Higher Ground

Higher Ground brings all-day café dining to Melbourne CBD in a converted historic power station at 650 Little Bourke Street. The building is the main event: sunlight comes through tall arched windows, conversations carry beneath six-storey ceilings and the dining room is arranged around a striking 15-metre vaulted space. There is also mezzanine seating, giving the venue a sense of scale without losing the lively, social feel of a busy city café.

The menu runs from breakfast into lunch and is designed to change with the seasons and ingredient availability. Familiar options include sourdough or fruit toast, eggs served on sourdough and a selection of extras such as avocado, bacon, smoked salmon, halloumi with thyme honey, mushrooms with garlic and thyme, and roasted cherry tomatoes. There are also larger sides, including French fries with truffle mayonnaise and seasonal greens with confit garlic dressing. The cooking is described as a refined Australian style, with produce sourced locally and dishes intended to suit everything from a quick morning meal to a long lunch.

Coffee is a central part of the experience, with Higher Ground highlighting its award-winning coffee programme and positioning the venue around the full day, from the first cup through to drinks later on. The site also references spritzes, cocktails and elevated drinks, making it a practical choice when a coffee stop turns into a more leisurely afternoon. Its atmosphere is energetic rather than hushed, with a room that stays in motion from morning onwards.

Higher Ground works for a power breakfast, a catch-up over lunch or a larger social occasion. The venue specifically caters for corporate dining, milestone celebrations, brand launches and weddings, and offers private events with menus and service planned for the occasion. For a standard visit, reservations are strongly recommended, particularly if you want a table beneath the vaulted ceiling or on the mezzanine. It is a good fit for groups and celebrations, while solo diners and smaller parties can settle into the same grand setting for coffee or an all-day meal.