There is only one McDonald’s in the whole of Cuba and it is placed in Guantanamo Bay – though none of the local people can take a trip to it for a Big Mac
McDonald’s golden arches are a global phenomenon, but one of the most bizarre locations for this fast-food giant is in Cuba – and it’s not frequented by Cubans craving a Big Mac. Nestled in Guantanamo Bay, where the US still exerts territorial control, this particular McDonald’s opened its doors in 1986.
Strikingly different from other outlets, this McDonald’s sits adjacent to the notorious detention camp, serving only the base’s personnel.
With some of the world’s most dangerous alleged terrorists just a stone’s throw away, it’s probably the last place you’d expect to see a Maccies.
Despite the welcoming presence of a sizeable Ronald McDonald and the tropical backdrop of palm trees, the restaurant is also encircled by barbed wire.
McDonald’s has stated that they have no intentions of expanding their presence in Cuba, suggesting this might be the only branch for many years to come.
Philip Johnson of New York University has referred to it as a “site of comfort and nostalgia” for those stationed at the base.
A 2002 newsletter remarked: “McDonald’s: the name alone is synonymous with the fast food industry, and the legendary tastes of the various delights served here are all seasoned with years of tradition.”
The internet’s been abuzz over a TikTok influencer’s claim that Guantanamo Bay harbours the best McDonald’s branch, with Coast Guard member Sarah dishing the details to her followers: “Rumor has it that the McDonald’s in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is the best, so I am in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — and we are going to try the McDonald’s.”
Sarah raved about the wings being “fire” and a “ten out of ten,” while asserting the crispy chicken sandwich was “so much better than in the United States.”
Responses ranged from curiosity — one user asked: “Is this for Americans only or can local Cubans buy it too?” — to surprise, with another chiming in: “Wait what??? Cuba has a McDonald’s?”
Dating back to 1889, when the US helped dismiss the Spanish, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base remains a slice of America in Cuba, intriguingly existing beyond both Cuban and certain American laws, as noted by elEconomista.
Despite Cuba’s socialist stance, which typically shuns capitalist icons like McDonald’s, Guantanamo Bay also plays host to other American fast-food giants such as Subway, KFC, Taco Bell, and even houses a Starbucks coffee shop, complete with a Pizza Hut Express.
Seemingly paradoxical, profits from these capitalist enterprises are ploughed into welfare activities, boosting morale among US service personnel and their relatives stationed there.
A significant chapter in the history of Guantanamo Bay dates back to 1903, when a treaty saw Cuba leasing it to America, with the US acknowledging Cuba’s national sovereignty in return.
However, in the present day, the stunning Caribbean nation disputes the legitimacy of this treaty, viewing it as an occupied territory.
Despite this disagreement, American personnel continue to be stationed there, and notably, numerous suspected terrorists were detained there post-9/11 due to the absence of laws permitting their imprisonment without trial.
