In what city was the first McCafé opened in 1993?

The first McCafé opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993.

McCafé began as a coffee-focused extension of the McDonald’s restaurant brand. The first location was created by McDonald’s Australia and added a café-style area to an existing restaurant, offering espresso-based drinks alongside the company’s established fast-food menu.

The concept was successful in Australia and was later expanded internationally. McCafé outlets eventually appeared in many countries, although their layouts, menus, and operating models varied by market. Some were counters inside McDonald’s restaurants, while others used more distinct café-style designs.

Melbourne is sometimes confused with Sydney because both cities are major Australian business and cultural centers. However, the documented origin of the McCafé concept is Melbourne. The 1993 opening also predates McCafé’s broader international expansion by several years, so it should not be confused with the date the brand first reached another country.