Today it’s in every district of the country, but in the early days, to eat at a McDonald’s in Portugal, you had to go to Cascais.
The chain’s debut in the country took place at CascaiShopping on May 23, 1991, according to McDonald’s Portugal. In 2026, the brand will celebrate its 35th anniversary here.
How it all began in Cascais
For the brand itself, that restaurant introduced a different way of dining out, based on three principles: quality, service, and cleanliness. The following year, in 1992, it was Setúbal’s turn to host the country’s first McDrive.
The connection to the shopping center where it all began remains. In 2025, 34 years after the first location opened, CascaiShopping and McDonald’s unveiled a new children’s play area.
35 years of picking up a Portuguese accent
Over the decades, the chain has adapted to local customs. It was at the Imperial in Porto that, in 1995, bica began to be served in a cup.
Three years later, at Expo ’98, the brand had what was then its largest restaurant in Europe. In 2007, the first McCafé opened in Lisbon, and in 2014, the McPrego was added to the menu, according to the timeline published by the brand.
Growth was also reflected in the numbers. In 2016, the chain reached 150 restaurants with the one in Campo Grande, and the 200th opened in 2024 in Rio Maior.
Today, McDonald’s Portugal has more than 200 restaurants and over 12,000 employees, and more than 90% of the restaurants are managed by Portuguese franchisees.
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