This cafe was recommended to me because it is housed in an old power station or something to that effect. Space had a lot of natural light but the service was terrible. We interacted with three different servers and all were obnoxious. Skip it; lots of other cute coffee shops with better service. Food was blah! read more

Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

One word - amazing :) The food was super delicious and presented beautifully. The hotcakes weren't too sweet and the eggs were well cooked. I think the flavors complimented everything really well. The service was quick and friendly as well. The ambience of the cafe really set the tone of the space. The timeless structure of the building was renovated tastefully. Really pleasant place to chill and pass the time. Would love to come again. Thanks read more

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Great food and ambiance! I would recommend getting a reservation if you want a table. Coffee is fantastic here! read more

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Make a reservation! This place can get quite busy and I saw quite a few people waiting to be sat during our time there (and it was a Monday morning). If you've got luggage with you, you're safe, as they seem to have luggage storage by the door. Walking up, there's a cool industrial vibe. They sell quick coffee and pastries right outside for people who just want fast take away. The inside is really large with tall ceilings and a lot of natural lighting. Very chic! Service was pretty good. Our orders were taken pretty quickly and our food and drink came out pretty fast. Paying was super easy, even though we were sat upstairs. The food is really good. I love the tight menu with interesting flavor additions. I can see why people rave about the coffee. It's really good here. read more

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If you're debating whether or not to grab brunch here, I would recommend going somewhere else. Mostly because there are so many better brunch places in Melbourne to check out - I ordered the scrambled eggs on toast and they were the blandest thing I've ever had. Really wanted to love this place cause the space is gorgeous. read more

This is a great place for brunch. Expect a bit of a wait when you arrive. The restaurant has placed a coffee and pastry station outside so you have something to sip or nibble on while you wait. The baristas are pretty fast so there isn't much of a wait on beverages. In fact, I hadn't finished my XL coffee yet and our table was ready. The vibe is cool and the volume can be a bit loud, but you can still hear your dining mate's conversation. It's a two floor restaurant with extremely high ceilings. It felt a bit like a warehouse. The menu offers a variety of options. Our table got the crab Benedict, the chili scramble, and the eggs on sourdough. The crab Benedict was a good size. It's comes on a fluffy danish that is delicious by itself. The chili scramble was also good. I thought it would be spicy, given the name of the dish, but it refers to chili the soup/stew. We added a side of chorizo to the dish. The eggs on toast was a larger plate. It comes with two eggs, any style, and two large slices of toast. It was a fun morning. The restaurant is located across southern cross station. There were many people with luggage in the restaurant. It seemed to be their last meal in the city, before departing. You know it's got to be good if people are hauling their luggage here. read more

We were greeted by the best host, Manny. We waited for about 15 minutes, which was not bad, considering there were a lot of people waiting to be seated. Once seated, we were greeted by our server, Lia. She arrived at our table very shortly after we were seated. She was so nice and answered our questions. Our food was delicious. Someone else had Yelped that it was the best food they had in all of Melbourne. We would have to agree! read more

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Always a great breakfast but may have to queue. Great coffee, humorous service, goos food and excellent ambiance. read more

One of the best breakfast cafes in the world. Amazing execution on a wide variety of dishes and excellent coffee as well. Huge space, stays crowded. Worth a detour. read more

Highly recommended booking a reservation! We got in swiftly and were seated. The juice, food, and service was great! read more

