Super comfy atmosphere that i always look for in a cafe! Vintage decoration. Good wifi. Quiet with background music that doesnt distract you. Good coffee and many snack read more

Higher Grounds - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We come here a lot on Saturday mornings! Their lattes are awesome, but the best part here is the charm of the interior. You feel like your stepping into someone's home. There is an eclectic assortment of furniture and the whole placed has a relaxed hipster vibe. The place is the entire length of the homes on that block so there is ample seating in the back. They have board games and free wi-fi if you want to hang and work. I only had a sandwich there once but it was yummy. Love it here! read more

SO freaking cute. I wish this place were closer to me so that I could find excuses to do "work" while lounging around here. Lots of mismatched furniture in this roomy cafe. They've got quite a wide array of drinks and things to nibble on as you work away or just kick back and relax with a friend or two. I spied some board games as well and if my friends and I had more time here, we probably could've spent the entire afternoon here. Oh, and the drinks were fine. I would totally recommend stopping by this place if you just want to chill for a bit (as if I hadn't uttered that sentiment enough times in this review already. Just had to drill it further into your head, for posterity's sake.) read more

Not a bad spot. I like the wide space, different from other coffee shops in the city. And they serve La Colombe I believe, which is never a bad brew to serve. I wasn't too impressed otherwise. The barista was not very friendly, and there are not many places for ac outlets. It's a shame I didn't like it too much because other than Euphoria in the Piazza, there are not many other places to choose from for your coffee fix in Northern Liberties. I'd come back but I probably would be reluctant to do so. Heads up: CASH ONLY. read more

A lot of things wrong with this place. (1) I asked for an earl grey with steamed almondmilk and I'm pretty sure I just got tea with poured almond milk (like poured straight from the carton). (2) The music selection is weird. It's not only loud but not appropriate for a working area. It goes from Indie to Rock to Folk to R&B within 10 minutes. Just really strange. (3) I waited 30 minutes for a veggie "burger" that I'm positive was the 1 minute microwaveable kind, on sandwich bread. It was also pretty awful. There wasn't anyone waiting for food so Idk what happened there. I gave them an extra star for the service and the coffee. The young lady in the front was super nice and the coffee was good, but everything else was either off or just really strange. I won't be back. read more

So much space! I can sit and work for hours here, at some really neat tables- like the church pew or the little nook with two benches. And there are comfy antique couches and chairs where I've seen a few different groups have meetings. (Like a fun Sci-fi/Harry Potter kind of club!) There's a photo of a dead pigeon that kind of grosses me out to be honest, but otherwise the art is usually pretty good. I like that you can see the original brick peeking through the wall plaster. Check out the bathrooms, too!, even if you don't have to pee, for the weird/cute mural in one, and the scattered mirrors all over the other. read more

First time here. I love the vibe, they have a ton of cool paintings (done by the owner himself) and the furniture looks like they bought the best pieces from Jinxed. This is one of those places where the decor and ambiance sparks conversation for its customers. We got iced coffee, iced thai coffee and a bagel. All very simple orders but we weren't overcharged or waiting long for anything. We will definitely be back. read more

Cool little place to hang out. I personally love their hot chocolate! They have good cookies and muffins too! The music is usually pretty chill as well. The decorations have personality for sure. If you are looking for a cool coffee shop in NoLibs then you should try this place. I only wish they opened earlier on the weekends. read more

I like this place. It's a bit cavernous so it's hard to go there when it's nice outside because you won't enjoy any of the good weather, but it's perfect for a rainy or cold day. There's are on the walls and a lot of seating. The food's great, a cut above more of the cafe fare in this town. Coffee's good with 75 cent refills. They also have a long coffee menu that will please the worst Starbucks brat. Staff is always friendly. There's a cute bench outside the front window and it's great to sit there with your coffee beneath the tree and sip your drink. Seating is really varied, as in church pews and vintage sofas. Not all of them are comfortable. There's WiFi, but as others have said, it's slow and tends to hang, especially if a lot of people are using it. But you can't complain too much about free, right? Getting power for your device is another problem, though. There are a few outlets but they're not always in accessible places and people do weird, desperate things to plug in their ailing appliances. Chapterhouse still wins as far as comfortable seating, view of the outdoors, and outlets are concerned. Higher Grounds has better food and it's closer to my house. Neither takes credit cards, though, so my search for the perfect Philadelphia coffeehouse continues. read more

