Coffee tastes great, and that it's organic/fair trade is a major plus for me. Didn't have any food other than a bagel, but it all looked really tasty. The one thing keeping me from giving five stars, though, was the music. Holy cow, it's as if they designed their playlist to be as grating as possible, choosing irksome songs from every decade of the last century. I came here to do some work, and found myself frequently cursing the music (or at least it's slightly too high volume) as I tried to write/study/read. Other than that, I found the staff friendly, the environment cozy and nice looking, and the prices pretty reasonable. read more

Like most people who've left reviews about Higher Grounds, I have always had positive experiences here. The coffee is outstanding, and when I'm in the mood for something different, then the tea's and other specialty drinks are usually excellent too. The food is very good here, and I think it's reasonably priced. The quiche is great, and the muffin's and bagels are always fresh. Everything seems homemade or locally sourced, which is also a plus. - Same with the sandwiches and the Thai Curry soup is one of my favorite soups in the city. The decor is funky and the art is always changing with new stuff from local artists every couple of weeks or so. As for the negative comments. The staff seems pretty nice to me, but then I was in the service industry for a long time and I try to avoid the types of behavior that makes you a pain in the ass. I've never had a problem with the amount of space they have for preparing my drinks, and they have a whole glass full of metal spoons to stir it with right there on the counter. It's true that they don't take Credit Cards, but that is a big expense for a small business so I don't mind that they don't have the option to use them - A lot of the neighborhood restaurants don't. They do have an ATM right there and their prices are really low so I guess you have to decide if you want to support a small business or a big bank. In closing, you see a lot of the same people there on the regular, and I think that it speaks to the overall quality of the place. The coffee is really the best around and the prices can't be beat. read more

Love this place!!! I know i can always come here and get some good grub and a great honeybush tea. I love the atmosphere and music is always great!! Im not a coffee drinker but my husband swear by it, tea selection is awesome. 6 years and still going strong ..props to highergrounds!! read more

Truly a neighborhood gem. Higher Grounds has amazing, organic coffee and other drinks. Not sold yet? Fine, they also have pastries to die for and a pretty impressive menu for a coffee shop (including a build your own grilled cheese option). Still want more? The shop itself is ridiculously adorable. Exposed brick walls, homey seating options, and free board games available for customers to use. Everyone who works there is ridiculously nice. Cash only, but worth an extra trip to the ATM. read more

Favorite coffee shop in Philly, and I am picky about them. Coffee is delicious (I've never had any special drinks, so can't comment on that), atmosphere non-fussy and laid back, this is where I go when I need a place to set up my laptop and get some work done with great coffee & wi fi. Reminds me of what certain Old City places used to be like back before that neighborhood turned into Disneyland. read more

Really nice people and service, great cappuccino, and good food! I would recommend this spot to any traveler or local.

Good place to get some work done but it's seems as if they are very money hungry. After sitting at a table for a few min waiting for my girlfriend to arrive I was doing some work and building up an appetite so we could eat lunch. The barista came up to me and a few others and said we had to buy something in order to be able to sit at their table. I explained I was waiting for my gf and we were going to eat lunch together once she arrived. She said I still had to buy something in the meantime. So instead of spending $15 or $20 in here like I originally planned I bought a $2 tea and went to Front St Cafe. That's what happens when your money hungry. Probably won't ever return here unless other coffee shops are packed. read more

The layout of the furniture, artwork creates a very lounge-like and inviting space. It's enough for you to stay around to work or just read a book. The food, coffee and baristas are a different story. The sandwiches are bland and the regular cup of coffee is bitter. I don't know if they realize how bitter and dark their coffee is. I've noticed that some people confuse bitter coffee for strong coffee as it's certainly not the case. Coffee doesn't need to be bitter to be strong. On to the baristas. I recently discovered that the daily baristas are the actual owners. And they receive tips. Having been in the restaurant industry for a long time, I've never approved owners receiving tips. But it gets worse. During an early morning visit, shortly after the cafe opened, one of the owners (the guy with the dreds) had a tip jar with a few dollars inside the jar and there were also a few dollars hung over the rim of the jar. I know from experience and also from watching people, that most of us push tips into the jar. So this leads me to believe that the owner puts those dollars hanging over the rim to encourage his customers to tip him. I think this is completely wrong which made me not go back. read more

