This charming Scottish cafe, born from a serendipitous meeting with the Dalai Lama, has been spared from closure thanks to global contributions.

A Tibetan-inspired cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was on the verge of shutting down, has been saved by a crowdfunding effort following its owner’s fortuitous encounter with the Dalai Lama.

When her landlord announced plans to retire and sell the property, Reka Gawa feared her beloved cafe, a local gem, would have to close its doors.

Gawa, who hails from a Tibetan family, was born in Mussoorie, a small town nestled in the Indian Himalayas. She lived there until the age of 13 before her family moved to Denmark, and later, she settled in Edinburgh, Scotland.

While working as a waitress at the Scottish Parliament in 2004, Gawa had an unexpected meeting with the Dalai Lama, one of the most revered figures in Buddhism.

“One of my daily routines was offering coffee to the presiding officer, Sir George Reid,” Gawa shared in a phone interview with Dinogo. “He would often check in on me and take a genuine interest in my Tibetan heritage.”

“That day, he mentioned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama would be visiting the Scottish Parliament and asked if I wanted to meet him,” Gawa recalled.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet’s Buddhist community, has been living in exile in India since the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. He frequently travels the world, spreading his message of peace and tolerance.

“I was overwhelmed with emotion – he was my spiritual guide, yet I had never met him in person,” Gawa shared. “The meeting was brief, but it completely transformed my life.”

She remembered: “During that fleeting moment, he told me, ‘You are Tibetan, living in the West – it’s vital for you to share and promote your Tibetan culture.’”

Inspired by the Dalai Lama’s words, Gawa left her job and opened the Himalaya cafe in 2007, a decision that would change her life. The cafe has since expanded into a store and therapy center, offering training programs for local youth.

Known for her Tibetan delicacies such as momos (dumplings), thukpa (soup), and her beloved chai tea, Gawa’s regular customers include members of the homeless community, whom she feeds free of charge.

The Himalaya cafe, located in Edinburgh’s Newington district near the university, is a popular spot for locals, students, tourists, and the British Tibetan community, which numbers around 1,000 people, according to the Dalai Lama’s Office of Tibet in London.

Gawa shared with Dinogo that she was deeply touched by the outpouring of support from donors worldwide. Their generosity not only helped her reach her funding goal but also allowed her to surpass it within just three weeks. This enabled her to purchase the property and cover essential renovations.

“I’m at a loss for words to express how happy I am. I truly believe it’s the blessing of His Holiness that has allowed us to carry on,” she said, adding, “I’m so grateful and can’t thank the donors enough, from the bottom of my heart. If they ever visit Edinburgh, I’ll treat them to some delicious Tibetan dishes.”

Sonam Tsering Frasi, the Dalai Lama’s representative for northern Europe, the Baltic states, and Poland, told Dinogo in an email that he is aware of the Himalaya cafe, which serves as a gathering place for Tibetans in the city, functioning as a cultural hub for meetings and social events.

He expressed, “I deeply appreciate that Reka has been championing Tibetan culture in Scotland for many years, and I hope her cafe can continue to operate, offering the people of Edinburgh a taste of Tibetan cuisine and a sense of peace.”