Now why would I bother to review a McDonald's in a foreign country that offers far more satisfying culinary pleasures? It was because this one was identified as "the world's most beautiful McDonald's". Just by whom, I was not clear, but it certainly piqued Jamie W's and my interest. Luckily, it was on the route between the tourist-centric Ribeira riverfront and our hotel. In other words, it was unavoidable. Opened in 1995, the so-called Imperial McDonald's is located in a renovated space previously occupied by Cafe Imperial, a famous Art Deco-style coffee shop since the 1930s. For no practical reason, McDonald's retained most of the main architectural features when it took over the location. This included crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, and a giant bronze eagle above the entrance. Despite the historical decor, the ordering process reflects the current touch-activated menu process (Photo 7). While there are some Portuguese-specific items and even Sagres beer, the rest is typical McDonald's with American-styled fast food like the Miami Burger. Since we were between meals, we ended up getting the 2,3€ McFlurry Oreo and the 1,9€ Caramel Sundae (Photo 10). Nothing special. FOOD - 3 stars...familiar American-style fast food despite the Portuguese touches AMBIANCE - 3 stars...not really that spectacular and quite crowded SERVICE - 2.5 stars...typical McDonald's TOTAL - 3 stars...go if you're curious RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/HO0S-1BP1x read more

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Truly one of the most beautiful McDonald's in the world. Imperial McDonald's has dramatic art deco flair, having been converted from Imperial Cafe back in 1995 in Porto's central Avenida dos Aliados. You can't miss the giant bronze eagle above the entrance or the ornate glass panes & chandelier above the main counter that harkens back to the past. The restaurant is spacious with kiosks leading to the counter and seating along both sides along with a lower level. This spot was obviously packed when we first visited in the mid-day for photos, but were pleasantly surprised by the quiet vibes at the morning opening hour. We ordered several of McDonald's terrific local breakfast sets. The set included either espresso or juice to go with chocolate pancake or ham & cheese toast. I can't say enough about how fresh the orange juice tastes in this sun-kissed region! Skip it or hit it? We only discovered its morning charm on our last day in Porto, but it's definitely worth an early visit. read more

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Winner of the most beautiful McDonald's in the world! Honestly I didn't know it was when I went to visit Porto. I just noticed the entrance adorned by giant eagle in front of the building. I must say first and foremost: McDonald's is better in Europe. Simply because more healthier options like vegan options, better desserts and expanded menu (like offering chicken wings or soup). The thing that makes us place special is that once you walk inside, you are greeted by an atmosphere of crystal chandeliers, Bronze decor. This is just an otherworldly sense that this is not in any shape of where form looks like a regular McDonald's. read more

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A visit to this McDonald's is worth it solely for the building and aesthetic. Complete with blingy chandeliers and stained glass. We tried the Crispy McChicken with tatziki, which was basically a McChicken with a couple slices of tomato and the tatziki instead of mayo. The chicken wings, although small, were juicy and crispy with a bit of heat! Enjoyed the KitKat McFlurry too. The apple pies here are deep fried (as you'll find everywhere else in the world minus the USA who bakes them, except Hawaii). Some unique sauce options here too but they charge for them! Ketchup too! read more

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Yes, it's McDonald's... but I mean, come on, look at this place! This is classified as the fanciest McDonald's in the world, and I agree. Self service kiosks makes the whole process seamless. If you're in Porto, this place is a must. read more

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This is supposedly the most beautiful McDonald's in the world and it probably is. Expect it to have some peak tourist crowding but they genuinely do a great job at getting the orders out quickly. It can be quite difficult to find seating. Food remains the same as any other McDonalds in the region. read more