Free wifi, good coffee, reasonably priced, and plenty of seating. The pastries and food menu items are nothing special. They've exposed big swatches of interior brick by, apparently, banging big holes in the plaster. There's a schizophrenic mirror-themed decor, two clean bathrooms, two big couches, several soft armchairs and several small tables. The effect is of a cozy living room where it feels like you can put your feet up. A great place to sit and read. read more

Really chill spot. I'm a tea drinker and they have some great choices. Bunch a sandwich options and muffins. Free wifi is a plus if you need to get some work done or bs on the net. My kind of cafe. Definitely check it out if your in the neighborhood. read more

Higher Grounds - This place has a bunch of chill vintage seating. Pretty cool digs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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WOW. If I owned my own coffee shop/cafe, it would be EXACTLY like this one! Cute and cosy with enough room to spread out and hang or work in, the decor is unique and eclectic with vintage and antique furniture and interesting artwork. There are board games and regular table and chair seating as well as a large couch and some comfy-looking armchairs. A good mix of music played and the atmosphere was SURPRISINGLY for the area very unpretentious! I had a coffee and a really yummy cinnamon coffee cake and it was about $4 or $5. Coffee cake was moist and so good! I was surprised about the food because their website just says coming soon under food. Parking is free and plentiful around the building. No cards allowed but they have their own ATM machine. This is my new fav coffee spot in the city! read more

Cool artwork, great seating, free wifi and strong coffee. This is definitely one of, if not my favorite, place in the neighborhood to come on the weekend (or weekday) and power through some homework while enjoying a great cup of coffee or cappuccino. I definitely am glad this is close to where I live :) Side note: Yeah their baristas aren't the peppiest, but I have never found them to be rude. read more

The reason that this gets 2 stars is because the barista was very nice. The tea and coffe, on the other hand, not so much. I asked for earl grey tea and what i got was brown water. I asked for them to remake it, which they did happily, and it came out the same way. I decided, well maybe they had old tea, or a bad brand, so i tried a "Thai Coffee." Please understand, espresso with lots of cream and sugar is not Thai Coffee. The bagel was good, and the barista super nice, but I probably won't be back again. There are plenty of other Coffee/Tea places in the area I can hit up! read more

I only came in for a coffee, so my review doesn't encompass the food which looked great. The espresso wasn't pulled properly, so it came bitter and watery. That being said, the ambiance was great, and I've got a bag of good beans. Worth a shot, but not for a coffee snob like me. read more

So Yelp tells me 3 Stars is A-OK... Coffee-- 3 Stars; Grilled cheese sandwich - 4 Stars for both quality and speed. Comfort and decor 4 STars Internet speed - 5 Stars if you use Xfinity. Friendliness of Employees - NEgative 2 stars. Why are they acting like I'm doing them a favor. I haven't been here in years. I'll probably go to One Shot instead next time. read more

Really love this place. Enjoyed an iced chai and a veggie and hummas sandwich. Everything was great and the décor is awesome. I will definitely be back. read more

Awesome food, drinks and atmosphere! One of my favorite chai tea lattes in the Northern Liberties area. Great place to sit and study/read. Homey and comfy. read more

Cute coffee shop, not the best place to get work done, but great for chatting/hanging out with friends. Love that they are dog friendly, and that the staff are generally easygoing. Their espresso is a bit too watery/weak for my taste, but i am a diehard espresso fanatic. read more

I just finished my first cup of coffee from Higher Grounds. It's was delicious. Not too bitter, and very flavorful. It was served hot but not scalding. If you're looking for a well priced cup of coffee, give this place a try instead of the DD just down the block. Cheers Matt read more

