Higher Ground is a light and airy venue and a very popular weekday breakfast spot. I managed to get a table for two at around 8am without a reservation or a wait, but if you are planning on a larger group, you'll be better off booking. Similar to their sister restaurants, I love the ricotta pancake, with the combination of sweet fruits and maple syrup and crunchy nuts and seeds. The coffees here are also good, as are their hot chocolates. I also came here one night for a private function, and it's a fantastic space for events, where the multi level set up allows for a lot more people to get a good view of the action read more

Such a beautiful restaurant! Charming atmosphere, delicious food, good portions. Coffee was delightful. I had the mango coconut whip and LOVED it. My friends were all happy with their meals as well. We almost walked right past it because we only saw the outdoor space, but turned around and were seated immediately. Kind staff, quick service. read more

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

I LOVE this place. A hipster vibe located inside an old warehouse - cool just oozes out of this place. They do not disappoint with their food and presentation either. I can't recommend enough the kale bowl with hummus, avocado, poached egg. The coffee is really good as well. You may have to wait to get it or you may need to make a booking but def a must for brunch if you're in the city! read more

First announced over a year ago, Melbourne's newest opening is finally here. Brought to us by the team behind powerhouse cafes Top Paddock and Kettle Black, there has been undoubtedly a level of excitement for what's in store at Higher Ground. It's a cafe, a restaurant, a bar, a little bit of everything. Hiding unassumingly behind a red brick facade at the lesser travelled end of Little Bourke Street, it can be easily missed if it weren't for a discreet black sign wrapping around the corner edge. The opening crowds of people waiting for tables will be hard to miss, however. The space is a former power substation and the cafe has kept as much of the original structure as they can, with the sweeping high peaked roof and exposed beams creating a large, open dining hall atmosphere. To quote a popular sci-fi series, it's bigger on the inside. Most of the lighting is natural during the day and provided by large arched windows in the outside facing walls. At night, light is reflected off the ceiling to fill the space and supplemented by table lamps. Potted plants are scattered throughout, including a large stacked display in the middle, to add that little bit of green. Dining is split between 3 levels; ground level with small tables and booths, communal benches and bar seating, a middle half-level along one side and corner with even more small tables and bar seating and an upper lounge area, the aptly-named "Higher Lounge", with couch seating. The food menu. For those that have been to Top Paddock and Kettle Black, you can expect even more of those slightly left-field dishes you've grown to love. Loosely ordered from breakfast to lunch dishes, menu highlights include the buffalo yoghurt chia bowl, semolina porridge, minced lamb fry up, spiced cauliflower with scrambled eggs and the wagyu short rib roll. There's also a whole steamed market fish. In the breakfast section. The dinner menu consists of an array of small share plates plus a couple of larger share dishes and includes salt grass lamb ribs, ricotta gnocchi, cured kingfish and beef tartare. Although slightly on the small side, dish presentation and flavour combinations are exquisite throughout the day and night with many rivalling what would be found in a fine dining restaurant. A perfect example is one of the dessert options; the whole boiled mandarin cheesecake, a cheesecake that is inside a hollowed-out mandarin skin. A stunning must try. Drinks on offer are a full range of coffee (with single origin and blend options available as espresso or filter), tea, wine, beer and cocktails available all day long. The overall experience and service is a difficult to describe mix between formal and casual. Staff all in matching collared shirts, pants and aprons and operate like clockwork, but still open for a casual chat. The day and night services don't feel strictly like a cafe or restaurant respectively but rather just somewhere you can go to eat, drink, meet or relax. It is exciting to see another popular cafe group jump on the all day dining journey, and with a gorgeous space and exciting menu, Higher Ground brings life to a largely residential corner of the CBD and is sure to be a city favourite. read more

