We’ve seen American fast food chains in every country we’ve visited. In Porto, we saw a McDonald’s and a Pizza Hut in the food court at the Via Catarina shopping center during our first week in the city. We rarely ate at those places in the US and promised ourselves we would wait at least a month before visiting one here.
But on a recent day we had to make an exception. We had lunch at the “Imperial McDonald’s”. The other 39,000+ restaurants in the chain all look about the same. But this one is one of a kind. It’s been called “the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world”.
The restaurant is located at the southeast corner of the Praca de Liberdade (Liberty Square) in a building that formerly housed the Imperial Cafe, an art deco cafe that opened in 1936. Back then it catered to the “cafe society” of Porto. Today, it caters to the masses, but because of a thoughtful renovation, it retains much of its original look.
The Imperial Cafe had closed and the building had fallen into disrepair until 1995 when McDonald’s renovated the space. But instead of gutting the building and creating another cookie-cutter outpost, the company hired two well-known architecture firms, Archange and A.Burmester, who ensured that the original features of the space were carefully restored.
A Stunning Space
You approach the restaurant on a wide sidewalk shaded by mature trees. Almost hidden behind the trees is the entrance, with the original imperial eagle logo above the door. This is the first indication that you’re entering a unique space.
Inside, it is stunning! The main area has high ceilings, chandeliers and friezes around the perimeter.
But the focal point is the stained glass mural along the back wall. It was created by the renowned stained glass artist Ricardo Leoni of Lisbon. The mural depicts the cycle of coffee: growing it, harvesting, processing, shipping, and finally drinking it.
There is even a second dining room, downstairs.
But what about the food?
The menu is familiar, with most of the same burgers and fries you can find in any McD’s around the world. There are also a few Portuguese items available, like caldo verde (a flavorful green soup), pastries and even Sagres beer. We tried to order the soup, but were told they didn’t have it that day.
The dining room was packed, so we decided to sit at an outside table, under the trees. It was chilly in the shade, but we enjoyed watching the people pass by.
We ordered a “Smoky Alabama”, a sandwich advertised on bus stops and advertising pedestals all over the city, including this one down the block from our apartment.
We spent five days visiting friends outside Selma, Alabama just before we moved to Portugal, and had eaten some good southern barbecue there. We were a bit skeptical of what we’d get from McDonald’s…in Porto.
We had a choice of beef or chicken and chose the beef. We got a big cheeseburger with bacon, barbecue sauce, onion and lettuce. It was a thicker burger than any we’d had back in the US, and we thought it tasted better. The bacon was hot, the barbecue sauce was just the right amount of sweet, and the lettuce was crisp. Surprise! It was pretty good.
The french fries were just the same as any we had before, but isn’t that really what you expect from McDonald’s?
We’ll be back in a few days with another update. Until then, if you’d like another perspective on life in Portugal, please check out (and subscribe to) our friend Nancy Whiteman’s excellent blog, Expat in Portugal. Nancy’s posts are funny, literate, opinionated, and occasionally salty. She and her partner, Denise, live in Cascais, outside of Lisbon, and travel throughout the country.
With the best regards / Com os melhores cumprimentos,
Mary and Mike
The Cook and The Writer
We very rarely if ever eat at FF joints, either, but I’d be glad to make an exception for this place. ? I always feel like we “should” buy a little something when we stop for a bathroom on the road, whether it’s a convenience store, a gas station, or a McD’s. Their toilet paper, electric & water bills, and employees’ salaries aren’t free, after all…and I’m usually SO GRATEFUL for use of the facilities! ? Likewise, it took some money to preserve and renovate that McDonald’s so beautifully, so your exception to the rule was warranted. ?? ? Thanks for a fun, different take on your new home’s eating establishments!
We definitely would have stopped and tried the food also. I don’t eat the burger, but I get the grilled chicken snack wrap. It was tasty, but they discontinued it during covid-19??. Can’t wait to see your next food adventure. LOVE
Mike & Mary – I’m so proud of you! I’m sure you weren’t craving a McD hamburger or cheeseburger — but “good for you” for exploring with open minds and humor in your hearts! The IMPERIAL sounds like it has preserved the BEST that those architects had to offer. What a beautiful stained glass fresco. Well done! Well done!
Obrigado!!
jayne & charlie
Jayne & Charlie,
You nailed it! We wouldn’t have gone out of our way for the Smoky Alabama burger, but hey, it’s what we need to do to get a good story. We’re taking one for the team. The restoration of this building is phenomenal, and shows what can be done when preservation of a historic property gets equal priority with creating a profitable business outlet. I’ll buy a burger to support that deal any day. We need more of that approach!
Obrigado,
Mike
Well we’ll well you moved 5,000 miles from home and you brought food from a clown
Hey Eddie,
Yep, we sure did! I didn’t notice if they served Happy Meals, though.
Mike
You better believe it my brother. It tastes just as crappy here as it does as home, but we couldn’t resist the beautiful building. Take care of yourself.
Love, Mary
Very interesting and fun! When I traveled Europe 37 years ago for four months, the only American fast-food chain then was McDonalds. It was one of the few that were global at the time. I have to say, traveling back then was very different from now. Very few people spoke English and when you were in a foreign country, it truly was foreign. So to see a McDonalds I would stop every once in a while just to give me a sense of home! Thanks for the blog. It brought back many fond memories for me!
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your note. It brings back memories for me, too. One of my first trips abroad was to Scotland, around 31 years ago. I spent two weeks in a small village between Glasgow and Edinburgh. After a week of heavy, delicious Scottish food, I found an intersection in Glasgow that had a Dunkin Donuts, a Pizza Hut and a McDonald’s. I hit two of the three for that “taste of home”. And it only took about 3 months for me to work off the pounds I gained from pub food and good Scottish beer!
All the best,
Mike
Not even that beautiful building will get me into a McDonalds, in Portugal or anywhere else in the world. The inside does look amazing?. I have walked by it a few times when in Porto.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your comment. I get your point and know many people avoid fast food for a variety of reasons. I’m curious – if you were in Porto and wanted a quick lunch, where would you go? We’re always looking for recommendations on places to try.
Obrigado,
Mike