Kalpna Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant

Kalpna is one of Edinburgh's oldest and best-known Indian restaurants, trading on St Patrick's Square since 1975 and recognised as Scotland's first all-vegetarian Indian restaurant. The kitchen specialises in Gujarati and north Indian vegetarian and vegan cooking — no meat, no fish, no eggs. The lunch buffet (Monday to Saturday) is a long-standing Edinburgh institution, drawing university staff, local regulars and tourists willing to wander a few minutes south from Nicolson Street. The evening à la carte includes thalis, notably the Thaali Raj Bhog with its mix of dal, subzi, rice, poori, salad and dessert, alongside individual dishes like Dum Aloo Kashmiri, Kalpna Dal Makhani and Harabhara Kebab. St Patrick's Square is a quiet Georgian square directly behind the main Nicolson Street strip, within five minutes' walk of the Old College and the Festival Theatre. The restaurant does not serve alcohol but welcomes BYO.