Reasonably priced, great tasting coffee/espresso and goodies. Lots of selection here for vegans too. Large menu for a coffee shop that includes food/smoothies and bakery goods. Owner is great to talk to and the place is spacious and funky to sit in or study. I'll continue to come back. read more

just adding a note that the tomato, cream cheese & black pepper on a bagel is not to be missed if you go here. one of my favorite vegetarian sorta-sammiches around the city, and i've updated this review so i can add it to my delicious vegetarian sammiches list! :) read more

I wish I could say that I love this place. Not only because it is the closest place to my house for a warm drink and a quick breakfast but also because it has so much potential. My roommates and I were avid higher ground users. To say the guy with dread locks has horrible service does not explain the severity of just how bad he is. He is rude, and consistently rude every day. One morning he opened 35 mins late, no apology and then refused to serve the full order that was requested stating "he didn't have enough time". You know what you do have time for?! Is to provide service at the time you quote that you are opened. If there was a way to write an owner or the better business bureau or someone to force this man to offer better consistent service I would write to them. It is unfortunate he overshadows a wonderful woman who works there, and I will only go in if she is there.I honestly can't even do that at times. I don't like to be the barrier of bad news, but opening late fine. We all have bad moments, oversleep, etc.. Being rude when you open, not giving me what I asked for, it's just an inadequate way to run a business. read more

Higher Grounds has become my go-to coffee shop at home due to the good amount of hours it is open, and the solid and inexpensive coffee they serve. While I'm more likely to make my own with a Moka Pot, when I just have to get out of the house Higher Grounds is the place to go in Northern Liberties. I'm no coffee connoisseur but I would be willing to say that their coffee is in the top five I've ever had as it is strong and smooth without being too bitter or tasking burned. To date I have not had any food there. The service has been mostly good (the one time I was there the guy never interrupted a personal phone call he was having while taking my order, making my order, and taking my money) and is definitely not a hipster-magnet. The place is often very empty, so I hope they do enough business to stick around. Lastly, Bethany R.'s review that mentions the "fixin's bar" location being problematic is right on. I like to stir up my coffee and have to use a straw as no coffee stirrers are available. I'd love to see wooden coffee stirrers. read more

I love this place! It's been my favorite coffee shop for years. The staff is always super nice and the coffee and food are great. It's cute and comfy inside . Definitely recommended . read more

I have to disagree with the unhappy yelpers on this place. I started frequenting Higher Grounds because, in addition to having the best coffee in the neighborhood, the people behind the counter are consistently friendly and approachable. Good conversation, good coffee. They strike an awesome balance between being friendly and providing good service. I've been a huge fan of their homemade baked goods (vegan and non-vegan friendly) for over a year, and in that time I've not once felt put off by the staff. I get pretentious vibes from a lot of other coffee shops, but Higher Grounds is hands down one of the most down to earth shops in the area. And make sure you check out the bathroom decor! read more

Been here twice. Both times I spent several hours there doing work, drinking coffee, and enjoying a snack or lunch. The place is comfortable and quiet. The staff is nice, welcoming, and gracious to all of the customers whether they get a cup of coffee or a meal. There were two bathrooms, fast internet speed, and a variety of places to sit and work. It's a nice place to hold a meeting or an interview. Great neighborhood place. Highly recommend it! read more

good solid coffee shop in no libs. although one shot is great too, I favor higher grounds a little more.

Cozy and vintage vibe is real here. Tons of vintage seating and tables. So cute! Good coffee too!

Good coffee, plenty of comfy spots to sit, never crowded - what's not to like?

Oregon Chai, plenty of comfy seating, solid air-conditioning, good but not too loud music, and more than enough outlets! The perfect coffee shop to freelance in on a hot summer day. read more