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Came here as a walk-in customer at around 8:05am on a weekend. We got a table right away for a party of 4. The environment was very relaxing and hip. It's situated in an old building with exposed bricks and large arch windows. The area was decorated with lots of green plants. For drinks, I ordered a large latte and the rest of my family members order large flat whites. The latte was on the bitter side. It was not because the beans were over roasted. It was either the beans itself had a bitter note or the milk to espresso ratio wasn't quite right. I ordered the slow cooked Tasmania salmon with poached egg (got to get my last local Aussie food fix before heading to the airport!). The rest of my family ordered egg benedicts with a side of thick cut bacon and the Instagram-worthy ricotta hotcakes. The presentation of my salmon dish was lovely. The pinkish red beet root puree contrasted with the potatoes and salmon. The salmon had a soft and tender interior and a lightly torched exterior. I like how it was skinless. The thick cut bacon wasn't too fat and wasn't overly salty. The bearnaise sauce in the egg benedict dish tasted pretty good. It was creamy and rich. However the sourdough bread crust was quite tough. The ricotta hotcakes was BEAUTIFUL! Decorated with edible flowers, sprouts, seed mix and fresh fruits. However, it was also ENORMOUS! The diameter was at least 20cm and at least 6cm thick. I would suggest sharing this between 2 people. The hotcakes itself had blueberry incorporated in it. The cream on top was denser than the typical whipping cream I normally have. When we left at around 9am, there was a significant line up outside. It's great that they have a patio/porch and coffee bar for people to wait at. read more

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Really cool funky place with great service. The food was good but not amazing. I would go back but it's nothing to rave about.

The food is good. But what Higher Ground really kills is the delivery of their vibe. First on the food - the dishes are nothing super wild, but each dish is put together so perfectly with a lot of complexity. When you order an egg hash, you aren't getting eggs and some rando vegetables. You are getting this beautiful symphony of perfectly balanced vegetables and delicious bread and more. The building from the inside sort of looks like a hipster hotel lobby? Or perhaps a rustic chic wedding venue? Or a movie set turned restaurant? But everything from the hanging plants, the lights, to even the bathroom sinks scream "EXQUISITE". And yet you aren't paying the price tag you expect to from this quality of everything. The catch is, you will probably have to wait quite a bit outside in a long line. read more

Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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From the same talented group that created Top Paddock and Kettle Black, you can expect some magical looking brunch here at Higher Ground! On my last trip to Australia, I had the pleasure to visit this gorgeous cafe. No matter what time of day this place would always be bustling with tourists and locals alike. Even on a Monday morning, we were lucky to be seated within an hour (can't imagine coming here on the weekends) but thankfully, they have a small coffee station for us to enjoy a cuppa coffee while waiting on the patio. Upon entering, the interior has simply won me over; soaring ceiling, oversized sunlit windows, ripped exposed brick walls which give that calming rustic and industrial vibe. It's the kind of place that I don't mind spending a couple of hours. As for the food, I had Higher Ground's most iconic dish, their Ricotta Hotcake: It was a beautifully plated thick hotcake infused generously in maple syrup, topped with fresh berries, seeds, cream and garnished with eye-popping edible flowers. The portion was HUGE and tasted quite pleasant, but I like the Top Paddock version a tad better to be honest. For coffee, I ordered the Mocha and it was very smooth and velvety! And just like all these fancy coffee places in Melbourne, it leans towards more on the sour note. The service, it could be better, our waitress was arrogant and she overcharged us for things we didn't order. In all, I still had a great time at Higher Ground. Beautiful place, delicious and slightly fancier modern Australian brunch experience with prices that can be intimidating. But if it guarantees quality and sweet delight, I'd say it's worth the splurge. read more

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Higher Ground Melbourne is our last stop during our Weekend in Melbourne before heading to Airport. Conveniently located across from Melbourne Southern Cross Station as we were going to catch The Skybus which takes us to the Airport. Love the openness and spacious interior. The old warehouse like structure has converted into this beautiful space! Menu is really simple and short. Since we were here for breakfast, we opted for: Benedict Eggs: Dry-Cured Ham, Emmental, Bearnaise, Sourdough, Vinegar Powder ($20) Roasted Wild Mushroom on Polenta ($19.50) I love the the Mushroom dish as it has the perfect contrast in texture and taste. But I do love mushrooms. I would order that again as this is one of the best vegetarian dish I had. Flat White as usual was great. I had yet to have a poorly made coffee in Australia. And if you are not a coffee drinker, they also have a good selection of loose leaf tea. Highly recommend if you are in the area. They do have Day/Afternoon/Night menu depends when you visit. If you are not hungry, their drink menu is also quite extensive! read more

