Lucky Tea House (New Lucky Restaurant)

Lucky Tea House, also known as New Lucky Restaurant, is a historic tea house on Mirzapur Road in Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, close to Bhadra Fort. It is best known for its unusual setting: tables and benches are set among a row of Muslim tombs, so diners drink tea and eat buttered buns beside gravestones. Inside the dining area there is also a painting by the artist M F Hussain on the wall, which has made the cafe a regular stop for visitors interested in Ahmedabad's art and cultural history as well as its food.

The menu is short and built around tea and simple snacks. Dishes associated with the restaurant include kadak chai (strong, sweet milk tea), maska bun (a soft bun with butter), bun with butter and omelette. The tea is served hot in small glasses or cups and is a typical Irani-style cafe drink. Prices are very low, at roughly INR 30-150 per person, which makes it one of the cheapest stops on a food or heritage walk in the Old City.

The dining room character is informal, atmospheric and somewhat unusual. The tomb enclosure gives the place a quiet, contemplative feel despite its location on a busy road, and the crowd is a mix of locals, artists, students and travellers. Seating is casual and open, dress is casual and there is no alcohol programme, in keeping with Gujarat's dry status. There is no reservation system and none is needed, since it is a tea stall where visitors simply sit and order.

Approximate hours are 8AM-11PM daily, and they should be confirmed before visiting. The tea house is popular in the early morning and late evening, when the light and the temperature suit sitting outdoors. Visitors combining it with the House of MG, Sidi Saiyyed Jali, Bhadra Fort and Teen Darwaja will find it a short walk from each. Visitors should be respectful of the setting, as the tombs are a place of remembrance and not simply a backdrop.