Forget about scarfing down a burger on the side of the road. McDonald's customers in Budapest can enjoy their Big Macs in a historic work of architectural grandeur. With over 35,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, there are times when traveling internationally that familiarity, price and convenience win out. In Budapest, Hungary, you'll find the most beautiful McDonald’s in Europe. This was once the oldest fast food establishment behind the Iron Curtain, dating back to the Soviet occupancy of Hungary. The McDonald’s occupies a large, multi-story space with an ornate colonial ceiling right in the Nyugati railway station. The station itself was built in 1877 by the Eiffel Company, which also built the Eiffel Tower. Opened in 1988, this McDonald's became the first in Hungary. Lines move quickly, with attendants moving through the lines taking orders on hand-held tablets that print out an order ticket. The balcony on the second floor overlooks the main seating and is filled with overstuffed sofas and chairs. With an impressive exterior, the only way you would know there's a McDonald's inside of the station is by timeless golden arches that loom above the elaborate building.
