Café Lilliput blends heritage with modern hospitality
Goa’s popular Anjuna beach destination expands team as tourism grows
-Rajendra Salgaonkar, Co-Founder, Café Lilliput
Mumbai: Café Lilliput began its operations at Anjuna Beach in Goa in the mid-1980s, at a time when the area was still a quiet coastal stretch visited mostly by travellers and artists from around the world. What started as a small beachfront café gradually evolved into one of the most recognised beachside restaurants and nightlife destinations in Anjuna.
In its early days, the café operated with a very small and close-knit team of just a few people, mostly locals who helped run the establishment. The café was built through personal savings and family support. At that time, starting a beachside café was driven more by passion and community spirit than by large investments.
Today, the café operates with a much larger hospitality team across kitchen, service, management, and event operations, employing more than 150 people. As tourism in Goa continues to grow, the café is looking to further strengthen its hospitality team, particularly in areas such as guest experience, culinary expertise, and event management.
The café continues to witness steady growth driven by tourism, returning guests, and the strong reputation it has built over the past four decades. Its focus for the future is to preserve the spirit and heritage of Café Lilliput while evolving with modern hospitality expectations.
What is the firm’s success mantra?
Talking to Bizz Buzz, Rajendra Salgaonkar, Co-Founder of Café Lilliput, Anjuna, said, “We want to ensure that the café remains a place where people can experience the authentic atmosphere of Anjuna while enjoying good food, music, and community.”
The café has always focused on creating a welcoming environment, offering good food, great music, and an atmosphere where people feel comfortable returning again and again. Its primary revenue comes from food and beverage services, events, and nightlife experiences. Over the years, the café has sustained itself and grown steadily.
Café Lilliput remains a privately run hospitality business. Its focus has always been on maintaining the character and legacy of the café rather than pursuing public listings or large-scale corporate expansion.