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Popped in for a quick tea and cake and instantly saw why people love to hang out here. The interior ambience is extremely trendy as it mixes a bit of the old and the new, and the food is quite tasty. I ordered the iced tea which had a eucalyptus blend and was taken aback by how tasty it was. read more

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Sat next to the open kitchen pass line. Very hip vibe. Great coffee definitely the sampler barista. Went for breakfast save room for desert

Good brunch spot in Melbourne. The place is pretty big. It has some communal tables and some lounge type seating. If available, I recommend the second floor overlooking the main dining room, a little quieter up there. Food: Spiced cauliflower and Ricotta hotcakes. The hotcakes take a little longer to make so make sure you order those in advance. Hotcakes are good, but i would prefer if it was more moist. They are known to have good coffee, but not my thing. I had the Iced chocolate drink. It's good, but a little small. read more

Higher Ground - Ricotta hotcakes and spiced cauliflower eggs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This was the best brunch I've ever had. The chili scrambled eggs were incredible. The sourdough bread was incredible. The chorizo was incredible. Strongest possible recommendation. read more

This was a great restaurant and everything about it--food, service, ambiance, vibe--was all perfect. I especially appreciated how helpful the waitperson was, helping a hungry guy get a fabulous brunch meal. read more

This all day cafe might just be the coolest place on the planet right now. They know how to brew Taiwanese oolong right, and the short rib roll is succulent beyond belief. From the plants to the handwash in the bathrooms to the staff uniforms, everything at Higher Ground is a study in excellence. This former power station feels like it could be the lobby of a hip boutique hotel - definitely somewhere you'd want to hang out all day. And you can by beginning with a brunch of hotcakes, a buffalo yogurt chia bowl or a breakfast cocktail, staying on through the afternoon fortified by sweet pastries and having seasonal oysters and charcuterie in the evening. You could even finish it all off with a whiskey nightcap before they close at 23:00. read more

Absolutely delicious! If you arrive and there is a bit of a wait, there is a comfortable outside seating area from which you can order coffee and juice while waiting for your name to be called. The beet root juice is especially good and not overwhelming on the beet. If you're looking for an alcoholic drink, the rhubarb spritz was a standout. For meals, we ordered the kale and cauliflower salad which comes on top of an almond hummus and with a poached egg. You can add on kingfish sashimi which was especially fresh and a good compliment to the dish. We also had a minced lamb fry up overtop of fried eggs and sourdough bread with sides of yoghurt and eggplant. This was a very hearty dish which is great for someone that has worked up quite an appetite. To top it off, there is a lot of energy inside of Higher Ground. The facilities themselves are impressive and there is music that is loud enough to be heard but not so overwhelming where you cannot have a conversation. This is a must-see for breakfast in Melbourne! read more

Higher Ground - Kale and cauliflower salad with kingfish - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

The latte journey in Melbourne continues. The space here is beautiful, with high ceilings and tons of space. I got a latte with almond milk, and I liked it, but not as much as the one I had at Seven Seeds. I had to add some sugar to it to enjoy it. Service could've been better. Kitchen closes at 3pm. No WiFi. read more

Higher Ground - Latte with almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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The place is very nice, very high ceilings and warm welcome. There services were very good and staff attentive to you. We had Minced lamb fry up and Kale and cauliflower salad, Price is all an average range for city breakfast and brunch. I love the kale and cauliflower salad-it was very nice textures and fresh for a morning palette. However, I was not very impressed with the lamb, it was kind of bland and an seasoning. I wouldn't mind to come back and try other dishes on the menu. This place is so busy in the weekend. Looking forward to coming back soon read more

Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Higher ground Serves similar food to its sisters establishment, Kettle black and Top Paddock. There seems to be smaller options but that might just be because it's still fairly new. We had the semolina porridge and hotcake, great as always. The avo and sourdough is literally 2 halves of an avo, on a sourdough and A sprinkling of salt. A rip off for $14. I expected high mark up when getting avo at cafes but one could expect a by of relish or something to soften the blow. Another rip off is the $6.50 ice chocolate served in small glass. The waitress asked me if I wanted them in kids size for my kids. How big is the kids size I asked, she couldn't answer me another than saying 'smaller' and then sighed and said ' Do you want me to show you the glass? Is that easier?" Professionalism? More like condescending and can't be bothered. When she showed me the glass it was- wait for it- the size of the water glass they use, a shallow 2.5 cm. no kid want their ice choc in that! Even I will struggle to drink out of the wide rim shot glass size without spilling. When it came it was disappointing. Someone has mentioned $7.5 croissant which I saw. Would I return? No, even though I am happy to return to their other 2 venues. Best for coffees and corporate lunches, not suburban mum like me. If ur in a hurry there's coffee cart and cakes outside read more

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Bravo! The hospitality power team behind Higher Ground can do no wrong. Their fit out, the service design, the instagram-worthy menu items, the music, the booze selection, the service... it's all carefully considered and brilliantly executed. I visited twice within the first fortnight of opening and was suitably impressed. The service was friendly and unrushed, despite the line out the door. I especially loved their matching uniforms. The menu is creative and portions are on the smaller and spendier side, but I kind of don't mind that. High quality is the focus here and I don't mind getting a smaller dish if it means the produce is sourced locally. I'm looking forward to coming in the evening to enjoy more of the drinks list and the dinner menu. read more

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Indulgent breakfast. Lots of great options I went with a small plate of their almond hummus and ended on a sweet note with a dense and not too sweet carrot cake and espresso. read more

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A delight! This part of Melbourne CBD has been crying out for something cool and sexy and Higher Ground has 100 per cent delivered. First up! Don't you DARE get a takeaway coffee from here, you simply must go in, sit down and experience the building itself. It is vast but intimate, it feels loud but strangely it's not and you can sit on one of three different levels - all of which look down onto the ground floor. People watching at it's best! Secondly, how great is the service? It's been a while since I have seen such attentive service, with the staff clearly considering your entire experience - food, drink, from start to finish. Also, the staff wear the most adorable uniforms. I kinda want one. On my one and only visit so far, I indulged in some breakky. While I was deeply tempted by the Lamb's Fry, I ended up going for the Buffalo yoghurt chia muddled with strawberries and pistachio. Light and airy and just what I wanted on a Friday morning. Next time I am definitely going for one of their 'breakfast cocktails' such as the Gin and Green Juice or the classic Mimosa. I love a venue that supports drinking in the morning. read more

Higher Ground - Flat white from Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Higher Ground straight away stands out from the pack - the space is unlike any I have seen in Melbourne. It's simply stunning; the ceilings are so high it almost feels like you are in a church .. albeit a very busy, vibrant one with long queues and pumping tunes. At the unfashionable end of the city you feel like you've entered an oasis amongst the bland modernity of the surrounding high rises and building sites. I love a place that takes some risks with their menu, and here it feels inventive and bold. The portions were not bad either particularly my side of Brussell Sprouts which as the waitress said is designed for sharing (it was a bit much for one person). I prefer my Sprouts a little softer, perhaps cooked a touch longer. The slow cooked beans had a fantastic texture with a real juxtaposition from the crunchy croutons with the soft poached eggs. Coffee was decent, but not the best in town. Felt a little rushed, which I guess is due in part to the large hoard of people milling about outside for a table. The waitress cleared away my napkin before I had cleaned my face. All in all Higher Ground justifies the hype, and is definitely worth a visit Music - louder than usual, plus all the hard surfaces add to the din. Still at an acceptable level to chat. Newspapers - yep. read more

