Higher Ground- how I love the. Let me count the ways. While most coffe shops at leat one glaring issue, Higher Ground seems to escape that trend. The food is all delicious. Simple, but delicious. No huge meals, but a large menu for a coffee shop. The coffe is quality, and although I havent had all the beverages available, the price and quality of their coffe is hard to beat. Best of all, it is spacious and not at all pretentious. The giant numbered spoons you place on your table to indicate to the server where to bring your order is a sign that they don't take themselves too seriously. the staff are friendly and fit the atmosphere incredibly well. Needless to say I'm a fan. read more

I really enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. The cafe is pleasantly decorated and always very clean. I've never had any problems with the staff, they're very friendly! My personal favourite is the Snow Dragon. I've gotten my whole family hooked on drinking them, we've started incorporating it into our winter traditions! (Although, tea is an all year 'round sorta thing, for me.) Will definitely be coming in again! read more

As a local coffee shop to meet up in, I love Higher Ground. It is open late, the complex drinks are sweet and delicious and most of the staff is pretty cool. It's fun to have chats with them when they aren't crazy busy, and they are usually happy to help. The selection of cheesecakes that they offer is super delicious and the other goodies are pretty tasty too. So why the three stars? Well, Higher Ground has a few problems. One of the biggest is seating. It is always super packed, and if you come in with more than two other people you are basically required to spread out and wait until you can grab a table. The coffee is good, but the lines are long and the wait for your drink is longer so there is no point in taking your coffee to go. There are places with better, cheaper coffee and shorter lines if that is what you're truly searching for. Basically, the Higher Ground encourages people to sit and chat and stay as long as possible. I'm all for hunkering down in a coffee shop, but the lack of places to sit gets really frustrating. I love the atmosphere so I peek my head in to check to see if we can grab a spot. But, I'm sick of having to pounce the moment a table becomes available, so more often than not you'll find me resting elsewhere after my Kensington experience. read more

I've been going here for years and have always had a Love / Hate relationship with Higher Ground: Love: - The famous Real Estate slogan: location, location, location definitely applies here. It's my favourite coffee hang out when I'm close to downtown. It's a juxtaposition of cozy atmosphere jam-packed with a random assortment students / dates / people just hanging out. Hate: - Tepid service from hipster baristas / cashiers whose personalities contain a big scoop of indifference, a dash of sloth and a pinch of snarky? CHECK! - Beverages with names that sound better than it tastes? CHECK! - Wi-fi that reminds me of using a dial-up modem? CHECK! But like a typical addict (why do I always order the overly sweet, I can't taste anything for hours Banana Magic?) and against my better judgment, I keep coming back :-) read more

I took my boyfriend here last week. I had talked about this place and he wanted to check it out too. Anyway, he had a cappuccino-ish fancy beverage and I had a rooibos tea. I love rooibos tea, so their little pot full of it so I could keep refilling my cup is genius. My boyfriend's coffee bevvy was good too. But let's be honest here: the service is atrocious. I have been to Higher Ground a few times, and every single time the guy taking my order looks bored out of his mind, almost to the point that he looks like he's going to yell at you if you ask him something. They never even look at me when I'm ordering. If I do happen to ask questions, they look clearly annoyed. I'm not asking for valet service here, but at least look at me when I'm ordering. Its pretty ridiculous how bad the service is honestly. You might as well just have a drive through and bark through the little microphone/speaker thing. But then we wouldnt get to sit down in the uber-buzzing cafe packed with students on their Macs, every one of them either mooching off of the S-bux internet or choosing to pay the $5/hour, somehow. Ah Higher Ground. *shakes head* 10/30 read more

So, I'm wandering through a strange town, desperately needing three things: food, wifi access, and a place to recharge my trusty notebook's battery. (I guess you could say we both needed feeding.) I see Higher Ground. Works for me. The stations just inside the door were all plugged up, unfortunately. (Not every seat, nor every plug, was full, but the people who were there rather inconsiderately spread out their possessions to take up as much room as possible.) No matter: I found a table near a plug in the wall, and it was all good. The sandwich I had was surprisingly good, although it didn't come with any extras to make it a full meal. (Fries would probably have violated somebody's religious sensibilities, but surely they could have managed a salad, or a pickle, or something.) I'm not a coffee drinker, but the green tea was definitely better than I've found in most places. Most importantly, the place wasn't crowded, or noisy, and the staff were friendly without being pushy. I could see myself getting to like this place. If I ever go back to Calgary. read more