See all

Higher Ground is the new kid on the block & therefore not surprisingly a popular destination in the Melbourne dining scene, expect anything from a 30-45 minute wait if going during peak times. I loved the building and the decor, not so much a fan of the uniform the staff were wearing but that's neither here nor there. The original plan had been to eat brunch at Higher Ground, but by the time we were seated & served it was closer to lunch time. I was tempted by several items on the menu but opted for the Ricotta Hotcake. I was skeptical as to how big it was going to be as it stated hotcake & not the plural of hotcakes which is more common. I needn't have worried as I was presented with the most ginormous hotcake that I've ever had. I was easily defeated by it. The hotcake was covered in a mountain of seeds & grains (slightly too much if I'm honest) & served with apparently seasonal fruits. My gripe with this is that I personally consider strawberries, raspberries & blueberries as summer fruits, it would have been nice if perhaps it had been served with more traditional winter fruits as that is the current season we are in. Also when paying $21 I expect the stalks of the strawberry to be removed as not something that I usually eat. The hotcake was tasty but perhaps a little dry as the ratio of moist ingredients was not enough for the size of the hotcake. Higher Ground have an interesting list of teas to try & the coffee was pretty good. I'll certainly head back there again as I'm now keen to try the evening menu. read more

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

This large warehouse establishment is not something you usually find in the CBD. I love the space, the design and of course the food. Higher Ground is something you would find in the inner suburbs like Richmond or Collingwood, except the crowds definitely portray the city hustle. It's spacious but that doesn't mean it doesn't get cramped and busy, there's usually a 10 minute wait on a weekday lunch (unless you get there just before 12) to get seated due to it's recent popularity. I've tried the sausage roll and the minced lamb dukkah eggs and both were an excellent, balanced dish. I would highly recommend it if you're in the city and close to the spencer street side. read more

Had an opportunity to try this restaurant on a business trip over from the States. I should start right off saying the food was top notch. We didn't have dessert, but our salad, sides, and mains were all very good. Also the space is gorgeous with light dancing off the old brick walls and high ceilings and multi-level seating providing flair and intimacy. Why only 3-stars then? The soundscape and formality of the service were so completely over the top they overshadowed the food and space. It seems fairly critical to match the space, decor, and high-end food with the appropriate style of music, sound level, and service, and this is where Higher Ground fell way short (for me.) As soon as we sat down, we were blasted with pop rock so loud it was hard to have a conversation - at 6pm. It indeed, as another reviewer mentioned, felt more like a club. Then our waitress came, dressed very properly with manners to match. It all felt very cold - a far cry from the warmth the restaurant space itself exudes. Over the course of the meal she lightened up a bit, perhaps realizing we weren't interested in high tea style service, but the impressions had already been made. This was to be a highlight meal for our trip, and based on other reviews, perhaps we are the odd ducks in not appreciating the vibe Higher Ground is going for, but at least subjectively for us it missed the mark, and I likely wouldn't return any time soon. read more

For those in the know, this is an offshoot of the Top Paddock and Kettle Black ilk. This may also lead you to expect a similar experience, that would be a mistake... this is something else. Higher Ground is a little different, the good stuff is still there, excellent atmosphere, great fit out... the staff are great as expected. The food is where things change a bit, there are more adult choices demonstrating a higher level of technique. Go check it out, it's well worth the experience if you go in with an open mind. Apart from that, the coffee's are as good as ever and there is also a fine selection of sweet treats to tempt should you wish. read more

I found Higher Ground on Instagram and through their food and atmosphere photos I was hooked. Arrived Sunday at 12:30, told a 30 min wait so we had a coffee outside and were pleasantly surprised when we got in 15 minutes later. Coffee wasn't amazing but a good warm up. Eclectic mix of table and seating areas, were were placed on a communal table. Server was friendly and allowed us to take our time. Drinks were reasonably priced and tasty $14 gin cocktail and $12 mimosas. Great food presentation but I didn't feel like it met the standards based on my expectations, dam it insta! I had the lamb with eggs which was good but not very exciting- $20. They didn't have hot sauce which for me would have been an improvement. My friend had the eggs Benedict which was basically eggs over a ham and cheese sandwich, better in theory than practice. We were enjoying our lazy Sunday lunch and taking our time. I thought the server asked if I was still working on my wine but turns out she asked if I was finished and in my shocked state I wasn't able to get out that I wanted the last sip. Sorta a metaphor for the experience, it just missed the last sip. Didn't feel like there was anything on the menu I couldn't live without having so probably wouldn't be back. Looks aren't everything kids. Pack you're own hot sauce. read more

