Higher Ground

Review by Instagram@Jolyslife. Follow my Instagram for reviews, lifestyle and travel content. Finally visited the award winning, Higher Ground, and my expectations were set high and it absolutely delivered. The moment you step in, the rich coffee aroma hits you and you just know their coffee is gonna be fire🤎 The wait time was around 30 mins but I didn't mind as I wandered around the city while waiting. If you're not keen on the wait, I'd say the takeaway service'd be much faster. First impression, the baristas here are so passionate about what they do. The atmosphere and professionalism are next level. The pork belly was cooked to perfection, crispy skin with juicy and tender meat, paired with sauteed brussels sprouts, crispy ham bits and pickled cabbage for balance. The barramundi was beautifully crispy on the skin served with a light and refreshing couscous.

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.

The ricotta pancake was heaven in your mouth. 10/10 out of this world! Perfectly balanced, all the textures and flavours, and not too sweet. It could honestly feed 4 people though. Coffee had great flavour and smoothness, but could have done with an extra shot as we found our flat white and latte too weak. Pumping atmosphere, great service, overall 4.5/5!

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!

To be honest, I am stuck between a 4 stars or 5 stars for food because the barramundi was good! But the ricotta hot cake is too overwhelming for 1 pax. It’s starts off with really nice. After finishing half the cake, it becomes a chore; so tiring to eat it. Barramundi is nice, fresh and the sauce complements it well. Balance taste! Environment is nice and chill. Great place for groups catch up. Staff are fast and efficient, friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend this place. Love to try other menu item next time!

Decent food and great vibes. The food here is decent at best, but the homely atmosphere and welcoming vibe make this a great place to catch up and relax. Had the chive waffles with salmon which was a pretty interesting. Salmon was fresh and the waffle was tasty. Also tried the ricotta pancake which was way too heavy and drowning in honey, creating a very heavy flavor profile that becomes cloying fast. Would be preferable to serve the honey separately and let you portion your desired amount. Service is excellent and the staff are warm and inviting.

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.

Striking heritage café with high ceilings, natural light and an industrial vibe. High-energy ambience and buzzing vibe overall! Staff were friendly and attentive, and service was prompt. Food and drinks were pretty good, though more in line with standard brunch fare than outstanding.