Higher Ground

The mammoth CBD cafe was an instant classic and remains a beauty.
Lauren Vadnjal
Published on July 04, 2023
Updated on October 15, 2026

Overview

Located at the Southern Cross end of Little Bourke Street, Higher Ground is from the team behind quintessential Melbourne cafes Top Paddock and The Kettle Black — and boy is it a beauty.

The huge, high-ceilinged 120-seat venue sits on the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Streets in a former power station. The interior is impressive, to say the least; a palette of exposed brick and green marble is spread across a multi-level space, which includes a raised area, an open kitchen, and a large mezzanine that holds couches, tables and its own bar.

Breakfast at Higher Ground - Melbourne Cafe

Higher Ground serves up the superb cafe fare its siblings are known for, with the all-day menu including the likes of the always-popular spanner crab Benedict and a particularly good sambal scrambled eggs. The famous Top Paddock ricotta hotcake made the menu from the beginning and has kept its spot on the call sheet ever since.

In the hands of hospitality legends the Darling Group, Higher Ground continues to elevate Melbourne's cafe scene to — dare we say it — higher ground.

People at Higher Ground - Melbourne Cafe

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Appears in:

Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Melbourne for 2023

Images: Supplied.

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