Great local cafe in the heart of Northern Liberties. If you're looking to do some work on your computer and/or read or hang out for a few hours, this is one of the best cafes in Philadelphia. I've always been able to find a table with plenty of room and out outlet close by. The free wifi and dollar coffee refills are a nice touch. It's never too loud and has very reasonable hours. All around a solid cafe. Some other reviews mention unfriendly staff, but this has never been an issue for me or a reason to give a lesser rating. But yes, it's true that some of the baristas are unusually quiet and don't make any effort to engage in conversation. Some seem a little irritated that they were interrupted from reading or sketching behind the counter when you arrive and order a drink, but if you don't take it personally, it's not really an issue. In sum, if you're a student or young professional looking for a solid cafe with good coffee, free wifi, plenty of table space, in a fairly quiet environment , Higher Grounds is where you'll want to be. read more

I actually wish I could give this place 0 stars. I shouldn't even be wasting my time commenting. Service is terrible and rude, enough said. Many other good coffee shops to go to in the city than one that treats you like crap. Just go down the road to One Shot...better selection and much friendlier staff. Absolutely will never be going here again!! read more

Great place to chill, read a book, sip some good coffee and grab a quick bite! The salads are great! read more

You have a great shop and quality loose leaf tea that is hard to find in other great coffee shops in the city. Teach your employees how to serve it. You only need 1 tablespoon of green tea to steep for 3 minutes. An untrained employee there put way too much tea in my cup, but I did not know until 3 minutes (and cool down time) were up. Several blocks away, I threw it away. Train your employees on how to make tea. read more

Higher Grounds is an epic spot for to kickback and get some work done. I also felt connected to the alternative energy and vibes they create with their design and artwork! The coffee was delicious as well :) read more

Since my last trip there when I encountered Mr. Sourpuss, my neighbor went in with her 7-yr old to order a milkshake and was bombarded with insulting speech by same guy. He mocked her speech (use of the word 'like'), then handed her daughter on overflowing cup with milkshake dripping all over the place. Come on now...we all have bad days but being rude to a kid (and this kid definitely noticed) is just bad business. I've heard this guy may be the owner, which would explain why he's still employed after all these temper tantrums. Not going anymore. I go to a coffee shop to relax. This guy makes me all nervous and pissy and who wants that frame of mind. Unfortunately most times I go, he's the only one working there. Grrr read more

I stopped coming here because of poor service and inconsistent coffee. I like the ambiance but that's the only positive remark. Today I decided to try Higher Grounds again and had another poor experience. The barista looked annoyed that he had to make me a beverage. He also wouldn't help me understand the menu, and then he short changed me by $10. Now I remember why I stopped going there. read more

I had a bad experience here this morning and I hope to speak with management about this if they happen to care at all and are not like the employee I dealt with today. I moved to this neighborhood a few months ago and have gone to this small coffee shop a few times because I'm for supporting small businesses over large chains like the Dunkin' Donuts down the street. But luckily there are plenty of other great coffee and breakfast shops close by, and after this experience I will NOT be coming here again and will make sure to tell my friends in the neighborhood as well. The young guy working at the counter this morning was rude from the beginning and gave me attitude when I was polite to him. I asked for 2 coffees and 3 different bagels toasted with one side of veggie cream cheese. I was waiting for them because they were to go and he seemed annoyed by that, but I was really just waiting to pay. He was so busy hating me that he didn't hear me say "one veggie cream cheese" so he put veggie cream cheese on all of them (sparsely) and charged me for all of them. Then when I asked him he snapped and said that he didn't hear me and they didn't have side containers anyway, like how dare I even ask. I didn't realize he put a little veggie cream cheese on each bagel until I got home and gave my mom her bagel. Two of the bagels were barely toasted too and were hard, so I had to toast them again. Now I know why all of that cost more than $12, and I even tipped on that even after he was already rude to me. I didn't even say anything when he was texting away on his cell and handling my bagels afterwards without any gloves or washing his hands. Not sure if you encourage your employees to be rude and angry, but this is a neighborhood coffee shop and it would be in your best interest to just be a little warm and a little competent. Just a suggestion. I've worked in the food and service industries for over a decade, so believe me- I know how it is. Sunday morning, cold, and at work. But we all choose our jobs and have to make the most of them. Good luck. read more

Great spot, good prices, tasty snacks... oh and coffee. A perfect spot to take an hour out of your morning and recharge.

