I ate at the most beautiful McDonald's in the world, with crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, and outrageously delicious pastries

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• Many travelers believe the most beautiful McDonald's in the world is in Porto, a coastal city in northwest Portugal.
• Opened in 1995, the restaurant is located in a renovated space previously occupied by Cafe Imperial, a famous coffee shop open in the city since the 1930s.
• I stopped by "the McDonald's Imperial" to see if it truly is the "World's Most Beautiful McDonald's."

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You've probably eaten a Big Mac or McNuggets at dozens of McDonald's restaurants throughout your life, but have you ever stopped to think which of the chain's 36,899 locations is the most beautiful?

Many travelers believe the most beautiful McDonald's in the world is in Porto, an age-old coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its gorgeous cobblestone streets and historic medieval city center.

Opened in 1995, the restaurant is located in a renovated space previously occupied by Cafe Imperial, a famous coffee shop open in the city since the 1930s. The coffee shop was seen as a prime example of Art Deco architecture of the period and, thus, McDonald's retained most of the main architectural features when it took over the location.

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to visit American fast food joints in other countries — you never know how much companies cater to local tastes. When I visited China in April, I found that KFC is by far the most popular American fast food chain there and it is far better than in the US.

When I got to Porto earlier this week, I decided that I had to check out the McDonald's Imperial — as it is called by locals — to see if it lived up to the hype as the "World's Most Beautiful McDonald's."

Here's what it was like:

The McDonald's was pretty busy when I stopped by for a late afternoon lunch one day this past week. It being summer in Portugal, there were tons of tourists dining al fresco. The restaurant is located in Liberdade Square in the center of the city and near many attractions.

Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider

The first thing you notice upon approaching the McDonald's is the giant bronze eagle by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira. When Cafe Imperial opened in 1936, the entrance had a revolving door, but that is long gone.

Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider

Source: Hard Musica Portugal

When you first enter the restaurant, you notice the hallmarks of the Art Deco style (think Empire State Building-style): the ornate friezes along the ceiling, the crystal chandeliers, and, most famously, the massive stained glass window behind the counter.

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Source: Hard Musica Portugal

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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