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Higher Ground Melbourne

4.2
4.2
948 Reviews
$41 to $100
Modern Australian
Top Tags:

Higher Ground is a multi award-winning venue by the Darling Group.

Not quite a cafe, not quite a restaurant, we offer innovative fare for breakfast and lunch, alongside specialty coffee and a wine list featuring varietals from close to home.

On the corner of Little Bourke Street and Spencer Street, only a stones throw away from Southern Cross station and Tram stop 120 and 96, sits a dining experience quite unlike any other.

Make a reservation

2 people
June 2022
Sun
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Sat
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7:00 PM
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Modern Australian, Australian, Dining Bar

  • Hours of operation

    Mon–Fri 7:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 8:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (03) 8899 6219

  • Website

    http://darlinggroup.com.au/venues/higherground

  • Payment options

    AMEX, JCB, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Private party facilities

    EVENTS@HIGHERGROUNDMELBOURNE.COM.AU

  • Private party contact

    events@highergroundmelbourne.com.au: (03) 8899 6219

  • Location

    650 Little Bourke St Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

  • Neighborhood

    Melbourne CBD

  • Cross street

    Spencer Street

  • Parking details

    Spencer Street Multi story parking is just across the road.

  • Public transit

    Southern Cross Station - 50m<br />Tram No. 96 - 20m

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Outdoor Smoking Area, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Higher Ground $70 Chefs Menu

    A$70.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Higher Ground's unique 4 course shared Chefs Menu displays the finest seasonal produce, flavour delivered simply, using various techniques to give guests the ultimate Higher Ground experience. Groups of 10 or more must go on Chefs Menu.

What 948 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 3.9Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Melbourne

    Most Booked

  • City Centre

    Great for Brunch

  • City Centre

    Sunday Lunch

  • City Centre

    Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

  1. HE

    HERMANNk

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service3ambience4

    Overall experience is good. Food tasted good especially the chilli scrambled egg and ricotta hotcakes. I’ll definitely visit Higher Ground in my next visit to Melbourne. Recommendation to make a booking instead of walk-ins.

  2. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Brisbane

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    It was a lovely experience, only down side is the coffee was a bit on the cool side, more cold than hot. But everything else was great, food and service 10/10 Thank you

  3. LP

    LaraP

    Victoria

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This restaurant is very vibrant and has so much history. The staff are always very attentive. The lunch menu is very limited but has a great breakfast menu selection. You really need to book ahead to get a table

  4. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Melbourne

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 13, 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Great food and a regular. Unfortunately, our requested table was not fulfilled after a week+ notice.

  5. KA

    KellyA

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 12, 2022

    overall4food4service2ambience4

    A poor welcome but a nice breakfast. This one didn't live up to its reputation sadly.

  6. P

    Pittabread

    Melbourne

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 12, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    Excellent service and ambience. Food was good and had a variety to the menu.

  7. GH

    GrantH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The coffee was very very very good and our food was absolutely delicious. We were very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

  8. TM

    ToniM

    Melbourne

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 10, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience4

    Worth a visit for the ambience. It’s a lovely space. My meal was not up to the standard I expected. My friend said hers was good (she had a snapper sandwich and I had flank steak that was just not seasoned well, a bit stringy and the whole dish didn’t combine well) Maybe just a bad choice on the day.

  9. LV

    LissaV

    Adelaide

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 10, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5

    Great venue. I found serves to be a bit on the small side but food itself was enjoyable. Maybe waitress could have suggested getting sides to go with eggs.

  10. d

    dew1025

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 8, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    A bit noisy, but this place is really fancy and the food was nice. We brought a big piece of luggage, but there was no space to put it in a safe place. I found that several tourists having their luggage and family bringing a trolley visit this place during my stay. I hope Higher Ground should think about some solution.

  11. JM

    JoeM

    Sydney

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 7, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food, service and the venue is great. Will definitely be back.

  12. J

    Jammy

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 7, 2022

    overall3food2service4ambience3

    Coffee wasn't hot, very small cups. Food is overpriced. Ricotta hotcakes had rave reviews, not sure why as was quite dense not light and fluffy, a few smaller ones over one large would be better, $28 is ridiculous for what it is, friends poached eggs weren't runny. Staff were friendly.

  13. JL

    JohnL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Higher ground is an excellent dining experience. I went for breakfast. The coffee was superb. The barista team are exceptional. The meals are wonderful as well. The ricotta pancake is something to behold!

  14. MG

    MichaelG

    Melbourne

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 5, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience3

    Beautiful food and a great menu. I understand why there was a line up out the door!

  15. MW

    MichaelW

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 5, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    The shine has gone. I had the Reuben Benedict. And we’ll it was just food. The house smoked pastrami was a real disappointment. It let the dish down.

  16. KD

    KevinD

    Victoria

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    really enjoyed the breakfast and the vibe - a little on the pricey side but it is very popular , quality food and very good service . We will return

  17. KF

    KimberleyFan

    Tokyo

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Very popular place for breakfast/brunch. Make sure you book ahead to avoid disappointment. The food is prepared with expertise and coffee arrived promptly. A great place to catch up with friends/family but don't expect to linger.