Every aspect expect for atmosphere was sub-par. STEAMED MARKET FISH, JAPANESE BROTH , WAKAME , RADISH , BLACKBEAN AND SESAME: Presentation was nice however the noodles were actually vegetable strands and the broth was sweet and tepid, half way through the dish was cold. Oysters: Couldn't fault this - would be worrying if they stuff up natural oysters, right? MINCED LAMB FRY UP, EGGPLANT, FRIED EGGS, POMEGRANATE , SMOKED YOGHURT, DUKKAH - Couldn't order this as I wanted poached eggs instead. They do not make changes to the dishes I am told. EGGS ON TOAST, POACHED, FRIED OR SCRAMBLED - Butter rock solid and cold, time it was spreadable on the sourdough my poached eggs were cold. No Age newspaper and didn't get asked for a 2nd coffee. Left feeling underwhelmed If a cafe cant get the basics right, hot food, attentive service and a newspaper with my breaky something is wrong. read more

This is a long anticipated addition to the Melbourne food scene from the team behind Kettle Black in South Melbourne. It's located in a beautiful old Melbourne warehouse building and features a well thought out floor plan with various personal dining areas that maintain intimacy despite the lofty surrounds. The harder surfaces are offset with soft jersey linen grey painted window frames and matching uniforms for the staff. Industrial botanical meets French provincial. The food is exceptional with locally sourced quality ingredients and original twists on staple favorites. And the coffee rocks..! The staff are friendly and attentive and encourage experimentation with new dishes. Amazing. read more

See all

Great food, superb coffee... but the service is just awful. 10 minutes waiting to order (and only because the person next to me was having his plates cleared) and 15 minutes at end of meal (also because they had to stop to give someone their food sitting next to me). Sorry, but hard pressed to recommend... read more

If you're happy to wait close to an hour, your tastebuds will thank you for it. Such a refreshing menu that explores different food combinations than smashed avo. The interior decor is calming despite the hustle and bustle and the staff are so lovely and willing to stop and talk to you about the menu. read more

See all

Dinner menu not much choice. 2 adults and 1 child ordered 3 cold dishes and 3 hot meals but definitely not full...may be only the lunch menu is more appropriate for us read more

Higher Ground - Kale Salad warm and tasty - Higher Ground - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

If you like a unique location with a fabulous culinary experience - this is the place for you. It was recommended to us by a reputable source and we were not disappointed. We tried the cauliflower eggs, lamb fry and the hot cake - it's a must! A very special dish, even if hot cakes are not your thing. It's a newly converted power plant that had been lying empty for years. The renovation is top notch with several distinct seating areas, all with their own relaxed, luxe feel. Service was excellent and interesting food combinations were expertly prepared. read more

This is an incredible venue. Super high ceilings but still feels intimate. The menu takes some reading as its not your standard fare. Lots of options for vegetarians. The tea menu is amazing, I had the Egyptian Flowers. Service is perfect and prices reasonable. read more

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

See all

We had breakfast here on a Saturday morning with another couple, and just managed to miss the massive lines by arriving at 10:30am. The high ceilings and cool decor adds to an airy atmosphere for you to enjoy a creative menu; different from your run of the mill smashed avo. Even the eggs Benedicte had a delicious twist with the addition of dry cured ham and a bacon crumb. I had the Stracciatella which suited me perfectly for a light yet still tasty breakfast. Garry had the kale and cauliflower salad, out of the ordinary since it sounds far too healthy for him. However he loved the cured kingfish and the almond hummus. More importantly, everyone enjoyed their perfectly brewed coffee. Well worth the trip to the quieter end of the CBD. This setting would make a perfect private venue or intimate music hideaway. Wish the owners much success. read more