The famous McDonald's imperial in Porto Portugal! Elisa why did you go to McDonald's in Portugal? Well it's actually a point to see on your tour of Porto. It's honestly super busy full of tourists. The restaurant is indeed a beautiful place. The imperial Cafe once stood there and was "iconic" in the 1930s. The stained glass windows remain it has chandeliers and a beautiful staircase. The menu is the same with of course some additions that is normal for Portugal. They have the kiosks to order. And I think I did see a girl taking orders behind a counter on the side but I wasn't 100% sure. I must say it does feel healthier eating McDonald's in Portugal because the chicken isn't processed its actually breaded chicken. Even the beef patties tasted good. Beer is available here too. So when you're in Porto stop in to admire the buildings beauty and get a bite to eat so you can continue sightseeing. Enjoy!! read more

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This is the most famous Mcdonalds that you have to see. Named "the most beautiful Mcdonalds in the world", the interior is full of chandeliers and beautiful pieces of artwork. It definitely doesn't look like your normal Mcdonalds. We stopped by to check it out but didn't eat here. We never eat at American fast food joints when we travel abroad. But you totally should grab something if you want to! They have several kiosks to place your order and grab it from the counter. Cool to see then move on to the train station around the corner. read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

The Imperial McDonalds is maybe the fanciest McDonalds in the world? Doing a constant brisk business and keeping up. Stopped in because we needed a quick lunch and it was fancy . Food was good but the fries were surprisingly cold and old, considering how busy they are, not sure how they managed that. But worth a look of you are nearby with limited time for lunch or to just snap a quick pic. read more

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I tried & liked the toasts and pancakes. Nice restroom. Also I liked the interior & exterior decorations. I arrived early so plenty of seats. read more

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This review is strictly for the ambiance only as I didn't eat here. When I saw a reel on Instagram before my trip featuring this McDonald's in Porto as the most beautiful McDonald's in the world, I knew I had to check it out during my visit. I can say without a doubt, it sure lives up to that reputation. This is not like any McDonald's I've ever seen. The first thing you see is an incredible entryway with a large bronze eagle sculpture behind the golden McDonald's sign. You walk in and see the high ceilings with sparkling chandeliers. There are also large beautiful art deco-style stained glass windows. This McDonald's really gives off a swanky, upscale vibe. This location is next-level! read more

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Came to check out the "fanciest" Mcdonalds in the world! The interior and exterior are pretty cool, but the food is the same lol. Tons of self order kiosks to order from and the food was quick even though there were so many orders. Pretty efficient! Coming from the US, I appreciated having snack wraps and mini McFlurrys on the menu. I also really enjoyed their curry sauce which was like a sweet and sour sauce but spicy. Food was as expected and quality good. One of the better McDonald's we've been to. Decent amount of seating outdoors and indoors. Bathroom needs a code and I'm not sure what to use, but it's easy to just wait for someone to come out and you can catch the door. read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

The exterior and interior of this McDonald's was awesome compared to one back home in the states. It was very crowded but they have lots of kiosks to order from. They had soups on the menu so I thought that was cool because I love soups. Other than that, it's just a McDonald's. Nice to check out because of the building. read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

A McDonald's has no business being this fancy!! Like, what?! The decor could easily be in an upscale restaurant or four star hotel lobby!! The service was on a kiosk, but then getting the food out was pretty fast! The food was actually really good! I got a chicken snack wrap (McDee's in the US need to bring this back!), The Maestro burger, fries, garlic dip and an ice cream (I shared everything with a guest). The burger was fantastic! It was like the McBistro Burgers we had in the states about a decade ago. The flavor was fresh and really good! Great job on this one McDonalds! Fries and ice cream were pretty standard, though the ice cream seamed to be creamier and taste better! The garlic dip sauce was addicting! I put that sh! On everything!! The snack wrap was good.! Taste like my childhood! Soda, what an amazing and refreshing drink! They don't do refills, but the trade off is the most crisp and refreshing soda you'll ever have! They don't use Co2 and instead use sparkling water as the base. I've never had a Coke Zero taste so good!! If you're going to Porto, Portugal, this is a must!! read more

