Higher Ground Cafe

Higher Ground Café is a true staple in Kensington. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, making it such an easy place to settle in and enjoy your time. It’s genuinely one of Calgary’s hidden gems. Their open mic nights are hands-down the best time to visit — an amazing way to discover local artists and feel connected to the community. Always great vibes, great people, and great coffee. ☕🎶

😳 I used to love this place, now questioning. I ordered a soup - it was tepid. The *manager* told me it was because they called out my name and I did not come fast enough - umm… a thick soup doesn’t cool in 5 min from hot! Instead of making another soup, I got a refund and holiday blame 🎄 Pride comes before a fall, a management adjustment, or rediscovery of a business approach. I hope it is the latter.

Love their coffee so much and the vibe of the place was relaxing to me. I would definitely recommend their cafe calypso! If you need a place to hangout with friends or study, this place is good for that since they have many chairs.

Been trying to get a table in this place for months, it's like an exclusive club for the academic younglings. I did a reading date with my gal pal. I got the matcha frappe with chocolate whipped cream (they ran out of white) I felt like a child. Gal got a white chai, it looked like she was drinking milk. Felt like we fit in with the youth.

Came for Hot Chocolate Fest and had an amazing experience thanks to Ashton. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. He made the whole visit feel special. The drink was great, but the service is what will bring me back.

Aw what a special experience! I stumbled in to the restaurant for the first time on the open mic night on Tuesday and had such a lovely night. Baba (the emcee) made my night, he immediately created such a welcoming atmosphere; he welcomed me personally and the people sitting around. Greeting people by their first names. These are the spaces and the kind of people worth treasuring.

So I come here 4 times a week and spend 17-20$ each time . The guy was by himself at 415 when I was in the establishment. I got a specialty coffee mocha iced 20oz Doesn't it usually have whip cream what am i drinking tastes like coffee with chocolate milk for almost 8$ i even had to add extra cream as it was so dark . He was really busy making 2 drinks at a time and taking the next customers . I won't come back when Deville is next door I will spend my 80$ a week + tips and get Nutella latte instead . Very disappointing I had to work at 430 pm which is why I didn't have time to ask for a remake . But I shouldn't have to

We visited Higher Grounds Café in Kensington and had such a great experience. Zo made our drinks and was incredibly friendly and welcoming. When we accidentally ordered our drinks wrong, he was quick, kind, and more than happy to fix it without any hesitation. His positive attitude and great customer service really stood out and made our visit even better. We’ll definitely be coming back!

Cute cafe with lots of drink options. The walls are decorated with art by local artists that can be purchased. They had a good selection of baked goods, but the prices aren't posted, so we had to ask the server. We had the carrot spice and bran muffin, both were fresh and I would order again.

Really great business, definitely recommended!! They have amazing coffee, tea & food. Plus there's a really nice variety of everything if you like coffee shops. It's really cozy too & I love that. It gets a little busy but I'm happy to see them flourishing. :)

This place was busy on a Sunday evening that I came in. Temperature was really cold -20°C outside. It was quite busy, people studying with their laptops, tablets, books, people having conversations with friends, etc. There was plenty of tables. Most people flock to the lone fireplace I saw that was working. It was chilly inside despite of the number of people, but you can still keep your distance from others, since we still need to worry about covid. We still need to be careful in a crowd indoors. I can imagine this place can be relaxing when it's not that busy. I found a seat near a second fireplace and asked the barista if I can turn it on and was told it doesn't work. Would be nice to have another working fireplace so I had to keep my coat and hat on instead. I just ordered a regular cup of coffee but they also serve wine and food. I guess my coffee got cold faster since I had it in a mug with no lid and its nippy inside. I will have to come back at a different time and explore what they have to offer. I believe on some days they have live music playing.

Came here with my sister who is visiting from Vancouver. Took her to Kensington and she wanted coffee. So we ended up coming here since it was very busy compared to other coffee store. Also I wanted to bring her to somewhere that doesn't exist in Vancouver. Came here and She got the Americano and I got the Macchiato. To my surprise, the price they charge is so little. Americano was big cup. She said it was really good. I really like my Macchiato. Both drinks together like $5 something and less than $6. WOW that is amazing prices. Loved. Atmosphere was good. Busy. They have cake and other goodies too. Nice great to sit and chat. Or just to relax. But again place can be quite loud.