Higher Ground - Slow cooked beans and a generously portioned side of Brussel Sprouts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Walking into higher ground is reminiscent of walking into a nightclub. Its layout reminded me of the ivy in Sydney cbd. The music is loud. The waiters are smartly dressed in their gray business shirts. There is fancy aesop hand wash in the toilets. The seating downstairs consists of bar stools, long high tables, small tables. The upstairs has lounge style seating. On a Sunday morning at ten, We were informed of a 35 minutes wait. While waiting, grab a coffee from the coffee cart. Small coffees start at $4.20. We were then escorted upstairs to lounge style seating and were not given the option of the type of seating. Quite uncomfortable when sharing meals. Coffee was average. Water is served in small glasses. They look like candle holders. Walls have weird white paintings of icebergs (?) with paint chipping off the walls leaving the bricks exposed. We ordered the ricotta pancakes which taste like normal pancakes, nothing special just really fluffy. Presentation is great with a sprinkling of pepitas, linseed, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and flower petals with a lump of cream in the center. Reminiscent of kettle black. The mince lamb on fried egg and toast with yoghurt seemed to be missing the promised eggplant. Mediterranean flavours. The Portobello mushroom sprinkled with dukkah on creamy polenta and mushroom sauce is quite creative and delicious. Points for presentation and service. No split bills. Beautiful venue. But Quite noisy and not a place where you can chill and relax. Food was good but not amazing. read more

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Rude hostess. We were just there trying to get brunch. There was a few people waiting, we didn't see a person taking names so we walked by the door trying to get someone to ask for a table. After a few minutes, a hostess walked to us and pushing us out of the door and said coldly, " can you go wait outside I will come and take your names." Then she walked away without taking our name down... even though looks like a popular place but with such bad attitude, we will spend our money elsewhere ! read more

Take note... this is what Melbourne does best. Creations like Higher Ground. Maybe they have the space and demand for something so damn swish. But, this place is something that leaves me green with envy. There is so much thought into the design of this restaurant. It's a huge space that has been levelled off into three levels or tier. Each tier has a different feel and does not invade on your neighbour. Then there is the aesthetics. Wooden boxes laced with greenery. And just check out the structure! Lovely big new windows that flood the space with light. There are new structural and supporting beams on the roofing. And one of my favourite features, all of that the lovely red brick exposed. If I was an architect or designer, I would be frothing at the mouth right now. Particularly with the choice of furniture as well. Everything has been chosen and placed very very carefully. Love that attention to detail. Of course the service here is attentive. But you would expect at a place like this. Do keep in mind that you will need to line up to get in. The good news is that they turn the tables over very fast. I was impressed with how well the staff worked together for such a new Venue. As for the food and drink. Well, I ordered the pomegranate shrub & minced lamb fry up. The shrub was perfect, not too sweet or overwhelming with acidic flavour. The lamb fry up was a heavy meal, but really tasty and great for winter. The lamb was spiced and seasoned well. A little on the dry side, but the smoked yoghurt and pomegranate seeds lifted the heaviness of the lamb. I would think that the meal could do with something lighter added to lift it a bit more. Maybe some radicchio lettuce would work? It would freshen it up, while still being savoury and slightly bitter which works well with lamb. There is a lot to love about a restaurant like this. It really reflects something so special about Melbourne culture and creativity. I will make a stop here next time I am in Melbourne for sure! Enjoy Melbourne, you lucky lucky things! read more

Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Time to see what the fuss was all about! We went to Higher Ground for lunch on a Wednesday, arrived a bit before 12 and didn't have to wait. We were seated at the "bar", seeing the coffees being made and keeping an eye on what was happening in the kitchen. Not the perfect spot for a conversation but very satisfying if you're curious like me! The place itself is amazing as was mentioned before, and not as loud as I expected (though I bet it changes in the evening with wine involved!). Service was good, there's quite a lot of staff so you never have to wait long to get their attention. Food wise, I had the "slow cooked beans, green sauce, poached eggs, feta, croutons", which was amazing! Portions aren't really big, but the flavours and the quality of the ingredients used make up for it. I also had a jasmine tea with it, which was delicious too. I was a bit disappointed by the deserts. The brunch options are too expensive (what about a mini version of the hotcake? That'd be amazing!), and I just can't pay $7 for a croissant! All in all, a good experience :) read more

Higher Ground - slow cooked beans, green sauce, poached eggs, feta, croutons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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I had read so many good reviews of this place.. and booking 10 days out could only secure a 5pm booking on Sunday.. so there was a lot of anticipation.. the space is such a big part of what makes this place.. it's a great space to sit, although we sat on stools, while not uncomfortable - at dinner I wanted to lean back, relax but on the plus side my posture was good.. the entrees were awesome. We had the pork crackling roll (it's not like a spring roll, it's like a bread roll) and the Clarence River prawns - sooo good. Mr Stinky Fish had the anchovy and I could tell by the noises he made it was good!!! The cauliflower side was also delicious! However the mains of duck breast and the beef cheek special didn't quite give us the same wow! They were good, just not as good as entree.. the highlight of the night was our waiter - he was brilliant! Service 20/10.. next time we will go for brekky read more

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We came here with high expectations to see if this brunch spot is worth all the hype. - space: very nice and spacious, with a fresh touch from all the decorated plants. - food we got ourselves: * Benedict: too much balsamic makes the sourdough soggy and too unnecessarily sour, no texture, poached egg is fine, beef is overcooked and especially, the most special ingredient- hollandaise, is tasteless. * salmon: so-so, nothing special, the tastes from all the ingredients just don't go together, the whole dish is just disintegrated. * matcha latte: just very plain, the matcha powder is just not of good quality, 6/10. - price compared to the quality of the food & the space: 6.5/10 OVERALL: 6.5/10 won't come back read more

oh my how chic and trendy this place is! I felt a little under dressed the first time, but I did just land after a 15 hour flight. Was recommended for coffee and while they made a gorgeous, much needed latte, the food was fantastic! A little on the pricier side, but quality is much better than expected. Very busy inside, very green, but modern, and the most beautiful wait staff in Melbourne. This was my first impression of Australia, and I dig it. read more

Love the interior and their food and coffee are also good! They also have Tivoli road bakery goods ;-) Just tried their basic brekkie (poached egg on toast w avocado and bacon) and it was delicious read more

Higher Ground - HG became my new favourite place to go and have a cup of coffee or brekkie in Melb CBD !! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Our first dinner at Higher Ground was a birthday celebration in Melbourne CBD ; I wasn't disappointed. The spacious converted warehouse is beautifully appointed and noise levels allowed conversation readily. The drinks menu is substantial and the food was divine. We both appreciated the 12-hour slow cooked oyster blade steak and I had a cos salad that was to die for! The desserts were diverse and so tasty that we didn't share. The wait staff were friendly and accommodating and their chef is a gem. read more

Higher Ground - Dinner tonight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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OMG! This place has the best food and a good variety of drinks to enjoy! The Skirt Steak with Kipfliers, fried egg, and more! Ordered an avocado as a side dish! Food is really wonderful - hidden in an old red brick building on 650 Bourke Street - you have to walk through a Laneways to get to it! Enjoy, and if I'm ever back in Melbourne- I will be heading to Higher Ground! Enjoy some lovely Street Art on the wall just before you get to the building! read more

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Absolutely wonderful! We came in for lunch and were seated immediately as a group of eight, which we hear is rare. The food was outstanding. I had the sausage roll and it was excellent. My mom had the ricotta pancake and she swears it is the best pancake she's had in her 58 years of life. The staff were all lovely and so attentive. While a tad pricey, it is definitely worth the cost. read more