Higher Ground

Emily du Bruyn

3 months ago

Higher Ground is truly a Melbourne institution. I first visited about a decade ago, and it’s just as amazing as I remember. The atmosphere is vibrant and communal, with large tables, benches, and comfortable shared spaces. The coffee is phenomenal, and the pastry cart out the front is a great touch — perfect for takeaways or for grabbing a coffee while waiting for a table. We waited around 15 minutes, but didn’t mind at all; the place was bustling and the staff were genuinely friendly and helpful. This was easily the best breakfast we had in Melbourne, both for flavour and presentation, and the coffee is second to none. We’ll absolutely be back next time we’re in town.

serginmelbourne

Edited 5 months ago

Last picture was my IG story. we visited Higher Ground before heading to the office for a quick brunch with my partner. I really love the industrial design and factory vibes. plus, it’s just a few steps away from Southern Cross Station, which is so convenient for work days. The bergamot hot chocolate with orange zest was amazing, and we also enjoyed the Humpty Doo barramundi and pork katsu. Great spot to start the day before work! 🫶🏻

Chee Seng Lee

4 months ago

Nice food. Good coffee. Nice atmosphere with 3 tiered floors. The music was a tad loud the day I was there. Extremely helpful staff who were attentive and tries their best to make sure everything is good for us

Brad Chiplin

4 months ago

We were recommended this place to eat by the nice people at Meriton Suites on our first morning in Melbourne. I can't say we were disappointed. In our week long stay we went back 3 times. The avocado pretzel was definitely a family fave. Great atmosphere, beautiful venue, great food and staff. 100% recommended.

Lauren Burchell

2 months ago

Fantastic food that was well worth the wait in the consistently long line of happily waiting customers. The venue and food was definitely a classy, intention rich culinary experience. I had the avocado pretzel which i would go back and order again next time. We also got the hotcakes which were delicious but HUGE! Highly recommend sharing that one.

Di

3 months ago

Conveniently located just a few meters from Southern Cross Station. The café is housed in a beautiful, spacious heritage building with high ceilings and a lively atmosphere. We loved the food — pancakes, waffles, pork dishes, and sourdough were all delicious. Good coffee and fast, attentive service even during busy times. It does get very busy, so it’s not ideal for quiet or intimate conversations, but overall highly recommended for great food and a vibrant brunch spot.

Richard Gillespie-Jones

Edited 2 months ago

Higher Ground is a great spot for breakfast. The renovated interior with large open glass windows and indoor plants makes for a pleasant experience. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly with a wide array of locally sourced food and drinks. Very popular with travelers coming from Southern Cross station with plenty of space to store luggage. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.

Lynette Phuong

2 months ago

Absolutely LOVED having my hens’ celebration at Higher Ground, Melbourne’s BEST brunch spot! Heartiest thank you to the team (in particular, Tess, Amelia and Sabrina) and to Brad and Dom on the day for making it all happen!! My hens and I absolutely loved the menu (I was superduperly happy to have my favourite Avocado Pretzel), and it was lovely to finally try the hotcakes (wayyyy bigger and fluffier than I imagined) plus the ambience!

Martin

4 months ago

You can tell why it’s one of the more iconic and sought after cafes in Melbourne CBD. We went on a Monday and it still got full shortly after 930 am so I highly suggest to book unless you’re wanting to queue for a while. The entire place is so unique and has an excellent vibe that’s curated through their decor as well as the moody lighting. Food wise, it’s actually great value, better than you’d expect when you step in the place. The ricotta hotcakes are huge and it’s definitely meant to be shared. The hotcake itself was nice but I found the chocolate layer unnecessary as the sweetness from the syrup was already well balanced with the ricotta and hot cake. The udon noodles was creamy and had a nice umami to it that I’d definitely recommend it if you like pasta and Asian flavours. Chilli scramble was ok and nothing too special but like all the dishes, the volume was surprisingly heavy. Coffee was standard Melbourne level which is good but not too standout. Overall it’s a great visit and I’d add it to the list of cafes to visit while in Melbourne!

Joe Cam

a month ago

Great place. I had the eggs bene with prawns and kimchi on a Chinese donut and it was so tasty and presentation was really good. Only issue I had with the meal was the poached eggs were a little overdone. Atmosphere really good with a friendly vibe. A little warm where we sat. But that’s minor to the whole positive experience.