Went for coffee got home wired hubby hadn't had coffee since we moved here from Hawaii and finally asked me if I wanted to get coffee and I said let's try higher ground. This cute spot did not disappoint. The two ladies working were super friendly. Will definitely be back. Hubby got a crumb cake and it was soooooooo delicious and warm. Mahalo! read more

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Omg this place is amazing!!! I got an iced latte (special one it was one of their specials with Carmel and banana it tasted like a banana bread scrumptious delight with salted Carmel so yummy! My husband got a hot latte and a special non coffee drink both were great. My son got the strawberry ice cream and he loved it. The team here is so nice and the set up was super cool! Great place for kids! read more

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Super cute place! Love the decor inside. The lady inside was very sweet and helpful. I loved my Caddy Latte. It was delicious read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Caddy Latte - large hot delicious - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

The people there was friendly and also dog friendly love that it is close to my house read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

the ice cream was pretty good, pretty sparse toppings though. the workers were kind of rude because i didn't know exactly what i wanted. the shop was cold and felt good, clean area. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

We ordered a variety of items. The latte was delicious, and the sundaes were out of this world. Highly recommend this spot for a sweet treat. read more

Family owned with great coffee and treats just a very short distance off the beaten path. We stayed in Colington this time on our OBX trip and had this lil coffee shop right next door. They have an assortment of ice cream flavors, special menu items and great coffee. It's a worthwhile trip that really isn't that far from the main thoroughfare and close to the Wright Bros monument. Very friendly staff that helped us pick out an order that was the Riptide smoothie, an English Toffee Espresso drink and an ice cream cup with espresso drizzle. All turned out great! The coffee shop itself is a house off if Colington Rd, with the shop on the 2nd floor accessed by a flight if stairs or an elevator at the front. The outside seating is so very homey has two levels the top level and the bottom "underground" that face the inlet. The decor which is relaxing with flowers in pots strewn around the outdoor areas, decor that pay homage to the OBX beach vibe are cute and not overdone. Both the setting and outdoor areas lead to a very relaxed homey ambience while drinking coffee or treating on some ice cream. We come to the OBX every year and will def be back to Higher Grounds to sip some coffee and relax. read more

Such a cute and creative place to hang. Latte and cherry cheese danish was right on spot. Lady was soo nice too!

I keep coming back for the Riptide! 10/10 The espresso in this milkshake is just what I need to get me going in the mornings! read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Menus - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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Higher Grounds is a cool little coffee shop with a nice island/beach vibe. The only thing I had was the iced coffee but it was terrific! read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Iced Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

I pass this cute little spot to and from home everyday and finally stopped! I'm glad I did, so cute inside, great quaint beachy vibes, and friendly service. I had the March Mocha and chose the perfect drink for myself! I also loved that it's a raised building with an elevator so it is accessible to ALL! read more

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Best place for coffees or ice cream. Great friendly service. Great coffee , ice cream, pastries, and smoothies.

Iced mocha is delicious and the people are super nice here. PS: take advantage of the porch and enjoy your coffee and view. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Porch - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

If you're a "procaffeinator" and need that jolt the first thing in the morning to get your engine started, Higher Grounds is here for you! It's nice to have a local coffee shop in the area. This one in Colington was a hop, skip and a jump from where we were staying so we had to pop in, especially when the locals recommended it! It's cozy and comfy with plenty of seating and brew-tiful views of the sound. There's a large deck and underneath the deck you'll find hammocks to relax in and sip your cares away. The barista was funny and inviting! He told us that he didn't even drink coffee - he's a tea drinker like myself and we joked around a bit, brew-haha. My friend ordered her cup of joe, and we wanted some baked goods to go with our beverages but there weren't many appetizing choices. Just a couple of cellophaned muffins and bagels. I would have liked to have gotten sconed, maybe some pound cake, coffee cake or ideally some biscottis! It would surely help business if they offered some other options. I ended up leaving empty handed... no cup in sight... and somewhat unsa-tea-sfied. I feel like they aren't too concerned since this is the only coffee klatch in town, but if they perked up their game, this could be a gem of a spot! read more

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glasses dude was super nice and friendly 10/10 service give him a raise. the matcha latte i had was fantastic.

Lovely place. Delicious ice cream, wonderful laid back atmosphere, super friendly service. Great view. A real, genuine, nice place. A nice respite from the overrun tourist traps, and well worth the short drive. read more

This is a pleasant surprise near the Colington Harbour entry. Passed by and decided to stop. I'm very fussy about my coffee, having run my own shop. On travel and have been looking for a nice latte and found that here, along with friendly staff and a great view of Kitty Hawk Bay to top it off. So far this take 1st place out of numerous other local places for a coffee and view. Worth a stop. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Great view, staff and latte. We'll do e. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

We stopped in late in the day for some ice cream. The employee was incredibly friendly and told us the freezer had broken so they only had half the flavors available. Luckily the flavors we wanted were available. I got brownie batter in only of their homemade waffle cones! The waffle cone was crispy and sweet but not too heavy. We also got some coffee beans and the employee gladly ground them for us. read more

Simply amazing! The owner is always so kind and happy when we visit her shop. We have been visiting at least one a year during our vacation and Higher Grounds never disappoints! Beautifully crafted beverages, great merch & food. The shop is decorated perfectly and I am looking forward to our next visit. Higher Grounds is an OBX must! read more

Quaint cafe on Colington Dr if you ever find yourself in that part of OBX. They serve counter culture coffee and that alone is enough said!!! read more

Ordered a iced latte which was pretty good. Wish you could go in and order. Kinda takes away from the experience/ambiance. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - a blue building with a green exterior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