This place always seems to be the place where I go to catch up with friends. I don't know why, but it's just a go to place for me. Actually let me correct that, I DO know why this is. First of all I like that they serve their tea in those little metal pots, it's like your own personal tea pot, which they'll refill with hot water for those extended conversations. Second of all, I feel like it's just an over all cozy place to be, especially on the abundance of chilly days we have in Calgary. If you're swift and quick enough to snag a seat by either side of the fire place then you're set, otherwise I prefer to sit in the nook of the windows and people watch if flying solo. And lastly, it's my favourite place to play some cribbage with my boyfriend. It's relaxed atmosphere makes us feel like we're at home in a way, with no where to be and no reason to rush anywhere. The staff and its clientele compliment the Kensington area and help fulfill my dream of being a hippy. Favourite drink: Banana Magic (half sweet and no whip when I'm being "good") read more

As a self professed internet junkie, it is sometimes hard to go to coffee shops and just enjoy a great cup of coffee. The Higher Ground is that place. They do have wifi, but it will cost you. And really, who pays for the internet nowadays? The Higher Ground also has a docking station for laptops if you are desperate, but plugging in your computer just to get internet? Embarrassing. So when I want to do some reading, catching up with a friend or just enjoy some pretty solid people watching, I always head to The Higher Ground first! If that isn't convincing enough, they also serve wine and beer! How can you not love that? read more

Open til midnight on weekends! That's worth 4 stars alone. Higher Ground is a fave. I've been here on dates, to meet friends for chat, to play chess, after ever Zombie Walk, to do some writing, to work on my laptop. I almost always order the Nut 'n' Honey Espresso with extra hazelnut. I loved when they had giant latte cups. Getting the wingback chairs near the fireplaces is the ultimate goal. Always get a good view of the door to scope on the incomers. I've had their breakfast burrito. It's not bad for a coffee house. They often have original art. They have a great newsletter. And the location? Well, who doesn't love the ever-charming Kensington. On a snowy night, it's a delight to sit in the window with a warm latte and watch the snow fall on the lit trees. Though HG has recently undergone some reno's to expand their seating, they are in dire need of recovering their chairs. They're starting to look a bit ghetto. It's ok tho HG. I'd never break up with you. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon, chose it over the Starbucks next door. The pastries in the display looked good, the seating was comfortable... but... the keylime cheesecake was extremely spongy (not fresh), the oreo cupcake was only OK and the Caesar salad had pieces of rotten lettuce, with not much of a flavor to the dressing at all. My black coffee was decent, but the Folger's I make at home is better. My wife's mocha frap was insanely sweet and tasted like it was made from a mix, and was also served in a chipped plastic cup. Now I know why people prefer Starbucks! read more

Higher Ground - Caesar Salad, $8. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Had a great breakfast with the family on a Boxing Day. Even though it was busy, the service was great. My kids loved the hot chocolate and yogurt parfait. read more

Higher Ground - The coffee counter. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

10 years later and I keep coming back. It must be good. I like that Higher Ground offers food, breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, wine. They are always consistent, always affordable and always tasty. The decor...meh...it doesn't matter to me what the decor is like. Service rocks + food is good = Winning. We stopped in for a coffee following dinner in Kensington. Hubs & I had coffee, the boy had a cookie and we shared a coconut crave bar. Service was good, prompt. Coffee was intense...with darn good foam on my cappucino (I tried turning the spoon upside down over hubs head and the foam stayed put). No doubt Higher Ground gives good foam. And the coconut crave bar, to die for...if you are a coconut fan that is. Delightful in all ways. read more

Its a cool place for sure! Nice hangout joint after a good meal in hipsterville (Kensington) it's a got a cozy vibe and isn't super noisy. Real estate can be an issue when hipster students come here and "study" (Aka update their status on Facebook every five minutes) but it's usually fairly easy to find a table for a quartet. The coffee? Mediocre at best. In my opinion you would have better luck getting a decent coffee at Sta... You know that cooperate Souless monster coffee place. All in all I would come here if I am in kensington and need an after spot to chill at but I would never go out of my way for the mediocre coffee or dessert items which look better than they taste. read more