After attending a Remembrance Day concert, hubby and I decided to have coffee, tea and a hot snack (it was 9:15pm; closing time is 11:00pm). We were told that the kitchen was closed and the only food available were the cakes, peach pie, cinnamon buns, date squares, and Nanaimo bars. Hubby's "Banana magic" specialty coffee (espresso, hot chocolate, banana, chocolate whipped cream) was good but I was extremely disappointed with my organic Indian spiced chai. It was very bland, insipid, and did not taste like chai at all. When I asked the barista to confirm if I received the correct order, all I received was a sniff in my teapot and a shoulder shrug...

Very good and cozy atmosphere. The coffee is awesome. I had "Nut'N'Honey". The staff is polite and helpful. Don't forget to tip! They need fund to finish the Death Star!

Very cool place - if I lived in Calgary, I am pretty sure I would be hanging out here on a regular basis. My iced Americano Misto (which was more or less an iced latte) tasted rich and delicious. Lots of space, tables to read or work, and a great vibe.

I have always enjoyed going here and have had their organic coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos and teas (London Fog and Green Tea Matcha). There wasn't anything I didn't like. Food wise, I suggest the Breakfast Burrito or Tuscan Sunrise for breakfast or brunch and for lunch/dinner any of their soup and sandwiches are great. Very healthy and delicious. There is plenty of space pre covid and is very popular. Does not take long to find a table or spot to sit. Great meeting spot to hangout with friends and then go cruise the Kensington shops or vice versa. Good wifi and the staff are almost always pleasant. The inside has character and I like looking at the artists paintings for sale. Always changing. I would have given them 5 stars if their menu selection was broader. Otherwise, wonderful place.

Nice lication and nice decor overall. Bathrooms needed attendance. There were a number of signs up directing behaviour that might be more tactfully written. Service was good. My hot cider was not quite up to snuff, it seemed slightly watery however maybe that's just my petception on this day. Would I return? Yes. I'm always in search of the perfect cafe so I'd try other spots in the area first however at the end if the day this wad an A-OK experience. Would I recommend? It's a good option for tge area.

This is a coffee house for the well-heeled. You have to be rich to live in Kensington. Rich can mean nerdy, and some of the occupants are. Rich can mean counter-cultural and some of the occupants are. Rich can mean old - and many of the occupants are. This is actually a plus because it is an age-diverse coffee house - in a world where many coffee houses and bars pitch themselves to one and only one age cohort exclusively. The coffee house itself is decorated "old English inn" "chalkboard-specialty-drinks" stylish; it is a nice room to be in. Pretty much anyone with a bank account or a parent with a bank account will fit in - whether you are a workaholic or you are just killing your day waiting for nighttime entertainment. How are the food and coffee? The naked espresso is bitter (which is good) but not all that great tasting. This is not an ou-la-la coffee connoisseur place where you pick your own exotic bean from a choice of 23 nations. You take the coffee you get at Higher Ground...which is meh. So by all means, Starbucks it and make your drink as fancy and as Italian syruped as you like, They were offering free samples of their chocolate cake when I was there. An honest serviceable chocolate cake with lots of chocolate buttercream. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would certainly hang out at Higher Ground. But then, if I lived in the neighborhood, I could have my chauffeur take me to any coffee house I wanted.

Apparently, these guys dont know what a Flat White is. You more or less gave me a Latte far more than a Flat White. It was weak. Barely any espresso in there. And it was unusually large. Flat whites are not this large, dear. Get it in gear man. Figure out what a Flat White is and you may get something more than 3 stars.

Awesome place to have coffee. Had order a few hot drinks and all of them were very delicious. My hot chocolate was little too sweet and trust me I can take sweet, just a little. Nice ambiance, friendly staff. Very warm and cozy place. Fireplace adds a nice touch though it's very hard to actually find a place near one :( Amazing to see people displaying their artwork for sale on the walls. Very creative.