Someone had to bring you here first! You would miss it if you did not know where you were going. Higher Grounds is a cosy place to be on the edge of NoLibs. The mood set in here is what all coffeehouses should model themselves after. I have been here many times and never have I heard a loud obnoxious conversation or seen any rude people in general. This is a great place to have a meeting or just sit back with a book. I've escaped here for hours with my MAC wondering if I could Bonjour everyone in the place. but, no one with a MAC really uses Bonjour, so... I LOVE HIGHER GROUNDS! I chatted them up about doing some events there...stay tuned! read more

Not a fan at all. The place is basically hidden from street view because of tree, which I guess is cute? The "antique" furniture all looks like it was trash picked because it's beyond old... I got an ice latte there the other day, nothing special at all. I would have very easily became a regular here because I just moved in the neighbor hood and I do free lance wok so I need somewhere quite with wifi to do it. I went into the shop today and would have got something but the place is cash only and there's no ATM and I don't carry cash. The guy who works there asked me if he could get me anything when I sat down with my computer, which I thought was kind. I said no thank you- to which he said we ask you to purchase something if you have your computer and then walks away. First of all, this is not a big deal, but this employee was already under my skin from when I purchased my latte. He was rude and disinterested. And the music he was playing was awful. So I packed up my things and left. And will never be back again. This place is such a clichè of a snobby coffee house, ESPECIALLY the hired help. read more

I love that feeling of hanging out in someone's living room... only it's a coffee shop. This place definitely has that cozy, neighborhoody feeling to it. When we were there the girl making drinks had her aunt behind the bar helping her out for the night. There was a knitting group going on in the back while our book club carried on a few tables away. The drinks and food all looked tasty. read more

I'm re-evaluating this place from a 2010 review (it's 5/1/16). Used to live in No Libs, and sometimes am in the neighborhood. Went to this place semi-reg from 08-11, and have been back three or frou times since. It's a time-warp, b/c it never changes, and in a bad way: Nothing ruins a business more than bad service, esp. when it's willfully negative, shitty service. I'd give this place five stars if it weren't for this place's colossal downfall, the awful guy with long hair who's usually at the counter. I think this guy seriously had to have taken lessons in customer service (or the lack thereof) from the staff of The Last Drop or La Colombe. How does this place stay in business and have regular customers who don't recognize or care about this?? Out of dozens of 'interactions' I've had with him over the years, I have yet to hear him say a single word, show glimmer of recognition, express gratitude for tipping (when I used to), or show any hint of interest in making a customer feel welcome in the place. I've taken to peeking through the window before I go in, to see if he's working. If he is, I'll walk a couple blocks to another coffee shop, because I won't pay anyone for openly apathetic, 'I-don't-gove-a-fuck' service. Fortunately, the other employees are very friendly and courteous. Has the guy no sense of self awareness or dignity? People in the neighborhood should boycott the place and stop validating his shittiness. There are far better choices for food and coffee. read more

Well, I have come to a crossroad in my life. For the first time in my life I let someone treat me like an insignificant speck and did not aggressively respond. I not only said nothing...but I actually tipped them for doing so. And then I went back for more but acting subservient by asking if maybe could I have 2 napkins. The response was, "Maybe, or definitely"? But still I needed more ignorance thrown my way. So... After cleaning my table and depositing the trash in the trash can I placed my used spoons on the counter where he was because I did not see a busing bin anywhere. The guy slammed them into a silverware tray somewhere behind the counter. I turned and looked and my new found friend was sharing some secret with his recently arrived co worker. Feeling hated and judged I was paranoid enough to be sure that he was sharing horror stories about me, and or my wife. I was tempted. Mightily. To go back, call him over and whisper some explicit advice into his ear, but I restrained myself. Again. Got in the car and hours later I still regret my restraint. In the future, I recommend that if someone walks in your door and you just do not like them, turn them away. It would have much less of a negative impact than treating them so poorly and you may not encounter someone like me that is practicing restraint. Plus your coffee is not that special. And finally, I think about my asking if maybe I could have two napkins and him responding "Maybe or definitely"? Yes I showed restraint but all I wanted to say was , " Oh, well maybe you should go Eff yourself" and then ask him what he was going to do about that. But I didn't. Damn I regret that. read more

