The French McDreamy Café


Remember that post I wrote about How to Order Coffee in France Like a Local ?

I am not going to leave France without snapping photos during my last visit to grab a take-away coffee on the road. The French Mc Café has its very own café counter tucked in a corner away from the main one, equipped with a viennoiserie and patisserie display. Not to mention, the biggest surprise I had when they were selling macarons!
 Et voila!


Mc Donald's seriously did their homework. Mc Donald's knew that the rushed fast food scene will not work in France and this applies to coffee too. A coffee maker glass pot alone will not work. They have tweaked their cafe menu to cater to the French palate.

The interior design is completely different from the traditional Mc Donald's we have been accustomed to in many countries. There's a terrace, free Wi-fi, furniture in warm tones that you might associate more with Starbucks. There's a relaxed vibe here that will allow you to eat your food and linger, highlighting the fact that the French takes pleasure in their food and they always take their time, appreciating every bite and the conversations that come in every course, and their coffee.


Bon Appetit!
Love & light,
Arni


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16 comments

  1. Wow, I can't belive it, French macarons at a McCafe.

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    1. It was such a lovely surprise. There are often queues whenever I grab a cuppa so they're absolutely doing something right.

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  2. one macaroon is almost one euro? My, my, isn't that overly pricey?

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    1. Yes indeed. It is also unbelievable how anywhere in France can jack up prices of just about anything, just like that. A café allongé costs Eur 1.67 per cup in La Roche Sur Yon while the same coffee costs Eur 3.40 per cup in their café branch inside CDG Airport in Paris.

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  3. I remember my last trip to Paris with my friends and brother. When he met up with me he was SO excited about the "fancy" McDonald's there, haha. Your post definitely makes his raving totally understandable!

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    1. The expression "if you can't beat them, join them" was something that came into mind. Competing with an authentic french cafe or brasserie must be so terribly hard especially with the bistro chairs and tables lined up along beautiful terraces in Parisian streets, but they offer something that tourists would normally look for and that is take away coffee. And it was pretty smart to add pastries in there too.

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  4. Replies
    1. Exactly, even though I don't have a sweet tooth, I found myself staring at the glass display with a long internal debate to buy or not to buy pastries.

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  5. It was very similar in Italy, too. We were blown away to see the darling café-style section of the McD's in a little town called Ferrara. Pastries and crème brulee were available along with 30 different types of coffee drinks, hot and cold. Crazy.

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    1. Oh wow, thanks, excellent to know they do it in Italy as well. Crème brulee, yum!

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  6. Oh dang, now I kind of regret not stepping into a McDonalds in France! I didn't know it's look so...upscale! Haha. Someone on my trip did try the macarons though, but felt it was a disappointment.

    WONDERMENTARY

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    1. I haven't tried any of their pastries but I guess nothing beats the freshly made macarons from pâtisseries.

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  7. Fancy fancy! Now tell me, is it as popular?

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    1. Surprisingly it is, especially in big cities. Popular with tourists and the younger generation. The airport lounge branch for sure. In the small town we were in, the chains are a popular hangout for teenagers and kids.

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  8. Why don't they build the same kind of Mc Cafe here? And free WiFi? That's awesome! If a McCafe here has a free WiFi I'd probably hang out there more.

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    1. Yes, I think McDonald's Philippines should consider upgrading the McCafe here, offering more coffee options and free wifi. :)

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