The building has history and they did a decent job maintaining the exterior and some of the interior but it's just a slightly fancier McDonald's. Come inside and you'll see one stainless wall and some chandeliers. The generic McDonald's seats and the numerous huge kiosks at the entrance really kills the vibe. The food is what you'd expect from McDonald's. I got takeout for our ride back to Lisbon and it was prepared quick and was still warm by the time I had it on the train. The staff is friendly and helpful. It's located near the train station and we walked by it almost every night back to our hotel. It seem to always be packed at night with street performers and homeless people outside but was pretty empty when we stopped by in the morning. read more

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Standard McDonald's fair no different than in the US. One extra star because it is very clean, large, and feels luxurious vs a typical US location! read more

McDonalds - Outside entrance - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

I mean. You have to go visit this when you visit Porto. We split a royal with cheese so we can say we ate at this beautiful McDonalds.

People told me that McDonald's in Europe was way better than the States but based on my trip to this location I felt the opposite. Fries were not as fresh and crispy as what I had back home. Nothing was different or better. Forget about the food. Just come inside to check out the so called "most beautiful McDonald's". read more

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the food was cold and raw it felt like thye put it in a microwave and expected it to cook my meat was raw i still heard the moo in the burger. terribble place. becky im finding u. and ur mc-ribs suck. there wasent even a bone in the ribs yall suck i had to walk up to the waitress who was taking a smoke break that lasted 1 hour!!! i hate this place and i will never return! dont go here! read more

McDonalds - RAW. - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

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Coolest architecture of any McDonald's that I have ever visited. Definitely must stop by when in Porto just for the view. Wasn't overly crowded when we were there. read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

The most beautiful McDs one has to see when in Porto! It's worth checking out for a worldly fast food to have the grandest of shops! I like the eagle icon upfront! read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

Super packed on a weekday at lunch time, but they have a half dozen or so kiosks to place your order. Standard McDonald's international menu, fries, burgers, chicken, salads, etc. Nothing particularly special What's awesome here isn't the food. It's the location. This McD's used to be a very fancy restaurant (like, for visiting royalty) and when McDonald's bought the location and intended to build here, the people pretty much rioted. So in order to satisfy the people, McDonald's agreed to keep/upgrade the interior. You don't have to eat anything. But you do need to at least come inside and see the mirrored walls and chandeliers. [Review 9866 overall, 1444 of 2018.] read more

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Beautiful building but the manager is very rude. She ruins your experience. If you're a foreigner still come to get this experience! But be prepared for absolutely horrid service and people with attitude read more

I love to try new foods and local flavors. However, I could not resist stopping by at this McDonalds because I heard that the architecture here is STUNNING. This location did not disappoint! There was stained glass, grandiose sculptures, crystal chandeliers, art deco metal filigreed walls, crown molded ceilings, and marble floors. The menu differs from the USA menus with their mushrooms and truffled mayo sandwiches, pea soup, spinach and garbanzo soup, and the McFlurry Caja Roja. I decided to get the caja roja mcflurry, which was creamy, chocolatey, and topped with crunchy hazelnuts and brittle. Don't fill up here, prioritize your stomach space for tasty local cuisine. But do stop by for a quick snack and to check out this beautiful space! read more

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This McDonalds is definitely one to visit as its architecture is very different from the McDonalds we have back home in the US. The place was crowded, but there was crowd control. We walked in, took a few pictures, looked around, and ordered a few little things including a green pea soup which we definitely dont have back home. I'd recommend visiting but dont fill yourself up on the junk. Save yourself for the other delicious Portuguese food. read more

I have never been to a McDonald's that has chandelier before. That is pretty epic to me. I am a Canadian so some of the foods here are slightly different from Canada. Pretty cool though read more

McDonalds - Inside of mcdonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

Definitely the classiest McDonalds I have ever eaten at. Known as the "Imperial McDonald's" there is an eagle Over the McDonald's sign outside and chandeliers and stained glass inside!!! The menu is no different from the usual McDonalds fare / except with Portuguese fare. Came on a Saturday night. It was bonkers!!! The lineup was almost out the door. Two floors of seating plus an outdoor patio as well. Washrooms are passcode protected (see your receipt for the code) Should stop in just to see the place even if you don't eat! read more

This is considered to be the world's fanciest McDonald's. And for good reason, as you'll see chandelier's when you walk in.