The food was delicious, however overpriced for the basics (eggs benedict and bacon) and servings were small. I ordered the Tasmanian Salmon and would expect a small piece of Salmon for $28.5 but it could've had more baby potatoes for substance. A second dish, the Granola, was ordered whilst friends still ate and it took 10-15 mins before asking for it as others had now finished. The building is beautiful and ambience nice, however it is furnished poorly with a mixture of stools and chairs unsuited to 'fancy' dining as we were informed it was. The booking for 7 ended up being 6 which was a relief as 6 around the table we had was too tight. The crockery and glasware is not fancy and represents cups akin to my childrens tea set (small). The service was friendly and suitable other than the time taken for the Granola to arrive, nothing out of the ordinary. An international customer base of Aus, German, USA and comment on the coffee bean was average from those who had it black...it had a sour/acidic base. read more

If you are after amazing coffee, delicious food and great staff. . . You need to get here! read more

Higher Ground - Need I say more! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Really liked it here. Lovely space. Food was great. Had the steak which was excellent. Superbly cooked and very tasty. Wine was good too. A sparkling, an Eden Valley Riesling and a Tempranillo. Service was excellent. This was a terrific place. Quite underrated I'd suggest. read more

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

See all

Ok went here again last night and it was delicious. I had the mushroom polenta yuuum also flank steak and cabbage. Then he mandarin cheesecake for dessert... Spectacular love love this place read more

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

Another cafe that hyped up the CBD brunch scene. The sight of queue is just a norm here. Tried their Spiced Cauliflower Scrambled Egg, it was super Fragrance and the flat bread made it very fulfilling. I also tried their Wagyu Short Rib Roll, buttery roll and crisp vegetable really balance the tender meat. read more

See all

All around wonderful experience! My family and I came while on vacation here and found Higher Ground on Yelp. It was a lovely walk through the CBD to the restaurant, where there was a very short wait, but we had some coffee at their coffee stand outside. We went inside for breakfast after about 15 minutes and had excellent dishes with fresh ingredients and phenomenal flavors. I had a dish with lamb and eggs that was more savory, my sister had a very fresh dish with fresh mango and chia, and my mom had the best eggs Benedict she's ever eaten. Also a beautiful aesthetic on the interior - it's an old refurbished warehouse vibe, and there are lots of plants. read more

As soon as you step into Higher Ground, you're taken with its awesome high ceiling warehouse feel and funky decor. My friend and I were seated at a communal table (might have been a better atmosphere if anyone had put their phones down to chat at any point) and shared two brunch dishes - slow cooked beans and the ricotta hotcake. There was a bit of a wait but the food was excellent. Love the combination of the spinach sauce with the beans and goats cheese! And that hazelnut crumb, mmmm. The ricotta pancake blew us away - it is GORGEOUS and just huge! Flowers, fruit, seeds and grains over a gigantic fluffy pancakes filled with pockets of ricotta. Amazing. We were both stuffed full afterwards. A bit pricey but honestly it's probably worth it for such delicious, instagrammable food. read more

Higher Ground - Ricotta hotcake! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

See all

igher Ground finally opened after owner Nathan Toleman, Ben Clark, Diamond Rozakeas, Sam Slattery, Kim Sheridan and Nate Wilkins bought the heritage 19th century property two years a go. Love their special fish of the day, would come back for more read more

See all

'Cucumber was on point. Well sliced. Pie was very nice, but shading was a little too dark for my liking. Less brown is better. Sauce was incredible, despite having the consistency and look of week old jizz. Would recommend 10/10' read more

Higher Ground - Lamb sausage roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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

I've found myself here a lot because it's really close to Sothern Cross train station, and there's not much down that end of town. It's super loud, but the inside is really beautiful with its high ceilings. The cauliflower and kale salad thing with an egg is definitely what I think all breakfast salads should be about. read more

The coffee is fantastic! An awesome place to stay for your afternoon. I will highly recommend the hot cake.