Stopped in briefly this weekend to one of my favorite coffee shops. I used to come here all the time in college and entertained clients there when I became a professional. I've always loved Higher Ground and it is marvelous to return after ten years and see that it has gotten larger and more spacious. The coffee here is terrific, it's sunny and charming, there's always room to sit, and they are patient and kind to children. When you want coffee in Kensington, Higher Ground is the GOAT.

My friend recommended Higher Ground because of their butter beer coffee! It is so delicious and tasty, got to have a little Harry Potter experience without having to go to England!! Good prices, and awesome vibe. Everyone is chatting with their friends and enjoying a lovely Saturday in Calgary. Highly recommended!

Have had a brew here and bought some beans a while back, but didn't sufficiently impress to return. A friendly venue, they are usually packed but then their space is quite small too. Quite possibly the best stand-alone specialty drink place in the Kensington area (better than Second Cup and the faded Star... of the industry), but I'd have to go again to re-assess.

I just grabbed the honey nut latte. It is by far the best latte I had all year and it's currently PSL season. I loved the atmosphere in here and that the tip jar that had a note saying "funds for the Death Star". I love this place. If you're in the Kensington area in Calgary, try this place out!

Nice coffee place in Kensington. Came here for a meetup with a few other girls. It wasn't loud, we were able to talk without shouting. Overall we liked the place. You need to find street parking; it can be tricky sometimes as it is in Kensington.

Oh coffee, you're so much more than hot bean water you consist of. You're the deliciously caffeinated social connection point for new romances to begin and old romances to end. You're the reunion of old friends, and the spark of business meetings. If you're looking for that place to enjoy a social cup of joe, Higher Ground is a great one. They've got a good selection of fancies to go along with your usual coffee suspects, and the Smore Mocha I went for today rocked my espresso lovin' world. A tasty food selection (loved the Mac 'n Cheese) from coffee treats, to a soup and sandwich selection, all the way to full meals make Higher Ground a good meeting spot for any time of the day. They're also licensed, so you can opt for some social encouragement be it beer, wine, or make your evening java 'extra special.'

Higher Ground, you've officially fed me my first entirely vegan meal. And I'm happy to admit I haven't turned into a rabbit eating anti-meat fanatic. In fact, I feel quite full and content. I swear they knew what the weather would be before they posted the menu last week. Tonight we had squ-utternut ba... I mean butternut squash and basil bisque, vegan shepard's pie w/ red wine gravy and spiced pumpkin tart with candied pecans. It was a three course meal for $19.95! The deal for Global Vegetarian Night: make a reso, space is limited and I'm pretty sure they don't do walk ins for the meal. Look for the table with your name on it. Claim it, then head up to the counter and pay for your meal (if you're going soon, don't forget to check in! They've got a check in deal for a free brewed coffee or tea with any 3 course Wednesday dinner purchase). Then crowd around your table with your wooden spoon number and wait for yumminess to come to you. The only downfall is that the tables are a wee bit small to properly hold meals, teapots and mugs. But what are you gonna do? It's a coffee shop....

Finally! A coffee house in Calgary with lots of electrical outlets. Time to surf the web and get some work done! Free wifi is my friend! Though since this is a public network, it was real slow at times. This place is pretty big, lots of tables, and lots of people filling this place at all hours of the day. Got the Berry Cranberry Apple herbal tea. It was delicious. $3.20 for a pot. Next time I will try their coffee, and their food.. and it looks like there will be a lot of next times since I love the vibe here. And if you get bored with your work, there are always interesting conversations to listen in on. Haha definitely heard an entertaining first date conversation or two!

I haven't returned to this cafe until just recently and my friend who took me for coffee today is in fact friends with the new manager Dan. Let me just say that Higher Ground has gone through more than renovations, the menu has changed, the portions as well as the ambience. There is now another area where the patio used to be for sitting under a bright atrium ceiling, there are lit fireplaces and uber comfy lounge chairs giving this place a much homier feel and radically alleviating the line up problem. I had a great chicken pita sandwich here accompanied with a delicious cauliflower soap at under 11 which was a far bigger and more tantalising meal than the last one I got here. Service was really hospitable and warm today too and all in all I have now added two more stars to my rating. Kudos to Dan and Higher Ground for the reno improvements all around.