I go to this cafe from time to time, normally when Christine, the nice female employee, is working there. However, this evening, my fiancee and I went there when the guy (with a lot of tattoos) was working, and experienced TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! There were numerous problems: 1) I ordered a specialty drink and he charged me for a coffee as well, when I didn't even order a coffee. He gave me back the money for the coffee, but weird that he rung me up for a regular coffee before I even ordered. He didn't refund me the tax for the coffee, but I let it slide. 2) My fiancee and I sat down to do some work on our laptops when he told us that she also had to buy something, and was quite adamant about it. He made a false assumption that she/we were going to use the shop's WiFi. We weren't even using Higher Ground's WiFi, as we connect to our own XfinityWifi. He seemed really upset that my fiancee didn't buy something as well. UNBELIEVABLE!!! It's not like we came in, didn't order anything and tried to jump on their WiFi! We could have sat outside and done that! My fiancee and I have been there numerous times and were NEVER told that BOTH of us needed to buy something! We come there to take a relaxing break outside and support a local business. We have Internet at home so we don't need their WiFi, which didn't even work when I tried once a while back! IF YOU DON'T WANT OUR BUSINESS, WE CAN STAY HOME, DRINK OUR OWN COFFEE AND USE OUR OWN WIFI! 3) The dude turned the lights off in the back of the cafe at 8:58p and was in such a rush to get everyone out so that he could close at exactly 9p. 4) It was quite warm in the shop today. It was like the A/C was turned off on a 80+ degree day. If this guy doesn't like his job and doesn't know how to treat customers, who are the ones supporting his paycheck, then find another job. My fiancee and I will be taking my business elsewhere until we get an apology back from the coffee shop via Yelp. Until then, we won't be going there and wouldn't advise anyone else going there on Wednesday evenings, when that guy works there. read more

So there was this pizza guy, and he was also anakin skywalker. I had the HIGH GROUND, get it, it's like the establishment I'm reviewing. Anyway, the coffee was alright I guess. Never actually been. Philly is in a galaxy far far away from me. read more

This place is awesome. It's not completely packed with students like most of the other decent cafes in Phils, so you wont be cramped into a tiny uncomfortable space and can actually get your work done. The coffee is good, the sandwiches are yummy, the music is good/decentish and the staff is always cute and sweet. Love it! Favorite place to work in the evenings. read more

Delicious sandwiches, and a comfy atmosphere to hang out with friends. It's not in my neighborhood, or I'd go more often.

The coffee is ok, nothing special, but I found the manager to be incredibly rude. It's far from the only game in town, and I will not be returning. read more

I came in for my first time on a quiet Sunday, and the atmosphere was impeccable. Cozy chairs, friendly customers, delicious drinks. I spent a few hours reading and drinking my lattes near the front, wishing I could somehow live here the whole time. Higher Grounds is absolutely my new Third Place. read more

I've heard great reviews of this place. And having been there I can verify that they have excellent coffee.

Amazing sandwiches here...I highly recommend trying any of the variety of grilled cheese they serve.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner/family meet and greet at Higher Grounds. We had many people traveling to Philadelphia for our wedding and our families were meeting for the first time. None of my relative's houses could accommodate us. The pressure was on to find a small inexpensive place to host our family get-together for 20 people. In addition, this was also "Henna Night", when I would have my bridal mehndi. We needed a place where we could bring food and drink, accommodate the mehndi artist, and where our families could relax and get to know one another. Higher Grounds was PERFECT! There is a back part of the cafe with multiple tables and comfortable couches and chairs. We used this area. The cafe is charming inside and is very warm and inviting. Our families were really comfortable and relaxed, which was our most important criterion. The owner Christine was there for our event and helped us with everything we needed. She allowed us to stay after hours, and even allowed us to stay after our allotted time to clean up as she was there cleaning also. Our guests RAVED about Christine's cafe! We had a great time! read more

I would give this place 5 stars for sure if it wasn't for the guy with dreadlocks who works here. I have given this place a shitload of business by coming in daily at some point and introducing others... You would assume the staff would maybe acknowledge this and crack a smile once in a while or at least just not give me an attitude.... I get the whole hipster/emo thing but his negative borderline rude attitude kept me from coming back for a long time.. I thought I would give it another chance but as usual he rolled his eyes at me and gave me a hard time ... The girl who works here is always pleasant and she makes the experience positive . The music in this place sucks I assume it's his taste. The drinks are awesome. I love the decor and the desserts too. If the staff was friendlier and didn't make me feel so awkward for even coming in in the first place I would continue to frequent this shop. Really makes you realize that it's the people and the experience that makes a places successful. I have heard multiple people agree with my point of view on this. So advice to the depressed dude who works here : leave your anger at home and pretend you are semi happy once in a while at least when u at work.. u are deterring business from this adorable little coffee shop . Ciao! read more