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.
Jolyslife · 2026-01-01
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.
Di · 2025-12-22
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.
Family Friendly
Brad Chiplin · 2025-12-09
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!
Martin · 2025-11-24
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!
Lee Nguyen · 2025-11-17