I quite enjoy Higher Ground as a local coffee shop. I especially like that you actually have to walk up some stairs to higher ground to enter the coffee shop... I think it's adorable! Most times I've been in this place it's been really busy. That's probably because the service is super friendly and the quality of food and drinks is up to par. I find it a little more expensive than Timmy's or Second Cup, but you're paying for a better experience, that's for sure. They have an abundance of seating in the place, which includes tables and chairs, as well as some couches and a couple of bar stools. I've never been shy to ask if I can sit across from someone at the couches when the place is busy. Even the customers are super friendly and gladly offer a seat when there's nowhere else to sit. I really enjoy Higher Ground as an alternative to some of the regular coffee shops. It seems so relaxed and friendly and I've never had a bad experience there. It's definitely #1 on my list of Kensington coffee shops!

I really enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. The cafe is pleasantly decorated and always very clean. I've never had any problems with the staff, they're very friendly! My personal favourite is the Snow Dragon. I've gotten my whole family hooked on drinking them, we've started incorporating it into our winter traditions! (Although, tea is an all year 'round sorta thing, for me.) Will definitely be coming in again!

Higher ground is an awesome hang out spot. Things I love about HG: Open late Cozy cabin atmosphere Noise levels are relatively low so you can have conversations with the person across from you Great lattes, even better teas **Free internet** although I connect wifi through starbucks Chill counter service Good food, great price and good portions Massive cork board at the back with lots of community events notices Easily a regular hang out spot, plus there's plenty of parking in the area.

Had a great breakfast with the family on a Boxing Day. Even though it was busy, the service was great. My kids loved the hot chocolate and yogurt parfait.

I enjoyed my time here. A spacious, comfortable ambiance, plenty of tables, good wifi, and plenty of power outlets made it a nice place to pass a few hours. My experience with the food and coffee, though, left me a little underwhelmed: - I ordered a soup (pasta fagioli) and sandwich (Greek chicken). The soup was tasty, and had a lot of substance to it, but it was a little salty and had a light film of oil on the surface. The sandwich was also tasty, but a little small. Together with the soup it made for a satisfying portion, but I thought that $10.50+ was a couple of dollars on the steep size, especially given the portion size. - A little after that I ordered an Americano (again slightly pricey at around $2.90+ for a medium), which took about five minutes to make. Upon getting it I went to pour a little milk into it, but out of the thermos came a clotted and soured mess. In ten years of frequenting cafes this has never happened to me, and I don't understand how a thermos of badly spoiled milk made it to the coffee condiment bar. The barista didn't find this particularly odd (which I found odd), but promptly made me another drink, which I'll admit was fairly good.

Stopped in for a coffee on my way to a nail appointment with fingers crossed. I say this only because it can be busy and its not a "fast food" coffee stop so with only 10 minutes to spare perhaps not a wise choice. I even went so far as to totally disregard time and ordered a London Fog instead of just a cup of drip coffee. Luck was on my side, it was quiet and my London Fog was ready in mere moments. This is one of my favorite coffee shops in Calgary but alas it seems to be a favorite with a lot of folks and thus it is more often than not very busy, very crowded and very difficult ot find a table. I have found evenings quite nice, a little quieter and I'll order a pot of tea and sit and knit by the fireplace for a while. (feel free to say hi if you see me). Sometimes its nice to get out of the house and meet up with someone for a coffee or tea and well, my friends and I knit. I've not experienced the off service, everyone has always seemed attentive and friendly enough. My lack of 5 stars is soley based on the lack of busing. There appears to be more reliance upon customers to bus their own tables and that often leaves a number of tables pretty dirty and for quite some time. I have no problem busing my own table and generally do unless I'm at a full service establishment but I don't know that this self service approach is as well received or even recognized by others. I don't particularly like having to bus someone else's table before I can use it. Prices are a tad dear but the quality is tops and the baking is off the charts. Free wifi is very handy but of course this also lends itself to customers hanging out longer. Along with those darn knitters hogging spots in front of the fireplace.

Always alive and friendly. If you are in Kensington, don't just go to one of the big coffee chains and get watered down coffee. Go to Higher Ground and have an original experience!

Happy atmosphere with lots of good quotes. All day breakfast draws my attention and the container bar is right next to the high ground. Iced cappuccino and cranberry lemonade are good. We ordered bagel toast and Tuscan sunrise( with eggs and sausage) abt 18bucks all together. A lot ppl came to study, work or chat.

