Fancy eating a pizza with views of the pyramids in Egypt? How about chowing down on a Big Mac while you're on the Swedish ski slopes? From a McDonald's plane in New Zealand to a KFC in a former train station, we've found the most unusual fast food locations around the world.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world's most awe-inspiring fast food joints, counting down to the most incredible of all. 

We've based our ranking on the striking architecture of each building, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. This list is unavoidably subjective.

A ride on a roller coaster might not be the ideal way to finish off your fast food lunch, but it's what's on the menu at this Burger King location. This awesome rooftop roller coaster – the only one of its kind in Canada – is called the Frank'N Coaster and is part of the House of Frankenstein, a scary attraction near Niagara Falls. And you thought those majestic waterfalls were the only reason to come to this part of the country!

Much-loved pub The One Bell was housed inside this Grade-II listed building in Watford, England for centuries. But after the pub closed down in 2016, Taco Bell moved into the historic black-and-white structure and made it its own. Fortunately for locals, Taco Bell incorporated its signage into the structure's existing elements tastefully, creating a fast food outlet that stands out for blending in.

Popeyes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, so it's only appropriate that one of its most beautiful locations is found on Canal Street, near the city's famous French Quarter. The exterior fits in perfectly with the surrounding area's Creole townhouse architectural style, with the restaurant's signage nestled discreetly under traditional balcony railings. Of course, plenty of tasty Louisiana fried chicken awaits those who choose to dine here.

In 1990, KFC opened a restaurant in Los Angeles' Koreatown that's quite unlike any other in its portfolio. Designed by Frank Gehry protégé Jeffrey Daniels, the building was built in a constructivist style and is intended to resemble one of the chain's famous buckets of chicken. It's certainly striking – although LA locals are split on whether this is a beautiful building or simply a stain on the skyline.

Previously voted the ugliest building in Rotterdam, this McDonald’s restaurant is now considered one of its most stylish locations. It was once in line for demolition, but the chain unveiled its redesign in 2015. It has a minimalist style, featuring a glass-panelled front, statement white spiral staircase and perforated golden façade. It even glows at nighttime.

While visiting Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War, travellers shouldn't skip the strategically located KFC. The easily recognisable red-and-white sign is positioned beside the replica of the 'You are entering the American sector' sign. There's even a McDonald's on the same street, too.

Located on the banks of the Nile in the Egyptian city of Aswan, this McDonald's restaurant has front-row seats for one of the most storied rivers in the world. There's plenty of outdoor space, so you can enjoy a burger and fries while soaking up the sun and watching traditional felucca boats sail by.

Built in 1795 as a farmhouse, then converted into a 19th-century Georgian mansion, this historic building in Long Island, New York is now a McDonald’s. The fast food chain had originally planned to knock it down and build a standard restaurant in its place, but after receiving backlash from locals, the burger company decided to renovate it into the classiest McDonald's in the state.

On the slopes of the Poás volcano in Costa Rica is Hacienda Alsacia, a Starbucks coffee farm, where you can see crops of coffee beans being grown. Guests can learn about the coffee journey from seedling to cup, then enjoy a brew with sweeping views across the valley at the farm's light and airy on-site café. This has to be the prettiest Starbucks location around.

This majestic McDonald’s branch is set among historical buildings, fine dining restaurants and designer shops on Rue Saint-Lazare. Full of charm and character, it’s strategically placed to draw in tourists who usually flock to the area for its history and shops. French McDonald's franchises also offer a more luxe experience inside, too – ingredients are locally sourced, coffee is served in mugs and there's occasionally a limited-edition McBaguette on the menu.

Located inside a century-old Kyoto townhouse known as a machiya, this Starbucks is anything but ordinary. To blend in with one of the city's best-preserved areas of Edo-era wooden machiyas, the brand’s signature green tones have been swapped for a more neutral beige. Inside, the traditional décor remains, with elegant scrolls lining the walls and tatami mats and cushions on the floors. There’s even a traditional Japanese garden to explore outside. Guests are required to remove their shoes if they opt to sit inside.

The Painted Post location of KFC was immediately named the fanciest KFC outlet in the world when it opened in 2022. The venue was chosen by KFC because the former bank building already had a passing resemblance to a bucket – hence its loving nickname, the 'Crystal Bucket'. Its interior also features hanging glass pendants and a dramatic wood ceiling, as well as all the latest technology that a modern fast food restaurant needs.

The Taco Bell in Pacifica is surely one of the chain's most incredible locations in the world. Situated on the beach, it has a surfy design, finished with wooden panelling, exposed beams, a colourful mural and a fireplace. There's even a walk-up window for those too sandy to sit inside. What’s more, it’s one of a limited number of Taco Bell outposts where you can get an alcoholic drink.

The historic district of Insadong-gil in Seoul, South Korea, is an unlikely place for a Starbucks, but you'll find one nestled among its antique stores. At first, it was met with some resistance from locals, yet it's the only location in the world where the Starbucks sign has been translated from English. You can sample a number of exclusive local delicacies here, such as the Jeju Peanut Fresh Cream Roll (a swirled cake with mascarpone cream and a peanut filling).