I know exactly how the unhappy yelpers feel when they refer to the infamous a-hole behind the counter who thinks he's too coool to do his job. God forbid you tear him away from chatting with his hipster pals or playing with his laptop to fix you a drink. He then acts like he's doing you a favor. Not EVER once a "hi" or "thank you", even after I tipped him numerous of times. I then wonder why the hell I gave this jerk who can't utter two syllables a tip in the first place. I don't expect much, but at least have SOME basic customer service skills. Whenever I pass by, I hope to find someone more welcoming than this gargoyle. Unfortunately, he's there most of the time! Someone needs to have a serious talk with this dude before he scares off all the customers. It's a shame because this is a nice place that makes good drinks despite the ONE flaw. On the bright side, there are other friendly servers there if you know when to catch them. P.S. don't forget to let me know if you do. read more

How on EARTH does this place have 4/5 stars?! I've given this cafe several chances but now, its time for the review. Smug service? Ordering here feels like engaging in a psychomachia. Seriously, the service here runs the gamut from aloof and unpleasant to borderline hostile. Reading other reviews is assuring--this is not a product of my imagination. Since I live around the corner, I'm sometimes forced to get coffee here, but 9 times out 10, I avoid at all costs. The barista literally chirps rudely at people. Alas, since I don't speak Trustfundafarian, I usually can't understand. The decor is hideous. It is like being trapped in, what I imagine to be, an LSD trip from the mid-90s. A sort of mix of Alice in Wonderland sinister and Pauly Shore zany. "Cute" or "quirky" if surrealism purchased from Spencer's Gifts in the mall is your bag. It puts the LOL in the Lolapolooza: one is instantly transported to a nightmare of Jnco jeans, hackeysacks, jam band music, and hoola-hoops. But the coffee: I'll stand some pretense if the coffee is decent. But here, its not. I've had some of the best coffee in the world in SF, New York, Italy, and here in Philly--"Higher Grounds" is really no better than 7-11. Somehow, it made this hangover worse! read more

comfy place, great coffee, good menu selection and tons of places to sit by yourself, with friends or your laptop. They also took part in the Great Urban Race by having a 'guess the tea' station using your sense of smell. read more

Whenever I wake up with enough time to enjoy a relaxing coffee and bagel before work I head over to higher grounds. I don't drink their coffee too much but their lattes are the best in the neighborhood and I have tried em all. Service can be a little slow if you are in a rush but they seem to be one of the few coffee shops that still actually press their espresso grounds for each drink. (I am not sure if thats what you call it but its basically what they do. No automatic machine here.) They also have really good smoothies and food. My personal favorite would be a bagel with cream cheese and tomato. So simple. So brilliant read more

I find it far too difficult to find a café that fits my idea of what a cafe should feel like. Perhaps I've watched too many movies set in NYC, Paris, Rome...there is a vision I get of an attenuate little brick building tucked into a subtle crease of the city, whose walls are filled with paintings and photographs nonchalantly displaced across cracks in the walls which run the from the modern rail-lighting down to the lovably distressed antique parlor chairs. I know now that such a place can't be discovered unless you give yourself to ambling. Higher Grounds, as any such cafe should be, is the perfect place to pass a few minutes, a few hours, or all the time you have on hand. The aromas of ancient wood and warm beverages welcome you to sit and be at peace, encompassed in a great read or pushing forth in whatever work you have ahead of you. The soundtrack is a great mix of alternative modern music and classics like Bowie and Marley. The selection of teas is phenomenal, the biscotti is fresh, and the attention to quality and ingenuity is unparalleled. I hope to sample more of the food and beverage options soon. For the moment, it wins my five stars easily with its environment and service. read more

If you're looking for a cozy place to relax, chat, or get some work done, Higher Grounds is not a bad spot in the NoLibs area. Their baked goods are decent and oat milk mocha lattes are killer. Their food menu is overpriced for the quality and I've had better customer service experiences. However, what keeps me coming back is the quirky, comfortable atmosphere, stacked high with eclectic art and mix-and-matched furniture. Overall, a decent place to sit for a couple hours. read more