When I first moved to Calgary, this was one of the first places I checked out with newly made friends. Now, almost 6 years later, I am happy to say it is still just as great. Good people watching, reading or getting a little work done if you are a laptop toting student or self employees type. It is a popular spot regardless of day of the week or time of day. But it never seems to get that frenzied "get out of the way I need my coffee" feel that some of the other chain coffee places get. It's pretty chillaxed even when it's packed. Maybe everyone orders decaf? They have a fantastic selection of lattes, including different types of milk (Almond milk!) and they get your order done quickly. The staff are friendly and always have great suggestions if you want to step out of your coffee comfort zone. And of course, they do the basics very well. Yay coffee. read more

My favourite coffee shop in Calgary! I started going here in university and then it became my local hangout when I moved to Kensington. This place has an amazing atmosphere, comfy seats, well-spaced tables, toasty-warm fireplaces and terrific drinks. They make a great London Fog and my best friend nicknamed The Great Divide (espresso, hot chocolate & raspberry) the 'Better than Sex Drink'. They also have a monthly drink which is usually more than worthwhile if you try it! The desserts are routinely great, but I haven't had much of the food - what I've tried is decent but a bit too expensive for my budget. The staff is a good bunch as well and really friendly and helpful (and really apologetic every time they have to kick you out when you're still there past closing). This is an absolutely terrific place to hang out with friends in evening over a cup of coffee, tea or wine, and it makes a great meet-up point at the beginning of a night out or road trip (it's amazing how much you can sweeten up your driver with a Higher Ground coffee or hot chocolate). Although I've gone several times to work on projects with people, but I've always preferred to use it just as a relaxation place. It can get noisy when invaded by students, but at most times is a mellow place to chill out and enjoy a good book or a good conversation with friends. This is definitely a place all Calgarians should check out at least once! read more

One of my favourite spots in Kensington to pop down and do some work or meet up with friends. The ambience gives off great vibes with loads of tables and chairs filled with people chatting or clicking away on their laptops. The "dirty chai" is my favourite drink here: it's a chai latte with a shot of espresso, yum! One piece of advice: the wifi is good and free but ain't the fastest so do your time sensitive work before coming read more

I was meeting someone for coffee when we had to change locations at the last minute and they suggested Higher Ground. Having heard of both the cafe and the Kensington area I was game to switch and give it a try. Finding parking is difficult...I'm amazed I found a spot within easy walking distance, and the signs don't make much sense if you're from out of town. It was snowing out so definitely a good day for being inside drinking nice hot coffee! The space inside is large, warm, and it was a bit noisy but (mainly because it was absolutely packed full of people which is a good sign). As a first time pick I decided to order the Banana Magic. Their menu is extensive but the description of "espresso, chocolate, banana, and whipped cream (chocolate)" was a must-try. The espresso was smooth and didn't have that burnt-starbucks taste which was awesome. The chocolate must be a semi-sweet dark of some sort because it was not overly sweet and balanced the banana flavour wonderfully. The chocolate whipped cream added a little extra sweetness without being too intense. All in all it was absolutely delicious and probably one of the best mochas I've had yet. I look forward to going back and trying more flavours! read more

Coffee tastes like paint. Nice atmosphere but too many minuses for how angry their coffee make me. On my top ten list of reasons why Calgary will never achieve greatness. read more

Monday April 4th, 2014 20:35. 11*C sunny. Comfortable cozy atmosphere with full of post secondary students completing their last minute paper assignment or getting ready for final exam.... Or some people just hangout out for a cup of coffee, chatting or possible flirting with a date.... My coffee shop journal complete. :P Anyways, this is my first initial visit at Higher Ground coffee shop, beside my interior atmosphere reported above the paragraph. They have a huge selection drink and food menu on the wall. Since it's weekday evening I order a pot of tea... (Yes I know, I should order coffee or lattes) but, they have a good selection of teas. And their salted toffee but bars.... It was delicious. I'll be back again with my computer laptop pretend a post secondary students with my giant headphone on. And most importantly: a cup of latte and pastry. read more

not too shabby...had the mini egg mocha which was delish since i do love my coffee oh so sweet. I would definitely like to try some of the other drinks and food on their massive chalk board menu. I was just about to comment on the decor but for the life of me can't remember. (note to self: be more observant). Other than that it was definitely a charming little place to hang out after a night gallivanting in Kensington. Also I don;t know how anyone can study here with people, such as myself, cackling away like hyenas. But I guess it is comforting to be close to a source of caffeine when pulling an all nighter cram sesh. yeah........ read more

