This is a story of how 3 Kolkatans revolutionized the rooftop café culture without any hospitality background. Anirban Sengupta and Debraj Dey, two thoroughbred Xavierians and classmates through school and college and Anirban’s better half Anamika Sengupta.
It was the year 2014, when Anirban and Anamika decided to call it quits from their high-profile corporate jobs and Debraj decided in favour of a sabbatical from his businesses. Awestruck and Inspired by the natural view of a café they stepped into in California, they decided to bring something similar in Kolkata – the idea was to showcase that nothing more breathtaking than nature and finally the birth of What’s Up! café on October 4, 2015.
Perched on the 7th floor on Southern Avenue, the café had the greenest and most gorgeous view of the Kolkata skyline together with the Ravindra Sarovar Lake. What’s Up became an instant hit and won the hearts of everyone.
What started as a modest 70-seater café with basic nibblers, is today, amongst the most awarded, most loved multi cuisine resto-pubs, stretched across 3 floors with a seating capacity in excess of 300. What’s Up not only revolutionized the roof top café culture in Kolkata but has also been a pioneer in promoting Live Music in diverse genres. What’s Up has been hosting Live Music , 365 days a year !
In 2019, the trio launched another winner – this time a concept QSR dine-in cafe that drew its inspiration from the famed Euro and Dollar Stores across Europe and America. The trio named it 99 ! – a favourite among college goers and adults alike, offering xcellent food and instaworthy ambience at a super affordable price point.
In 2022 the business grew offshore and started their first foreign venture by acquiring a 40 year old French restaurant in Dallas, Texas, USA – Café de France. This is a first hospitality venture owned 100% by Resident Indian individuals and that too in The United States !
Our Special Video
Lots of food and hundredsá “What’s Up started on 4th Oct, 2015. What started as just another
Shisha café in a predominantly residential part of Kolkata, has over
the last 8+ years.
