s outlet on any given street. In fact, Paris has just as many McDonald's as London -- with only a third of the population. Testament to the capital’s forbidden love affair with McDonald’s is the branch on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. With fresh food images throughout the modern, almost futuristic design, this McD's is all about quality and high expectations. From leather curved sofas to bar seating, this McDonald's is as chic as the patrons who strut in on their Louis Vuitton heels and Armani soles. Paris is, after all, a fashion capital, so why wouldn't their McDonald's reflect that?
Hacienda Heights, L.A.
You can always count on L.A. to bring a bit of a celebrity fad to the table, and that's exactly what the Hacienda Heights branch has done with a feng shui design that incorporates leather seats, earth tones, bamboo plants, and water trickling down shimmering glass panels. Situated close to a Buddhist temple in a predominantly Asian area, the theme couldn’t be more apt, with Zen-hungry customers lingering over long lunches.
Budapest, Hungary
An abandoned train station may not be the most obvious choice when it comes to picking the location for a McDonald’s outlet, but that’s exactly what this branch in Budapest is. With oversize windows, antique lighting and a colonial ceiling painted a soft blue color, you half expect to hear the thundering roar of a train as it approaches its platform. Outside, the building is clad in beautiful red brick and enclosed by wrought iron gates.
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1 comments:
The picture from Paris is wrong : in France we don't have access to the beverage.
But the new McDonald's in Paris are really design (kind of the one in Savannah or Los Angeles)
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