5 stars hands down, great coffee, nice place, great service. Try the pumpkin latter with whip cream and caramel. Yum

Delicious coffee. I'm a novice when it comes to anything but basic coffee. They weren't busy and had time to explain some of the differences to me. (Cappuccino, espresso, latte, etc.) Went with a latte and was very happy. This is a new business and the owners have gone above and beyond to renovate the old building and make it into a nice local place to get good coffee, ice cream and fresh homemade pastry and bread items. (While they last) This will be a great addition to Colington. Parking is a little tight, but manageable. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - the counter area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Best coffee shop I've ever been to....... I mean , the delicious treats are one thing , the gardens Are overflowing with absolutely beautiful flowers. Deer in back of shop were literally eating the apples off the trees the owner planted.And I watched a bald eagle and an osprey fight over a fish while I drank my coffee. The sunrise is like no other at this shop . This is a must go to while visiting OBX N.C.! read more

Found this place on vacation and went every single day! The coffee was perfect, the staff was friendly and accomodating and the ambiance is what I want in a coffee shop! Go!!! read more

The coffee here wasn't bad, but it wasn't super enjoyable either. My latte was badly frothed, like cappuccino style frothing on the top, not nice smooth microfoam, and the cup wasn't filled as much as it could have been with milk, i had like an inch left after the foam. espresso wasn't anything impressive, nor was my husband's iced coffee. The worker was unfriendly as well, she was irritated we asked for a water cup on the side. She just gave off cold vibes and didn't seem to like people. The locals we were staying with said they don't go here even though it's .6 miles from their house simply because of her unfriendliness. read more

So glad they reopened in May 2021 as they were closed due to Covid. Family owned and operated so I'm happy to support their endeavors. There coffee is so good but you have to try a RipTide, or The Overboard or an Iced Latte , a sundae or a waffle cone filled with deliciousness. The also have bagels, muffins and they recently added ..... The Grounder. Toasted bagel with cheddar and cream cheese nicely melted and so yummy. Oops, I've tried them all and trust me, you will not be disappointed. read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - View overlooking the Sound - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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Neat location, cozy decor, and they have your coffee and ice cream needs! They have outdoor seating and an outside window to order togo if you don't have time to go in and stay for a while! read more

Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream - Cozy! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Awesome quaint little coffee shop in the town of Colington, in Kill Devil Hills. Great atmosphere. Beautiful views of the sound. read more

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Such a cute place with great ice cream and a nice view! The owner was very friendly and the ice cream sundaes are delicious! We will definitely be back. read more

Such a great quaint and nice little place that has been open since OCT of 2017. The selection of Ice Cream was very delicious and the Owner was very nice. The place looks great and has such a cozy feel to it. We enjoyed everything about this place and loved the location. It has a great view of the Sound across the street. Unfortunately we were not able to enjoy the outdoor seating because it was very windy and rainy but they do have lots of space and hammocks down below. read more

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I don't typically write reviews, but this place deserves the highest review you can get. My significant other and I pulled up to higher grounds early this morning and they had some damage to their grounds due to the storm last night they had flooding as high as 5 ft. Tracy and her husband were there surveying the damage when we pulled up and not only offered us coffee and pastries but also allowed us (with our dog) into the coffee house. They didn't get much sleep because of the storm and they were not actually open but they still gave us the best service. That aside the coffee and pastries were dynamite! We will be coming back when we come to the outer banks next trip! Thank you Tracy! read more

Drove by multiple times to get to our vacation rental and one day we decided to stop and then we went back 3 more times during our stay! Nice view from the deck, enough seating for big parties that come through, very good service, and had plenty of options for both coffee and ice cream. Definitely worth stopping here! read more

I just went in for the first time with my aunt and uncle who have a house in the Harbour. This ice cream shop is a great location for all who live back there. You don't have to travel to the main road AND it's delicious! The service was great. The ladies were so personable and friendly. They have Hershey's ice cream and you can never go wrong with that! I will definitely be a long time customer for as long as I keep coming back to OBX! read more

best ice cream selection cheap and easy if you live back in colington and super underrated

Nice coffee/ice cream shop away from the hustle and bustle. It's a short, quiet drive in a relaxing atmosphere with a view of the sound. Highly recommend read more

This is our new favorite coffee spot when we visit OBX! My wife got a vanilla latte and I opted for an Earl Grey tea, and we also got a scoop of ice cream. The Rocky Road was phenomenal--worth the price of admission. The shop itself is newly remodeled and they've done a great job with it. Seating indoors is limited, but their deck space is awesome and they've got hammocks and tables under the deck as well. My favorite part, though, was the telescope on the deck! Great place on a beautiful day to sit out on the deck with a cup of coffee and enjoy a scenic view of the Sound. read more

Newer coffee shop with great atmosphere. Lots of outdoor seating and beautiful views of Kitty Hawk Bay. We only stopped for ice cream, but there were lots of choices for coffee lovers and ice cream treats for all. Why bother waiting in line at ice cream shoppes on the bypass? Hope others check it out and enjoy this spot on Colington Island. We will definitely be back to sample more! read more

Great coffee and root beer floats too! Great indoor & outdoor seating with views. Nice service as well

Randomly found Higher Grounds and the owners featured in Outer Banks Magazine and we're so happy we found them! Have been visiting OBX for 20 years and had never driven back to Colington Island. Higher Grounds is just a short drive off the bypass and their excellent coffee is with the trip! Anthony helped us the first visit and Christie (one of the owners) on our next two visits. Love the look and feel of the space and the surrounding garden!! We heard that they are sometimes closed between 1-3 PM, so call first :-). Enjoy!!! read more