Visit Bordeaux’s Vintage McDonald’s

Bah dah bah bah bah, I’m lovin’ it! Did you know that there is a vintage McDonald’s in Bordeaux? The McDonald’s V-O, meaning version original but also Villenave-d’Ornon for the Bordeaux suburb it is located in, is modeled on what is considered the Original McDonald’s opened by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois in April 1955.

Arriving at the Bordeaux McDonald’s V-O, you’re immediately struck by the the golden arches soaring over the glass, metal and red-and-white tiled building that pays homage to the original McDonald’s of the 1950s and 1960s. And a powder blue Laguna Beach style lifeguard stand marks the entrance to the drive-thru. The life guard stand is a homage to the very first McDonald’s opened in San Bernadino, California by Dick and Mac McDonald in 1940 before it was bought out by Kroc.

It is always much debated whether the San Bernadino or Des Plaines location was the original McDonald’s since the original restaurant opened by the McDonald brothers in 1940 was actually a barbecue restaurant. It wasn’t until 1948 that they changed it up to only offer a menu of 15-cent hamburgers, shakes, and fries. Ray Kroc’s McDonald’s opened in 1955 under his newly launched McDonald’s Systems, Inc., later known as McDonald’s Corporation. Either way, a sign displaying Chicago and Los Angeles honors McDonald’s roots as you continue through the 24/7 drive-thru.

But it doesn’t just stop at the building itself. Inside is chock full of memorabilia. You’ll find American diner-style booths, each with their own coin operated juke boxes. A song costs 50 cents, but all monies from the juke boxes is donated to La Maison Ronald McDonald de Bordeaux, which was opened by the Ronald McDonald Foundation at the Hospitalier Pellegrin du CHU. A Route 66 sign is on the tiled floor, there’s a 1956 pink Cadillac on the outdoor terrace, a Ronald McDonald to pose with for photos, and the staff even wear vintage uniforms.

More modern touches include a McDonald’s PlayPlace with a Playstation kids can entertain themselves with free of charge. The McDonald’s V-O also often hosts events like karaoke dance party nights and theme events. And the drive-thru is one of several Bordeaux metropole McDonald’s to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Unfortunately, what you won’t find is vintage menu prices. But McDonald’s France does offer unique menu items exclusively available in France, like the McBaguette and Croque McDo. McDonald’s France even sells macarons on its’ dessert menu, which are made by the same parent company Groupe Holder that produces macarons for the famed Ladurée (though the recipes are slightly different).

McDonald’s V-O is located in the Bordeaux suburb of Villenave-d’Ornon, and it is actually one of eight retro-style McDonald’s located throughout France. You’ll find the other seven special vintage concept McDonald’s in Avignon la Cristole, Sainte Eulalie, Rennes Pacé, Gaillard, Farébersville, Châtellerault, and in Paris. The Paris McDonald’s V-O is near the Gare d’Austerlitz in the 5th arrondissement, and is one of the oldest McDonald’s in France inaugurated in 1989.

Know Before You Go

McDonald’s V-O is located at Rocade Sortie 18 in Villenave-d’Ornon. It can be reached from Bordeaux Center via tram on Line C to the Villenave-Centre Pont de la Maye stop, and then a short walk.