One of my favorite places to be. Open late for us millennials who sleep late but need to work. It's a great first date location. Heck even a good place to take my folks after a day of cruising Kensington.

This place is very special to me :) it has a warm and welcoming atmosphere with a very homey feeling. Whether you drop in there to study or get together with friends, it's also a great place for a date! Staff are friendly and efficient, drinks are quality and served warm. I really liked the atmosphere. Definitely one of my go-to places. The only hassle is trying to find a parking spot sometimes when the area is busy.

Some of the best tea lattes and food options in Kensington! However, they have really long wait times on their food and it almost isn't worth it.

After reading through other reviews, I expected Higher Ground to be packed on a Sunday afternoon, but I still felt extremely overwhelmed when I got there. There were too many students/younger folks chatting, and it's hard to find a seat. To those who'd love to sip a cup of afternoon coffee to relax, don't go there on Sunday, you will feel like you walk into a busy bee hive. (Which also proves how popular this cafe is) As for the coffee, I ordered a simple macchiato which was not much different from any simple macchiato I can order from other cafes. So I'd love to order a fancier coffee next time when I go there. My medium macchiato costs $3.5, which is much lower than the same cup of coffee if I order from other cafes. Service seemed friendly, and I was only there in line for several seconds, and I was greeted. Though, there were three orders before mine, still mine came just in less than 5 minutes. Wi-if connection was really fast, though there were many people there connecting the same network at the same tim I'd love to go back there on a weekday afternoon (less crowded) to try a different cup of coffee. The following is the review of my second visit, I was expecting a less noisy and crowded environment when I went to Higher Ground on a Friday morning, however, my expectation was nulled by the swarming crowd. I believe I underestimated the almighty of this holiday free time. Nevertheless, my second experience was generally speaking--acceptable. Again, I was greeted in less than 20 seconds after I joined the line, and my barista was fast and efficient. It'd be great, if she rendered a smiling acknowledgment and a sincere greeting, because, well, I was not interacting with a robot, wasn't I? I ordered a cup of café calypso. My barista paid attention to every detail, from asking me what kind of milk I liked, to offering me choice of adding cream. My coffee tasted good, but again, it's just like any fancy caramel coffee I could order elsewhere... It'd be perfect, if my barista tried a bit more effort letting me feel more welcome, and it'd be fantastic, if Higher Ground made my café calypso different (even just a bit) from the same coffee made from other coffee shops. Absolutely, I'd like to visit again in near future. Isn't third time a charm...lol

I spent the better part of a day in Higher Ground and while I'm usually nervous to do this in coffee shops because I don't particularly like dirty looks from baristas I had a most enjoyable time here. Everyone was so friendly and no one minded that we stayed for coffee, then breakfast, then more coffee, then lunch, and ended our day with another coffee. In fact they even started a tab for us to do so! As I mentioned I had both breakfast and lunch - a yogurt parfait and then a veggie wrap. Both were tasty as was the coffee so I can't imagine picking a better spot to get some studying or work done, or just to hang out and enjoy a cup of java.

#118 It is really hard to expound on what has already been said but my almost weekly trips to Higher Ground have been going on for over two years. That, in itself, must say something more? I cannot find any negatives but maybe one complaint which I will touch upon later, except that I have to share with others (I was never good at sharing). Did I mention this was my first coffee shop in Calgary for me when I moved here? Maybe, it's the sentimental side of me but after trying the hot chocolate which I love having while sitting by the fireplace, it was like being at Grandma's for a holiday gathering (no matter how many friends are with you, everyone is still a stranger). However, I did stray as I later fall in love with the Great Divide under Specialty Coffee (Raspberry, Hot Chocolate, Espresso, and something else) though lately, it's been the Hot Chocolate solo. There are couches and tables with chairs. It's a great place to study, read a book, cruise the information superhighway on the free wifi, and catch up with old friends. It is open until 11pm or later everyday though if I am being honest, love to see it open until after the neighbourhood pubs (Kensington Pub, The Yardhouse Restaurant) close. Always nice to close out a night of drinking with a nice mocha, hot chocolate, and a snack. Now, about the snacks, yummy goodness for a limited time (they almost always sell out). Which leads me to my only complaint which others have already touched upon, it is busy most of the time so if there is two or more of you and yours, you may have to sit outside slightly west of the front door (weather permitting of course). Always busy full of hipsters, hipster wannabes, students, student wannabes and the like, but you can almost always meet someone whom has an open chair to share. This, in itself, makes up for the crowdiness (and let's be honest, would I go if it was not busy? No, hard to people watch with no people). You could say it is the Analog Coffee 17th Ave of Kensington (except that 17th Ave never goes through Kensington) or you could say the Higher Ground is the Analog Coffee 17th Ave of the 17th Avenue area (The Red Mile, Uptown at 17th, just pick one.. *giggle*) but alas there is no Kensington there. I could say more but apparently, you are not supposed to review and drive on the way to a Higher Ground experience.