Very pretty for a McDonalds!!! The food is sadly the same. Definitely recommend stopping in for a coffee or something. read more

McDonalds - Burgers Near Me - Porto, 13

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You come to see the decor and architecture which is worth a visit. Then, you leave. Craving a burger? Go to Honorato which is just 261 meters (859 feet) to the west. https://www.yelp.com/biz/honorato-porto P.S. No beer at Mickey D's. read more

I have nothing but derision for Americans abroad who wind up in chain restaurants like Pizza Hut, Subway, and the like. I mean, you can indulge in that stuff back home if that's how you choose to live your life - why are even going to another country if that's how you feel? And yet I always wind up at a McDonalds when I'm in Europe. Is this the height of hypocrisy? Sure, but I have my reasons. See, the McDonalds in the US don't have veggie burgers, but a lot of the countries in Europe actually do have them on the menu. Being somewhat of a veggie burger fanatic I feel compelled to see what the Evil Empire is serving up. So this particular iteration was just OK. It felt a lot like the Morningstar Farms veggie patties of old - a little dense and maybe a bit over-cooked. It did have some element of spice to it, but nothing aggressive. I had some in Genoa, IT that were far superior. For all I know, they could have been the same patty, but with a different preparation. Bun, toppings, and condiments were the usual and didn't bolster the experience. Given the great food options in Porto, I wouldn't go back, but it was worth a try. I should probably say something about the restaurant itself. I went at about half past 10 (22:30) on a Sunday night and it was mobbed. I would guess about 100 people in total if you include the staff. I think I was the oldest person there. If you are the type to think that the youths are shiftless, devious ne'er-do-wells whose every whisper, gesture, or suppressed bout of laughter is at your expense, probably stay away - otherwise they're not so bad, they're just having a better time than you for the moment. Sanitation at this location appeared adequate. read more

This is such a nice building that you don't even feel like you're at McDonalds. Definitely worth a stop for coffee or a snack when in the area. read more

Having lived in Europe for over two years I can tell you that I would never go to a McDonald's in the states but over here they are quite great. The food is always hot and made correctly. I've never had to return something that was made wrong. It's a good standby for when you need something quick. This was also the cheapest McDonald's I've ever been to. With a whole meal under 5€. read more

This historical McDonald's is worth a visit when you're in Porto. It is also in a great location for tourists to stop by to check out the restaurant. The restaurant has a beautiful interior with chandeliers. Be sure to check it out! read more

Worst McDonald's experience ever. Very rude cashier and extremely long wait time while she talked with a friend instead of helping customers. AVOID read more

I would never have believed I'd be reviewing a McDonalds, much less giving it 5 stars, but we were in Porto and late night, having been to a restaurant where we ate almost nothing, the food bas terrible, we were passing by this McDonalds, and noted the exterior of the place: not your typical box on pavement or shack, it was stunning, curved glass with tons of curious architectural details, and partly cuz we were starving and partly out of sheer voyeuristic wanderlust, we went in, no idea what to expect, and wow! The place is breathtaking! Gorgeous green and blue tile work on the walls, translucent and surreal, as if walking into an aquarium with wall art, highly placed glittering crystal chandeliers everywhere, vaulted ceilings, and multiple levels with staircases leading to mystery places. An attached full-service cafe, with baked goods and super friendly warm service. The staff were all very patient with us while we negotiated the computerized menus in Portuguese. We sat on the bar stools and had a Big Mac for old times sakes, waxing nostalgia! read more

I came across this McDonalds when I was very hungry and that is the only reason I chose to eat here. I was on vacation and the last thing on my mind was this place, but it turned out to be the best McDonalds I have ever been to. The design of the outside was interesting and quite different than I have seen before. This being in Portugal, my meal came with caldo verde soup on the side. This was the best part of going here because at least I still got something Portuguese out of this meal. The customer service was pretty good, well for a fast food restaurant. read more