Melbourne, Australia is home to one of McDonald’s most striking buildings, with the fast food restaurant set inside the former United Kingdom Hotel. Dating back to the 1930s, the space was designed by renowned architect James Hastie. Today, it still has many of its original features, from curved wings and rounded balconies to a giant – and very old-school – dining room.

There’s a lot to admire about the world’s biggest Starbucks in Tokyo, Japan. The beautifully designed 32,000-square-foot (2,973sqm) building, located in the residential district of Nakameguro, has a prime spot overlooking the cherry tree–lined Meguro River. There's also so much more than a coffee counter here – you'll find a bakery, tearoom and cocktail bar, too.

One of the fanciest McDonald's locations, this franchise in Budapest is more reminiscent of a fine dining restaurant than a fast food chain. The menu features the usual McDonald's favourites – and the food definitely tastes better when eaten in one of the soft leather booths inside the 1920s Art Deco–inspired dining room.

This McDonald’s location in New Mexico looks out of this world. Shaped like a spaceship, its design takes inspiration from the city’s extraterrestrial history; in 1947, a UFO allegedly crashed into the fields on the outskirts of the city, and ever since it’s been dubbed the ‘alien capital of the world’. The restaurant comes complete with holographic lighting, metal detailing and the brand’s classic Golden Arches.

It’s not every day you find a KFC location hidden beneath a dramatic 1960s Soviet mural, but that’s exactly what you’ll find in Minsk, Belarus. An excellent example of an art style known as Social Realism, the sculpture is a relic of a very different time. The restaurant offers a peculiar contrast between heroic communist sculptures and capitalist fried chicken.

Is this one of the prettiest McDonald's locations in the world? Complete with red-and-gold lanterns, carved wooden details and beautiful windows, it's certainly up there. Inside is just as breathtaking, with wooden shutters and cosy hideaways. Here, you can order local favourites like crispy Taro Pie, a twist on McDonald's legendary Apple Pie that swaps the fruit for the purple root vegetable.

Azerbaijan's capital offers the usual KFC menu, but with a side order of history. Sabunchu Station, where this restaurant is housed, was built in 1926 and formed part of the Soviet Union’s first electrified railway system. At approximately 17,000 square feet (1,579sqm), the stone building is architecturally impressive, with Moorish Revival–style domed towers. It also happens to be the largest KFC in the world.

This stunning and ornately tiled Starbucks is located in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai. At a whopping 5.6 million square feet (521,000sqm), the mall is one of the world’s largest shopping centres, and it's sectioned into six areas with different designs. This Starbucks can be found in the striking Persia Court section. Customers can enjoy customised coffee orders under magnificent vaulted ceilings, surrounded by blue-and-turquoise mosaic walkways and brass chandeliers.

Offering customers more than just burgers, this McDonald's outpost in Yangshuo comes with added mountain views and a few special menu items. Here, diners can order the likes of Century Egg Chicken Porridge and German Thuringian sausages while gazing at glorious peaks and waterways. It doesn't get much better than this.

McDonald’s locations don’t come much prettier than Porto’s 1930s-built Imperial Café. The fast food chain has honoured the building’s heritage while still offering a classic McDonald’s dining experience; here, you'll find Art Deco–style stained glass windows, glistening chandeliers and giant mirrors alongside a menu of burgers and fries. The entrance is even overlooked by a striking statue of an eagle.

In keeping with the area’s locomotive heritage, this fast food joint is housed inside several train carriages at Barstow Station on Route 66. A prime photo opportunity, the old cars have been repurposed into dining carts, giving visitors a taste of train travel in mid-20th-century California – served up with added fries and a McFlurry.

Across the street from the Great Sphinx and Pyramid of Giza are these brilliantly positioned Pizza Hut and KFC locations. Downstairs, you'll find the KFC joint serving up all of the usual classics, while upstairs is a Pizza Hut with an even better vantage point. Whichever you choose, diners can soak up unobstructed views of the ancient wonders, all while sitting in an air-conditioned dining room with a pepperoni slice or chicken bucket.

Have you ever longed for a Quarter Pounder on the slopes? Skiers at the Lindvallen resort in Sweden are free to indulge their fast food cravings, thanks to the launch of this seasonal McDonald’s pop-up. Aptly named the ‘McSki’, this location has been appearing every winter for the past few years – and McDonald’s lovers can’t get enough. It features the world’s only 'ski-thru', where skiers can get their fast food fix on the slopes, and there's a cabin-style restaurant, too.

Known as The Big Chicken to locals, this location sits just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and it's far superior to any other KFC we've found. The restaurant features its own radio station, gift shop and state-of-the-art interiors – and there's a 56-foot (17m) moving chicken on its roof. Originally built in the 1960s, it was going to be taken down in the 1990s due to a bad storm, but public outcry ensured it was preserved and upgraded. Today, the Big Chicken is fondly used as a landmark for directions.

Ever fancied eating McDonald's on a plane? While it might not be 38,000 feet up in the air, this fast food location in Taupo, New Zealand has a decommissioned DC3 aeroplane as part of its restaurant. In its heyday, the plane carried passengers for South Pacific Air Lines before being used as an agricultural aircraft, working on farmland as a crop duster. Nowadays, you can jump aboard and enjoy your Big Mac with a side of history and excitement.

Now take a look at 43 tasty fast food joints you probably haven't tried

Last updated by Luke Paton.