They have good in the menu... Refused to make a sandwich at 8pm on a Thursday. Really? My daughter could make sandwiches at the age of 8.

So let's say you have a date coming up. You're nervous. Perhaps you'll do dinner? No, too formal, too much pressure. A movie? Can't talk. Coffee? Yes, coffee- laid-back, makes you look chill. Perfect. But where to go? Starbucks? No, you'll look too mainstream, not date-y enough. You need the perfect balance between 'new age crazy' and your 'everyday coffee shop.' Higher Ground is that perfect balance and thus why I call it the Coffee Shop of First Dates. My friends and I often try to guess who is on their first dates at this lovely coffee place; so those creepy people staring at you, yeah that may or may not be us...sorry ;P It's trendy enough that the artistes and philosophers of this lovely city feel they belong here (I can say that, I'm in the arts ;P) and that the everyday Calgarian also feels welcomed because it's not too in-your-face hipster. All-in-all a good balance. Higher Ground is a coffee shop, and it does coffee really well. The different varieties of lattes and tea lattes are so good and every month they come up with a new special which are always great. I adore their White Chocolate Chai tea latte (my all-time favorite) and their Cafe Rolo latte. Delicious and will keep you motivated to finish that last minute paper...or swap drinks with your sweetheart (staying with the Coffee Shop of First Dates theme). For the most part, service here is nice. I wouldn't recommend the food necessarily, I don't mind the Mac and Cheese, but honestly the food is 'okay' and I've found myself kinda disappointed- let's put it this way, it's coffee shop food. But it could just be me. I wouldn't go to Higher Ground for the food, maybe dessert. If you're going to Higher Ground, go for the coffee. The biggest downside is how busy this place can be and because the place can be so busy sometimes it can get a bit dirty with leftover food on tables and sticky table tops from spilled drinks. Finding tables with outlets can also be tricky as they're often occupied. So it's actually been a while since I've been here- I've tried to find space to do some work, but often can't find an outlet let alone a seat. The place is lively and youthful and if you're an extrovert, it's a good place to charge up your energy. Because it's a high energy place though, it can be quite loud. However they have free wifi and are open quite late which made this place one of my favorites back when I was a student. One of my favorite things about this place was if you got that perfect seat, right by the windows at the very front, you could look out into Kensington- very pretty especially in the winter. So to summarize; loud, lively and young. Busy! Get a table before you order (I'll probably regret spilling that piece of advice), the food is 'meh' but the coffee is amazing (5/5 for coffee, no doubt). And last but not least, a suitable place to hold your first-no-pressure-date.

I think, if I owned a coffee shop, that I would put electrical outlets every metre along the wall. Higher Ground could do with a few more. When the bar is full, there are only a few in the place. If you get in here early enough in the evening (or late enough...), you'll find a lovely place to sit and drink/munch your faves from behind the counter. I've been here a few times (my husband and I even wrote our vows here because we didn't have interwebs at either of our houses!) Anyway, pretty standard coffee shop - you won't be disappointed, but if you're just there on a regular night, you're not going to be carefully crafting a letter to the president about your experience. If you live nearby, definitely make it a regular occurrence.