This place was super packed every time I've gone. The wait is ridiculous. You don't get much of a choice in seating since it's packed. The coffee is good, food okay. It's super hisptery and not cosy. read more

The design is beautiful in every way. The food is excellent. The location is particularly interesting, with how it fits into the area. Absolute Melbourne classic. read more

Higher ground most definitely lived up to the high expectations! As long as your not in a rush and happy to at least double the quoted waiting time for a table for 2 at Saturday peak Brunch, then you will be rewarded once seated. For us this was a 70min wait after a quote of 25mins. However with an excellent outside coffee bar with tables and the confidence in the personable skilled staff to find you when it's your turn, it was a very enjoyable wait. Once inside the beautiful high ceiling venue the service was top notch and all the dishes looked instagram worthy. The kale and cauliflower salad was perfectly balanced and worth going back for! read more

Been here so many times I lost count. Have tried so many dishes on the menu and all of them were superb. These folks are at the top of their cuisine game. Except they're not playing with the quality of the food or the great service from the staff. If you're in Melbourne, you have to treat yourself to this place. Period. & you're welcome. read more

Loved this place. Staff were lovely and very accommodating with the pram. We were seated straight away in a corner which was perfect if I needed to feed. We sat on a communal table and the waiter asked if he could seat a couple of other people there which I didn't have a problem with but mentioned that I may need to feed. He replied with "if they don't like it that's their problem" good answer. I immediately felt at ease. Coffee was on point we ordered the hot cakes, Bircher and cauliflower all was amazing. The Bircher was good but did lack a little bit of flavour but great that it was dairy free. The waitress was great to notify us that if we order the hotcakes it will take about 15-20mims to cook which was great to no but we were happy to wait. The cafe itself is fitted out well with all different levels. So spacious and trendy. Awesome spot for breakfast lunch and dinner. This is a must try!!! read more

See all

I loved the look of the place, food looked amazing and tastes lovely not really very basic food if that's what your looking for but really nice in general and great place! read more

1 star for the table for 4 without reservations on a Saturday night. Was informed that they will need the table in 1 hour and 15 min after being seated for 10 min without menus. Ordered 4 appetizers and ate this in 5 min since most dishes are not meant to be shared but was really bite size for 1 person. Waited 1/2 hr for mains to come. 4 mains only 3 edible. Fatty and tough bites on Lamb Rump has 1/2 fat at $38. Just when we were on our last bites, another waiter came to ask us to wrap up. No one waiting for a table, room was 1/2 emptied. 2 tables emptied to our right and left. Bill $192. read more

Higher Ground - Sloppy execution - fatty chuck of fat left on Lamb Rump - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Excellent hotcakes, enough for two. Incredibly delicious coffee. Do it! I'm a guy out for good value and this place ticks all boxes

The bread is too hard to cut, other foods are too salty. Even the environment is good, but still not recommended, any restaurant should take the quality of the food as priority. read more

Strolled in on a Saturday mid morning during July/winter. Solo diner on work travel. Got pitched up at the high level bar- perfect. Attentive and relaxed staff. Informative. Great surrounds. Lovely bathrooms. Outstanding food and coffee. Clearly mixed reviews from others. But I couldn't fault at all. 5stars. read more

Having visited Top Paddock last year, I was very excited to try Higher Ground. The wait to be seated was expected, but the front of house was extremely rude. We were there on the 14th of July around 12-2 and there was a brown haired girl at the front taking names to seat customers. We put our name down and waited right infront of the door and we were never called. After seeing a number of parties (who arrived after us, also groups of 2) get called, I inquired about our place in line. I was rudely told in an accusatory tone that we had been called and that we weren't there. While I understand that Higher Ground has quite recently opened, an expectation of minimal politeness really isn't much to ask for. The waitress we had was absolutely lovely and the food was satisfactory. That being said, with the treatment received, I will definitely not return or recommend Higher Ground to anyone. I really suggest that management takes more care in who they hire and considering there are other reviews about rude service that I've seen, review their current staff read more