I recently met a group of friends at Higher Ground in Kensington and the experience left me quite impressed. I love that there's a lot of room at Higher Ground. The 6 of us monopolized a few tables and between all of us, we had a good assortment of the fare they offer. I'll start by saying that their coffee is delicious. I especially like places that offer organic coffee and yes, this place is one of them. Their lattes and hot chocolates were also prepared with expertise and precision. And of course, let's not forget to mention their assortment of teas! Black teas, green teas and herbal teas, OH MY! Higher Ground has got it all covered! Higher Ground is not your ordinary coffee shop because they also serve cocktails and food! Everything from Piadinas (Italian flatbread sandwiches) to skewers, yogurt parfaits to mac 'n' cheese; Higher Ground truly stands out from the rest of the generic coffee shops in the area. If you're in the mood for a 'one-stop shop', Higher Ground serves everything you need to ensure your palette will be completely satisfied. It's refreshingly different and exceptionally good. read more

I went to this cafe today for the first time ever. What can I say... I loved it!! I had a cup of coffee and a caramel square. Each was really good and not overly priced. I can't believe I haven't been coming to cafe. It's a great place to go to socialize or to go and study. The atmosphere is casual and not pretentious at all and very chill. read more

Calling this place a true coffee-house is accurate. Higher Ground is licensed, open-late, and serves a nice little menu. I would argue that it's not Calgary's only TRUE coffee house, because Kawa on 8th St is actually a much better option. That said, I like Higher Ground, not least because of the free coffee I got there for checking in for the first time on Yelp. As for everything else, well, the coffee was pretty good. Honestly, I don't have the vast sensory capacity needed to differentiate between different roasts at different cafes around the city. The dessert fridge (is there an official name for such a fridge?) was pretty empty when I got there, around 9:00 pm, and what was in there obviously wasn't too fresh, but I seem to remember enjoying a delicious apricot cake or something. Once again, not nearly as good as the baked goods at Kawa, but still nice. The place was a bit messy, probably because this seems to be a pretty popular hang-out place for the UofC residents of Kensington. Lots of study groups, and pretentiously existential conversations going on. Ah, the nostalgia. read more

Food: ?? (never tried) Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 3/5 Overall experience: 3/5 (1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic) To be honest, I'm not into the whole hanging out at coffee shops, paying for overpriced coffee and pastries, etc. My first time here was for a club meeting after one of the execs mentioned we should check this place out. It's been awhile so let's see what I can remember about the food and drinks... The coffee and tea was a little too expensive for me; then again i'm kinda cheap when it comes to buying hot beverages haha). I remember getting one of their green teas which came in a nice individual teapot. I love green tea and it's mediocre here - the typical stuff you can get at other places. One of the other execs got a hot chocolate which was topped with a large portion of whipped cream and he said it was great (it certainly looked delicious). I didn't try the food, but there is a variety of unique things to try and the prices are typical of coffee shops (baked goods at around $3, sandwiches/paninis/ soups and salads at about $7-$9). Overall, I wouldn't come back here unless I'm close to the area and want to catch up with an old friend (i'm a moderate coffee drinker). However, I suggest a visit for anyone who does enjoy sitting around with a nice cup of coffee/tea or a nice place to hang out. The environment is very casual and chill, wonderful place to go and chat with a friend, do some work, or read a book, etc.. There are nice comfy couches and small tables scattered around, and seems like 'the' local hangout. read more

I've been to Higher Ground once before to grab brunch and talk shop with a colleague, but tonight at the Yelp event was totally different. No sitting at the bar with the notebook plugged in, it was trying vegan samplers from their Wednesday menu--a revelation. And the service? I felt like royalty. Colour me intrigued. I'll be back. read more