Higher ground is one of those strange Calgary places that seems to enjoy a much better reputation than it actually deserves. It's like a whole generation of customers grew up thinking that all you need for a great coffee shop is a quirky decor and a punny name. The coffee and food are wholly unremarkable, the service varies from competent to atrocious, and the decor...well, they have a fireplace! (which you will sometimes find running on the hottest days of the year. Seriously, I once administered first aid to a woman who passed out from the stifling heat in this place on a summer evening...though that was a couple years ago, so they might have gotten AC by now). It's pretty sad that in a city which has fostered some incredible coffee culture (Fratello & P&S) these guys seem to just coast along on a choice location and a pretty facade. Though at least they're not charging for WIFI now...Seriously, until recently these jokers expected you to pay to use their WIFI. Think of this as an indicator of their conception/concern for the customer experience.

I just started working in Kensington and I've been to Higher Ground every day this week. I've been there when it's really busy, but at 8:45am it's quiet and subdued and the service is great. I've stuck to the coffee, and black and unadorned it's really very nice coffee. Almost perfect. Over the past say 10 years I have probably eaten 1000 slices of Starbucks banana loaf, which didn't prepare me at all for the banana loaf the Higher Ground served: nuttier, spicier, with a little sweetness on top. (Like many places in Kensington, this location doesn't seem very wheelchair accessible, just as an FYI. Maybe you can get in through a side entrance or something.) (Update: there is no side entrance.)

They serve coffee, they have Baileys and there is button artwork on the wall. Seriously... what more do you want? When a place that I wouldn't expect to serve booze does, it's pretty much a guaranteed 4 star. It makes me feel both fancy AND mischievous. So here's the deal: I ordered a Baileys and coffee... and everyone knows, you can't really screw up a Baileys and coffee. If you HAVE screwed up a Baileys and coffee... *eyebrow raise* I spent no more then 20 minutes in this place, I did not eat food, I did not snoop the conditions of their bathroom and there was no pomp, poof or jazzy eccentricities. But their chairs were decently comfy, they served me boozy coffee and they have button artwork on their walls. We're basically best friends now.

I have had a number of "downer" experiences at Higher Ground, and I think it's about time I voiced my feelings. So many times I have visited, I have been met with an unwelcoming attitude of disdain. Any cordiality has felt forced and disingenuous. I dunno, maybe it's something about ME that just doesn't fit in with the vibe here, but I always sense an attitude of condescension or resentment. On my last visit, I noticed a check-in offer for a free drip coffee or tea and thought, "Y'know, maybe Higher Ground isn't so bad after all!" I clicked "redeem" and headed to the counter. The cashier, who met my request with an annoyed "smile," squinted to read the "coupon" on my mobile device and said "You can't use this. It's only for WEDNESDAYS [you idiot]!" Okay, maybe she didn't say "you idiot," but still! C'mon! It's a DRIP COFFEE or TEA!! That's basically flavoured water and you can't comp it just this once?! Sorry to be such a negative nancy, but Higher Ground is such a nice space and location that it is a shame to me that there is not a "higher" standard of service and quality to go along with that.

Higher Ground- how I love the. Let me count the ways. While most coffe shops at leat one glaring issue, Higher Ground seems to escape that trend. The food is all delicious. Simple, but delicious. No huge meals, but a large menu for a coffee shop. The coffe is quality, and although I havent had all the beverages available, the price and quality of their coffe is hard to beat. Best of all, it is spacious and not at all pretentious. The giant numbered spoons you place on your table to indicate to the server where to bring your order is a sign that they don't take themselves too seriously. the staff are friendly and fit the atmosphere incredibly well. Needless to say I'm a fan.

As a local coffee shop to meet up in, I love Higher Ground. It is open late, the complex drinks are sweet and delicious and most of the staff is pretty cool. It's fun to have chats with them when they aren't crazy busy, and they are usually happy to help. The selection of cheesecakes that they offer is super delicious and the other goodies are pretty tasty too. So why the three stars? Well, Higher Ground has a few problems. One of the biggest is seating. It is always super packed, and if you come in with more than two other people you are basically required to spread out and wait until you can grab a table. The coffee is good, but the lines are long and the wait for your drink is longer so there is no point in taking your coffee to go. There are places with better, cheaper coffee and shorter lines if that is what you're truly searching for. Basically, the Higher Ground encourages people to sit and chat and stay as long as possible. I'm all for hunkering down in a coffee shop, but the lack of places to sit gets really frustrating. I love the atmosphere so I peek my head in to check to see if we can grab a spot. But, I'm sick of having to pounce the moment a table becomes available, so more often than not you'll find me resting elsewhere after my Kensington experience.

