Higher Ground: Brunch in a vibrant, heritage cafe with generous portions and standout coffee.
Higher Ground is a Melbourne cafe and brunch destination set in a repurposed 1891 power station near Southern Cross Station. The spacious, multi-level interior features high ceilings, large glass windows and indoor plants, offering a lively vibe. Guests praise locally sourced food and drinks, excellent coffee, and attentive service, with standout dishes like ricotta hotcakes and other brunch favorites. The space is known for generous servings and easy luggage storage for travelers.
650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Claim Higher Ground to manage your storefront, respond to reviews, and receive customer leads.
Enjoy a diverse menu featuring locally sourced dishes like ricotta hotcakes, waffles, pork plates, and sourdough in a vibrant, historic setting.
Savor expertly brewed coffee, including flat whites and lattes, made with high-quality beans for a smooth, flavorful experience.
Ideal for groups and travelers with spacious seating, luggage storage, and a lively atmosphere near Southern Cross Station.
Dine in a unique, multi-level renovated power station from 1891, featuring high ceilings, open windows, and rustic charm.
Open from morning to evening, serving food, drinks, and desserts in a bustling environment perfect for any time of day.
Overall rating
Richard Gillespie-Jones
Higher Ground is a great spot for breakfast. The renovated interior with large open glass windows and indoor plants makes for a pleasant experience. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly with a wide array of locally sourced food and drinks. Very popular with travelers coming from Southern Cross station with plenty of space to store luggage. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.
Jen S
Atmosphere is food but for the food you have to wait quite a long time, one of the dishes arrived cold and I felt super sick after having my dessert. Food could be better. Although this was weeks ago but I forgot to do the review posting now so I don’t forget. Would be keen to try after few weeks if the service is better
Tony Wenz
Love this place. Re-purposed power station (1891). Pleasant rustic feel. Has an ambience and inviting vibe. Seats inside (6 levels) and out. Discreet corner location. (Lt Bourke & Spencer) It will be busy, but the little wait will be greatly rewarded. Delightful variety of delicious food. We shared the Ricotta Hotcakes. 🥞 Generous servings. Coffee was exquisite. Bring a appetite.
Di
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.
Lee Nguyen
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!