  18. B

    Buttercup

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Needs warm water to wash hands. But everything else was great

  19. MG

    MikeyG

    Victoria

    27 reviews

    3.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall3food5service5ambience5

    Great food and great service. Unfortunately they didn't read the special request I put in the booking.

  20. TP

    TeresaP

    Adelaide

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 3, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Great location and awesome atmosphere. Food was delicious! Cool place to go if you can get in!

  21. EM

    ElaineM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 31, 2022

    overall4food4service2ambience4

    Love the fit out, ambience and food. I found the service a little on the slow side though.

  22. VT

    VicTi

    Adelaide

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Love this place. We were seated upstairs and could really appreciate the decor and architecture. Food was amazing, starting with the beautiful presentation to the taste which lived up to the look - highly recommended - but book or you will be waiting.

  23. TA

    TahliaA

    Victoria

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Loved it. Will definitely be back. Gorgeous building. Great staff. Amazing food. Fabulous coffee.

  24. SL

    SimoneL

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Nice venue if you want to 'treat' yourself. Lovely meal but is pricey

  25. AV

    AnaV

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2022

    overall3food2service2ambience4

    Very small plates, not worth the cost, the place is very beautiful.

  26. CS

    CaroleS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The Italian Prosecco was excellent as was the food and the service.

  27. GD

    GaynorD

    Victoria

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 26, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Really nice venue, friendly, nice food, bathrooms lovely too

  28. S

    Soapy1

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A stylish and striking place to meet friends and share good food and excellent surroundings. A classy venue.

  29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 24, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    We were here for brunch with old friends and it was very busy. We had a great table tucked in the corner and the service was excellent. The food was not as good as our previous visit but it was still of a high standard. The meals were well presented and we didn't have to wait too long. Once the noisy table next to us departed and we were able to hear each other talk it was great!

  30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Deactivated - Far North Queensland

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always an amazing experience- food, customer service and place.

  31. RM

    RachelM

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Initially we were placed upstairs in between 2 smaller tables. We were that closer we couldn’t hear our own conversation. It was not relaxing at all. I inquired about moving to a table that was not as noisy and had more space between guests. The head waitress rolled her eyes at me and said there were no other tables. Eventually she offered us a downstairs table. This made an enormous difference. Much more comfortable and less noisy. It improved our experience greatly. I am a fan of their hotcakes and chilli scrambled eggs were wonderful. And the coffee as always is perfection in a cup!! The other waitresses were more friendly and often smiled.

  32. P

    Paula

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience5

    Cool place! Always busy. Food is very elaborated and different.

  33. AB

    AndrewB

    Melbourne

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 21, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience5

    Disappointed to be honest. Forced into a $70 per head banquet where every nice dish we actually wanted to order from the menu was not part of the banquet. Three desserts between eight people, and of all the desserts, the cheapest one being the stone fruit with shortbread. Total rip off. The lamb shoulders were so salty it was as if someone accidentally tipped the entire shaker onto it before roasting. They filled us up on potatoe dishes as if we were in poor man's Ireland yet charged us as if we all ordered the soft shell crab, which we could not of course. I absolutely can't stand the blatant rip off these so called banquets are. They make some lame excuse as if a table of eight is somehow different and incapable of offering the full menu to compared to four tables of two. Never again will we recommend bringing a group to Higher Ground.

  34. CL

    CarolynL

    Brisbane

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2022

    overall3food5service2ambience4

    The food was lovely. The service was slow and inattentive

  35. SS

    SaratS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was our first visit and were really impressed by the ambience, food and especially the service by the staff called Mint. The place is super busy but Mint was smiling, quick and pleasant. Definitely coming back.

  36. MS

    MollyS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    Great food, service and atmosphere. Quite loud but easy enough to have a conversation

  37. BP

    BrettP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Had an excellent lunch at Higher Ground. Food and service were both very good. Lovely venue and highly recommend.

  38. JG

    JessicaG

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious dinner I’m such an ambient space, service was so attentive. We loved our cocktails. Bathrooms were a touch untidy but otherwise a fantastic experience

  39. GD

    GemD

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Higher Ground’s building and location is what drew me in, as well as the menu and stunning view from the upstairs seating area. A hidden restaurant worth a visit for locals and visitors.

  40. RM

    RachelM

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great atmosphere, food and coffee was good. Will definitely be back!

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Higher Ground Melbourne does offer delivery in partnership with Deliveroo. Higher Ground Melbourne also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (03) 8899 6219.

Higher Ground Melbourne is rated 4.2 stars by 948 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
June 2022
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Higher Ground Melbourne

650 Little Bourke St Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Spencer Street

  • Neighborhood

    Melbourne CBD

  • Hours of operation

    Mon–Fri 7:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 8:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Modern Australian, Australian, Dining Bar

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Spencer Street Multi story parking is just across the road.

  • Public transit

    Southern Cross Station - 50mTram No. 96 - 20m

  • Payment options

    AMEX, JCB, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Outdoor Smoking Area, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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