On a calm, quite Friday night, I decided to head to Higher Ground to escape from "life". I didn't want to socalize with anyone this night but still wanted to be out in public with a good book and an upbeat vibe...and I found it at Higher Ground! I grabbed a nice warm americano, a delcious cookie, a seat by the window, and got knee deep in a good book. The place was about 80% full and exactly what I needed that night. I read that this place does speciality themed nights such as vegan and vegetarian dinners, plus they have live music. Both of these ideas sound very interesting to me so I can't wait to try them out! There is literally nothing to complain about at Higher Ground. It's like a sancturary of peace! Actually ok, only one complaint...the bathroom was a tad... icky... but I looked past it! read more

Really, does Higher Ground need any more reviews? Definitely not, but I'm writing one anyway. I love fireplaces and a naturally bright atmosphere. As soon as I walked in for the first time yesterday, I was sold. It's a busy place with good energy, which I like. Lots of people were discussing business. If you want to work here, good luck getting an adequate table. I had to grab a small one and ended up putting stuff all over the floor and on chairs. This is not necessarily a good place to spread out or have private conversations if you care about having enough space and/or privacy. I tried the white hot chocolate beverage called Winterlust and even though I'm not normally a white chocolate fan, I thought it had a nice and mild, yet sweet enough taste and would order it again. I don't often stop in Kensington but I'd not hesitate to return to Higher Ground. I prefer it to other coffee shops in the area. read more

A great local coffee place across the street from the Plaza Theatre. Open late so an excellent place for a drink after the show. They are licensed and have excellent coffee drinks. Over the last year and a bit, the owner and manager have been working together to improve the store with things like WiFi, free wired access (WiFi is part of Fatport (http://fatport.com/).) And small improvements to the store layout that have allowed them to add tables. They've automated the espresso machines for consistency and expanded the food offerings. Nothing quite like a steamy cappuccino in one of the bay windows on a frosty January Saturday morning. Staff are usually friendly and attentive although, like all Calgary shops, there is some fluidity with the staff and the school seasons change. Great baking, great atmosphere, why would anyone go next door to Starbucks? Shop local, tell Dave (owner) and Jon (manager) I say "Hi" while you're enjoying the fireplace. I miss this place now that I'm an out-of-towner. read more

I always used to go to Higher Ground because I had a friend that worked there. After a year of regular popping in their front door, I've come up with the following conclusions: 1) It's slow. Food service and drink service. They take their time. 2) It's expensive. Not the place to go for a cheap coffee and lunch. 3) The bathroom is a tiny hole in the wall, and, generally, dirty. And a few positives.... 4) The hipster, low-key crowd is kinda lovely. They have a lot of regulars and people who truly love their scene. I don't feel like it's the kind of place that gets all judgey. 5) It's a great place to work for a few hours. Big tables and you can sprawl out. If you can battle out with the wi-fi -- AND WIN -- you'll have a productive afternoon. 6) The London Fog's are amazing. Truly amazing. My favourite in the city. Stop in for a London Fog, soak up the people and give it a shot. read more

The atmosphere is great, esp. if you're a student. The coffee was terrific (and you can buy the brand, fair-trade, to take home) but some of the food was a bit meh. However, the desserts are to die for. I love that you can take bags of biscotti home. But seriously, people, if you're going to sit all day, at least buy a meal or two. Agree with earlier comments on wifi speed: free and available, nice, but iffy on the speed. read more

Happy atmosphere with lots of good quotes. All day breakfast draws my attention and the container bar is right next to the high ground. Iced cappuccino and cranberry lemonade are good. We ordered bagel toast and Tuscan sunrise( with eggs and sausage) abt 18bucks all together. A lot ppl came to study, work or chat. read more

Higher Ground - Tuscan sunrise - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Mediocre service and even worse coffee and food. The Wi-Fi is not free, and none of the commercial Wi-Fi providers I know (Rogers, Boingo, etc.) were accessible. They do have wired Internet access at the bar, but its use is limited to one hour, and working on a laptop is difficult because of the narrowness of the bar. read more

