Rajendra Salgaonkar of Café Lilliput on Preserving Goa’s Soul in a Fast-Changing Hospitality Landscape

StartupTalky presents Recap'25, a series of exclusive interviews where we connect with founders and industry leaders to reflect on their journey in 2025 and discuss their vision for the future.

In this edition of Recap’25, StartupTalky speaks with Rajendra Salgaonkar, Co-Founder of Café Lilliput, Goa, on what it takes to sustain a cultural institution in an industry increasingly driven by scale, speed, and spectacle. Tracing Lilliput’s origins back to a time when Anjuna was a meeting ground for travellers, artists, and free spirits, Salgaonkar reflects on how the café was never meant to be a brand—but a space rooted in belonging, music, and slow living by the sea.

He goes on to discuss how 2025 became a year of balance for Café Lilliput, as Goa’s hospitality landscape grew more commercialised while guests simultaneously sought authenticity and emotional connection. The conversation explores evolving guest expectations, the enduring power of music-led community experiences, and the importance of prioritising stability and sustainability over aggressive expansion. Salgaonkar also shares his philosophy on quiet technology adoption, team-led resilience, and why true growth in hospitality lies in protecting the soul of a place—so that generations continue to return feeling at home.

StartupTalky: Briefly take us through the journey of Café Lilliput and the core idea or philosophy it was built on. How has that vision evolved over time?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: Café Lilliput was born at a time when Anjuna wasn’t a destination it was a meeting point for travellers, musicians, artists, and locals who believed in slow living and open conversation. The idea was never to build a brand; it was to create a space where people felt welcome, unjudged, and free. Food was honest, music was expressive, and the beach was the centre of everything.

Over 40 years, the café grew organically alongside Goa itself. The vision hasn’t changed, but it has matured. Today, our responsibility is to protect that spirit while ensuring we operate with consistency, care, and structure. Lilliput has evolved from a café into a cultural anchor, but it still exists to make people feel at home by the sea.

StartupTalky: 2025 has been an active year for the hospitality industry. What were the key changes or milestones for your business this year?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: For us, 2025 was about balance. As tourism volumes increased and nightlife formats became more commercialised across Goa, we consciously focused on preserving the essence of Lilliput. Strengthening food quality, improving guest flow across long hours, and maintaining safety without compromising atmosphere were key priorities.

One of the most meaningful milestones was seeing multi-generational guests return parents who once visited Lilliput in the 90s now bringing their children. That continuity is rare and deeply rewarding. It reminded us that longevity in hospitality comes from trust, not trends.

StartupTalky: Customer preferences in dining and nightlife continue to evolve. What shifts in guest behaviour or expectations did you notice in 2025?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: Guests today are seeking grounding experiences. After years of fast travel and hyper-curated spaces, people want places that feel natural and unforced. At Lilliput, we noticed guests spending entire afternoons that slowly turned into evenings and nights without feeling rushed.

There is also a renewed respect for places with history. Younger travellers are curious about the stories behind venues. They don’t want polished perfection; they want character. Expectations now go beyond menus and music they include emotional connection and a sense of belonging.

StartupTalky: Events, experiences, and community engagement play a big role today. Which initiatives or formats worked best for you this year, and why?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: Music has always been our strongest language. Sunset sessions, late-night techno, and open-air dance floors continue to resonate because they are deeply connected to Anjuna’s identity. What worked best were formats that felt fluid, not overly produced.

We also saw strong engagement when we allowed the space to lead rather than forcing themes. Lilliput works when it breathes when the ocean, the crowd, and the music come together naturally. Community engagement here isn’t planned; it happens because people feel comfortable staying.

StartupTalky: What were the biggest operational or business challenges you faced in 2025, and how did you address them?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: Running a 22/7 beachside venue comes with unique challenges weather dependency, staffing consistency, and seasonal volatility. Rising costs and increased regulatory expectations required careful planning and discipline.

We addressed this by investing in our team, strengthening internal systems, and being realistic about growth. Instead of expanding aggressively, we focused on stability. In a place like Goa, sustainability matters more than scale.

StartupTalky: How do you currently use technology or digital tools to improve guest experience and business performance?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: Technology supports our operations quietly in the background. We use it for feedback tracking, inventory management, and communication, especially given our extended hours.

However, the Lilliput experience remains deeply human. People come here for conversation, music, and the feeling of being present. Technology helps us stay organised, but hospitality here will always be about warmth, familiarity, and face-to-face connection.

StartupTalky: Looking ahead to the coming year, what opportunities do you see for growth in the hospitality space, and how are you thinking about evolving your brand further?

Rajendra Salgaonkar: The future belongs to places that honour their roots. I see growth in spaces that are honest, community-driven, and respectful of their environment. For Lilliput, evolution doesn’t mean reinvention.

Our focus is on deepening what already exists preserving our food identity, nurturing music culture, and remaining a safe, welcoming space by the sea. If people continue to return year after year and feel that the soul of Lilliput is intact, that is growth in its truest sense.

Explore more Recap'25 interviews here.