# The Restaurant That Became Part of Every Costa Rica Fishing Trip
Travel has a funny way of creating traditions.
Sometimes those traditions are planned. Other times they simply happen over time without anyone realizing it. Looking back, one of the traditions that became part of my Costa Rica travels centered around a restaurant in San José called Restaurante Machu Picchu.
Years ago, when I first began traveling to Costa Rica, this was one of the very first restaurants I experienced in the San José area. At the time, I had no idea that it would become a place I would return to again and again over the years.
As my travels to Costa Rica increased, so did the number of fishing trips I made with friends and fellow travelers. Deep-sea fishing became one of our favorite reasons to visit the country. We would spend months planning our trips, coordinating schedules, discussing fishing charters, and counting down the days until we could get back on the water.
Somewhere along the way, Restaurante Machu Picchu became our unofficial headquarters.
It was often the first stop after arriving in Costa Rica.
After long flights and airport arrivals, we would gather around the table, order food, catch up on life, and begin talking about the adventures ahead. The excitement of being back in Costa Rica always seemed to start there.
Then, almost without fail, it became our final stop before leaving the country.
Before heading to the airport, we would gather one last time to relive the stories from the trip. We’d talk about the fish that got away, the fish we landed, the weather, the people we met, and all the unexpected moments that make travel memorable.
The restaurant became a bridge between arriving and departing.
A place where every trip seemed to begin and end.
Of course, the food played a major role in why we kept returning.
The seafood was consistently excellent. The local dishes were full of flavor. The portions were generous, and the service was always welcoming. Whether someone wanted seafood, steak, local specialties, or something a little different, there was always something on the menu that delivered.
What impressed me most was the staff’s willingness to accommodate guests.
Over the years, they consistently treated us like valued customers. The service was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Even when the restaurant was busy, the staff made an effort to ensure everyone had a great experience.
One memory, however, stands out more than any other.
A friend who frequently traveled with our fishing group became absolutely obsessed with one of the restaurant’s spicy sauces.
Calling it a favorite would be an understatement.
Every time we visited, he made sure the sauce was on the table. He would talk about it throughout the meal and often joked that it was worth the trip all by itself.
Eventually, he convinced the restaurant to sell him an entire bottle to take home.
He was thrilled.
The bottle was carefully packed and protected as though it were a prized souvenir.
Unfortunately, there was one small problem.
The next day, at the airport, security had other plans.
The bottle exceeded what he could carry through security, and there was no way around it.
I still remember the look of disappointment on his face when he realized he wasn’t taking that sauce home.
After trying every possible solution, he finally accepted reality.
Rather than throw it away, he found another traveler and handed over the bottle with a recommendation.
“If you’re going to Costa Rica, you’ve got to try this.”
What started as a frustrating airport moment became one of the funniest stories from our trips.
To this day, whenever I think about Restaurante Machu Picchu, I remember that bottle of sauce and the disappointment that quickly turned into laughter.
Those are the kinds of memories that make places special.
It’s easy to find a restaurant that serves good food.
It’s much harder to find a place that becomes woven into your travel experiences over many years.
For me, Restaurante Machu Picchu became exactly that.
Today, whenever I’m in the San José area, I still make an effort to stop by. The food remains excellent, the atmosphere remains welcoming, and the memories connected to the restaurant continue to grow.
Travel is often measured in destinations visited, miles traveled, or photographs taken.
But some of the most meaningful travel memories happen around a dinner table shared with friends.
For me, Restaurante Machu Picchu will always be one of those places.
A restaurant that became part of every Costa Rica fishing trip.
And a place that still feels like coming back to an old friend.
— Glen Graham
Travel With Glen
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