Like Wendy, Tiffany and Sarah Louise, I attended a Global Vegetarian Night in October at Higher Ground. Unlike Wendy, Tiffany and Sarah Louise, my meal was NOT vegan as I had a coffee with my meal :s Oops. Which just means I need to go again, right?? This aside, the experience was great. We reserved ahead of time and the table was waiting for us. We were a little confused about the process to start but after asking the server, we were well on our way. The table was a little small at times for 4 of us but we managed to make it work. The food was phenomenal. I wasn't sure what a vegan meal would be like and I was pleasantly surprised. For $20, definitely a great deal. Plus, there's a Yelp coupon with check-in at Higher Ground! I had a specialty coffee, which was yummy - I need to try their more traditional drinks (Americano, Latte, etc). I'll definitely be back. (2/30) read more

My usual HG experience takes place on Friday's when my co-worker is kind enough to pick up our weekly 'treat coffees' on his way into work. I always get the Cafe Calypso - basically a coconut latte. It works, it's different, my Friday is off to a good start. The smell or taste of coconut also transports me to the beach which is where I hope I'll be after the Friday night Lottomax draw. Today I went to HG to play Scrabble with a friend and it was only ok. It was packed with tables filling every available space. If I wanted the delightful experience of strangers in my lap and uncomfortable seats I'd rather spend $300 flying economy to Vancouver. I can see why it works for some, but today, it just lacked a certain coziness. Perhaps if I was in the mood for people watching, I would have liked it more. Though I did win at Scrabble so maybe I owe them another visit. 6/30 read more

I really like to get to Higher Ground...especially if there is flooding 'round. Har Har It's a treat to get to Higher Ground; each time I have gone I have left satisfied and looking forward to the next visit. The raspberry mocha, which is actually called something else (can't remember what) is my favorite! The only downside is that the place is always busy and people like to sit and chat in the inviting atmosphere, so getting a table can be a bit iffy sometimes. All and all this is a great place for a delicious coffee treat! read more

as a comfortable place to hang out for a while, it is okay -- but crowded. The real issue here is the lousy coffee. It tastes to me like coffee flavoured water (even the espresso). For serious coffee go to Kava or Phil and Sebastians. The other problem with the place is that it can get very crowded and noisy. The free wifi and computer hookups allow people to hang around for a long time -- which means it can be hard to get a table. I used to come here but it has lost its allure. read more

When I first moved to Calgary I loved this place it has charm. However after coming here quite often to work on my computer I've come to expect uninterested and at times rude service. Which would be fine as this is a hipsterish area and that tends to be a norm. The food though... for lack of a better word 'blows'. Because I need a space outside of my home to work productively I come here, and because it's a faux pas to bring my own food I begrudgingly order something I don't want to eat every time. The best menu items are the breakfast and I really have no complaints there. I love the veggie options. The lunch menu though is overpriced and very boring. The BLAT salad comes out looking exactly like it sounds: like the age old salad veggie mix thrown carelessly on a page and giant globs of ranch all over. I'm going to continue coming here because this is really my only option in the area. But please higher ground, step it up. read more

One of my long time favorite coffee shops. Not for the coffee but for the Dublin Mist. It's similar to a London Fog but with Irish Cream. Irish breakfast tea, steamed milk, and Irish cream. The Dublin Mist is my go to non asian milky tea drink. Sooooooo good. Their London Fog is very good as well but I pretty much always order the Dublin Mist over it. Sooooooooooo good. :) Ever since the renos, the place has been a lot noisier and busy so we often get our drinks to go and wander Kensington or find a bench if it's not too cold outside. If you do happen to be there when it is more quiet, it is an awesome place to chat or read a magazine or such. Very warm and cozy. But don't be a poser and drink there just to be cool. :) 5 stars because it's the only place I can get this drink. read more

So many great reviews for Higher Ground..Why? Because its amazing. It has a lot of space, a fireplace, WIFI, and a casual vibe. They're even open late on weekdays (till 11pm) Tons of drinks on the menu, alcaholic and non, decent food, and they hold all kinds of events that involve the community. Even with its larger than usual size for a coffee shop, it manages to maintain a cozy feeling. They tend to be busy pretty much ALL the time, so patience is needed when looking for a spot to sit. read more

One of my favorite places to be. Open late for us millennials who sleep late but need to work. It's a great first date location. Heck even a good place to take my folks after a day of cruising Kensington. read more