I've been going here for years and have always had a Love / Hate relationship with Higher Ground: Love: - The famous Real Estate slogan: location, location, location definitely applies here. It's my favourite coffee hang out when I'm close to downtown. It's a juxtaposition of cozy atmosphere jam-packed with a random assortment students / dates / people just hanging out. Hate: - Tepid service from hipster baristas / cashiers whose personalities contain a big scoop of indifference, a dash of sloth and a pinch of snarky? CHECK! - Beverages with names that sound better than it tastes? CHECK! - Wi-fi that reminds me of using a dial-up modem? CHECK! But like a typical addict (why do I always order the overly sweet, I can't taste anything for hours Banana Magic?) and against my better judgment, I keep coming back :-)

I took my boyfriend here last week. I had talked about this place and he wanted to check it out too. Anyway, he had a cappuccino-ish fancy beverage and I had a rooibos tea. I love rooibos tea, so their little pot full of it so I could keep refilling my cup is genius. My boyfriend's coffee bevvy was good too. But let's be honest here: the service is atrocious. I have been to Higher Ground a few times, and every single time the guy taking my order looks bored out of his mind, almost to the point that he looks like he's going to yell at you if you ask him something. They never even look at me when I'm ordering. If I do happen to ask questions, they look clearly annoyed. I'm not asking for valet service here, but at least look at me when I'm ordering. Its pretty ridiculous how bad the service is honestly. You might as well just have a drive through and bark through the little microphone/speaker thing. But then we wouldnt get to sit down in the uber-buzzing cafe packed with students on their Macs, every one of them either mooching off of the S-bux internet or choosing to pay the $5/hour, somehow. Ah Higher Ground. *shakes head* 10/30

So, I'm wandering through a strange town, desperately needing three things: food, wifi access, and a place to recharge my trusty notebook's battery. (I guess you could say we both needed feeding.) I see Higher Ground. Works for me. The stations just inside the door were all plugged up, unfortunately. (Not every seat, nor every plug, was full, but the people who were there rather inconsiderately spread out their possessions to take up as much room as possible.) No matter: I found a table near a plug in the wall, and it was all good. The sandwich I had was surprisingly good, although it didn't come with any extras to make it a full meal. (Fries would probably have violated somebody's religious sensibilities, but surely they could have managed a salad, or a pickle, or something.) I'm not a coffee drinker, but the green tea was definitely better than I've found in most places. Most importantly, the place wasn't crowded, or noisy, and the staff were friendly without being pushy. I could see myself getting to like this place. If I ever go back to Calgary.

This place always seems to be the place where I go to catch up with friends. I don't know why, but it's just a go to place for me. Actually let me correct that, I DO know why this is. First of all I like that they serve their tea in those little metal pots, it's like your own personal tea pot, which they'll refill with hot water for those extended conversations. Second of all, I feel like it's just an over all cozy place to be, especially on the abundance of chilly days we have in Calgary. If you're swift and quick enough to snag a seat by either side of the fire place then you're set, otherwise I prefer to sit in the nook of the windows and people watch if flying solo. And lastly, it's my favourite place to play some cribbage with my boyfriend. It's relaxed atmosphere makes us feel like we're at home in a way, with no where to be and no reason to rush anywhere. The staff and its clientele compliment the Kensington area and help fulfill my dream of being a hippy. Favourite drink: Banana Magic (half sweet and no whip when I'm being "good")

As a self professed internet junkie, it is sometimes hard to go to coffee shops and just enjoy a great cup of coffee. The Higher Ground is that place. They do have wifi, but it will cost you. And really, who pays for the internet nowadays? The Higher Ground also has a docking station for laptops if you are desperate, but plugging in your computer just to get internet? Embarrassing. So when I want to do some reading, catching up with a friend or just enjoy some pretty solid people watching, I always head to The Higher Ground first! If that isn't convincing enough, they also serve wine and beer! How can you not love that?