Gary He has been to McDonald's in over 55 countries across 6 continents, and one of his favorite locations is in New Mexico.
Gary He/McAtlas
Photojournalist Gary He has visited McDonald's restaurants in more than 55 countries.
He dined at McDonald's locations with distinct architecture and unique local integration.
He said the most unique include the McSki in Sweden and a UFO-shaped McDonald's in the US.
Most McDonald's locations around the world follow a familiar design: red and white branding topped with golden arches. But some stand out for their distinct architecture and unique backstories.
In his upcoming book, "McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches," which will be released on November 29, author and photojournalist Gary He captures the essence of some of these locations while explaining what makes each one special.
Since 2019, He has traveled to over 55 countries and dined at more than 100 McDonald's restaurants. When it came to picking his favorite locations, he had clear favorites.
"I wanted to document the more interesting parts of the largest restaurant group in the world," He told Business Insider, emphasizing that the project was an independent undertaking.
Here are five unique McDonald's locations that He recommends fans of the brand must visit.
The McSki in Sälen, Sweden
The McSki in Sweden is one of He's favorite McDonald's locations worldwide.
Nestled in one of Sweden's biggest ski resorts, Lindvallen, this spot offers a unique "ski-thru" experience. It allows skiers to grab a Big Mac without leaving their skis.
The restaurant opened in 1996 and operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during ski season.
"The air is so clean and crisp — it's like being on top of the world," He told BI, adding, "When I visited, it wasn't even busy. It was just me, the McSki, and the mountains. I was just hanging out and enjoying myself."
Getting there isn't easy, though. He said it took him six hours to travel from Stockholm, with three transfers — first, from a train station at Borlänge Centralstation to a bus, and then 48 stops later, another bus — but the journey was worth it.
"The McSki is hands-down the coolest McDonald's I've visited anywhere in the world," He said.
The McDonald's on Dongmen Street in Shenzhen, China
The first McDonald's in China opened in Shenzen in 1990. It features a distinctly Chinese aesthetic and can accommodate up to 460 people.
Gary He/McAtlas
"I really love the Shenzhen location in China," said He, adding, "It was the first McDonald's in China at a time when the country wasn't fully open to American businesses."
The restaurant opened on October 8, 1990, in Shenzhen's special economic zone. On its first day, it welcomed over 40,000 customers despite a seating capacity of 460, the South China Morning Post reported.
The restaurant balances local design with the chain's signature branding. The three-floor building features pagoda-style roofs, integrating traditional Chinese architectural design with the golden arches.
Reflecting on its distinct appearance, He added, "It's pretty epic."
The airplane McDonald's in Taupō, New Zealand
This McDonald's in New Zealand was built in a decommissioned passenger plane.
Gary He/McAtlas
Ever wondered what it's like to enjoy a Big Mac on a static passenger plane? In Taupo, a town in New Zealand, you can.
Named one of the "world's coolest McDonald's," per a sign post, this restaurant is inside a decommissioned DC-3 plane built in 1943. At first, it was used as a passenger plane and then as a crop duster, an agricultural aircraft that sprays pesticides on crops from the air.
In 1984, it was decommissioned and, per Atlas Obscura, became a promotional product in Taupō's Aeroplane Car Company's parking lot until McDonald's bought it in 1990.
"The airplane location in Taupo is iconic," said He.
The UFO-shaped McDonald's in New Mexico, US
He told BI that he loves visiting the UFO-shaped McDonald's in New Mexico because of its gift-shop offerings.
Gary He/McAtlas
A McDonald's in the shape of a UFO is fitting for Roswell, a town known for its rumored alien sightings and extraterrestrial encounters.
The town became popular in 1947 when a mysterious aircraft, which the local newspaper, the Roswell Daily Record, identified as a "flying saucer," crashed into a ranch. Then, in 1980, Stanton Friedman, a former nuclear physicist, came across the 1947 news story and alleged it to be an alien spacecraft, sparking widespread outcry.
Government records later showed the aircraft was a top-secret government surveillance balloon used to detect echoes of Soviet nuclear-testing blasts.
But by then, people were convinced the government was hiding information about alien life, and UFOs had become a mini-industry with several themed attractions, such as the annual UFO festival and a museum, spread across town.
In 2005, a few miles from the crash site, McDonald's opened a restaurant shaped like a spaceship with neon lights.
But He loves the restaurant for more than just its exteriors.
"It has a gift shop," he said, adding, "I mean, it's cool looking, but they have merchandise, which I think is super cool."
The gift shop features Ronald McDonald in a spacesuit and alien statues.
The Méqui1000 in São Paulo, Brazil
Méqui1000 is named so because it was the 1,000th McDonald's restaurant in Brazil.
Gary He/McAtlas
He's final favorite is the Méqui1000 in São Paulo, Brazil, a spot that combines playful creativity with historical significance.
"It looks like the White House but decorated as a kindergartner's art project," He said, adding that the restaurant's façade undergoes multiple changes in a year and is usually adorned with vibrant artwork for promotional campaigns.
Méqui1000 also holds cultural significance; it was the 1,000th McDonald's in Brazil, one of 20 nations with over 1,000 McDonald's stores, according to Yahoo Finance.
"It's a huge market and an important location," He said.
The menu here also features items exclusive to Brazil, like the Super Mac, a fully loaded burger with lettuce, tomato, and onion, which is in a contrast to the simpler burgers popular in the US.
"Culturally, Americans want it [their burgers] cheap, fast, and straightforward, but in Brazil and other countries, people want their burgers a little more dressed up," He said.
The Magnífico, another Brazilian favorite, follows this trend with its premium toppings, making Méqui1000 a must-visit for travelers and food enthusiasts alike.
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