Great coffee, great vibe, service is not great but not terrible. They serve you, they do their job, theyre just not particularly amazing or kind about it. (Not to me, anyway, although fem presenting friends of mine have gotten free pastries and coffee from the male baristas). That aside, worth it just for good coffee and comfortable outdoor seating.

Good food at a good price! Chill atmosphere. It seems like a place with healthier options. Mainly just sandwiches, paninis and soups. Has drinks and smoothies as well!

Upscale Cafe. Lil exp. Outside seating. Nice staff. Benches jus outside. Will go again.

Decent coffee but odd and distracting music. A plus was ample natural light on the north side

Chill place with relaxed seating and plenty of space to spread out right downtown. Perfect spot to work or study.

Great coffee with an awesome atmosphere. The staff was friendly and were eager to give me suggestions! Though Im one for a stiff black coffee, which they nailed!

Great coffee and a good place to work on laptops for a while.

Absolutely love this place! Its such a hidden little gem in a corner of Iowa City. The coffee is great, food is great and the cozy atmosphere is even better.

A charming coffee shop in a trendy neighborhood! They offer a very nice selection of coffee, tea, italian soda, craft beers, wine and much more! I personally love their caprese which looks pricey but once you get it you realize why! I recommend coming here multiple times so you can curate what you like best. Very friendly and helpful staff who know the menu and area well!

They make really good mixed espresso drinks, and are friendly

Love the vibe here! Friendly staff and the food is 👌

Had some test done at the hospital so I stopped in at High Grounds for a coffee drink! We picked High Grounds per the website and it couldn’t be more misleading! Bad coffee drinks, lack of personality in the barista and oh the rap music with extreme profanity! It doesn’t makes sense to me that while I’m waiting for a couple coffee drinks at least 3 f bombs in the less than tasteless music! Definitely wouldn’t recommend this shop! Safe it for your private play list!

Went one morning, wednesday 0730, with a coworker to experience the pour over french style coffee. Since school is out for awhile the shop was quiet and inviting to sit and enjoy a quality cup of coffee. I chose to drink the pour over cream bean, not on the downloadable menu, with a shot of expresso. The chocolate chip cookie purchased assisted in offsetting the bitterness of the coffee. The store is more than a coffee shot and has a robust menu of teas, beers, food, wines and much more. The taste is better than any chain coffee shop I have been too. You get what you pay for and I spent around $7 for my morning. One 16oz cup kept me going for hours, very strong. Friendly service and staff, and I would revisit and try another flavor any day of the week!

Lavender is such an underrated flavor, wish it was more common out here!! so glad they have it!

One of my favorite coffee shops in Iowa City. A wide variety of roasts to choose from, in addition to fast WiFi and delicious food options. (Try the cinnamon roll!)

Very good latte and tea!

Best coffee around.

Great coffee but what is with all the flies???

It’s over Anakin!I have the high ground and a nice scone!

Great atmosphere and even better coffee! Great place for students to study or to simply get a good drink from friendly staff

Me and my bf really loved coming here! We didnt get coffee, but the food and drinks we did get were so, so good. I love the selection, and the prices are fair too. Im not sure of her name, but the girl who ring us up was awesome as well. Overall, it was a great experience.

Great coffee and panini

Very niche and exciting cafe. They have great food, and a super interesting coffee+beer dynamic going on. The staff are super friendly, and the atmosphere is welcoming and peaceful. I could definitely imagine myself spending a whole day reading or doing work in here. The staff were also incredibly friendly and helpful. If you’re visiting Iowa City for a day or two like I was, I definitely recommend trying this place out. I’ve never seen anything quite like it!

Love high ground! One of my go-to study spots. Staff is super friendly and atmosphere is nice. Particularly love for late nights because theyre open until 11

First things first: the banana bread here is to die for—hearty and moist and flavorful. That said, lots of other things make this cafe a treat—great sandwiches, beer, tea, and Italian soda served with lots of natural light and plenty of space for writing, studying, or just hanging out.Local guide tip: this cafe is rarely overrun with undergrads, even during the school year—which makes it a preferred spot for locals and grad students.(I’m not a coffee drinker so I can’t speak to that, but they do serve Kickapoo coffee, which lots of folks love.)

Food was delicious Ginger Beer very thirst quenching, although its non alcoholic 🐥who would have known with a name like. Staff was very friendly, clean seemed like they all liked what they were doing. Genuine smiles and very pleasant. I came home to feed and walk the dogs and going back Chad who works there said come back Thursday night is comedy night. Who cant use a bit of comedy in their life.

My goodness. This place has an amazing atmosphere! Good sandwiches and pastries. Good tea and beers (alcoholic and ginger). If you want to study somewhere this is the place to be. Great cafe music, FREE WIFI, and its never that busy.

Amazing service and drinks!

Really great customer service, food, and it had a good vibe going for it. Could use a custodian though!

I usually come to get a latte or plain espresso. Its always rich and delicious. The environment has a cozy feel to it with chalkboard menus and comfy seats by a fireplace. There are also magazines, newspapers, books and board games for entertainment. The staff is knowledgeable about the different tastes and origins of all the different coffee beans they sell. They also have house-made pastries, some of which are vegan and/or gluten free. Overall its a very lovely and homey place. great for escaping the cold outdoors, to study or just relax. Oh. and they have free wifi.

It’s cool

Everything about this place is fantastic-beautifully friendly people, food, beverages, and consistently a switch up in the local art! Its so quiet and peaceful that studying or one-on-one time can actually happen. Yet its popular and loved. And thats always a good sign ;)Enjoy!!! 💜💙💚💛❤

Good service and wide selection of hot and cold as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. It seems that every table in the cafe wobbles... I splash coffee pretty much every time I go. The restrooms are clean and the local artwork is nice. Great music!

One of the best, if not the best local coffee shops Ive visited. They clearly know how to brew good coffee and have a wonderful staff who are quite knowledgeable about their impressive beverage selection. Their tea collection is impressive and far beyond typical stores including beautiful exotics like Pu Erh. They also have a nice selection of pastries, sandwiches and salads.

Great coffee shop with tons of space for groups. You can go by yourself too. They always have a trivia question posted on a board by the register if you get the right answer you get a discount, its always fun. Beverages and food are good and prices are decent. The staff are always very friendly

This is some of the greatest coffee around. The store has a A great Vibe and feel.

Ordered a London Fog with almond milk, delish. (Little sweet for my taste, but I dont personally sweeten anything, so if youre like me, maybe ask for less vanilla syrup or unsweetened milk.) Seating is a bit crowded and not the most comfortable (no cushions), but its worth the quietly comforting ambience. Great space for a friendly chat or a study session. Ill definitely visit again.

A great modern coffee shop. The atmosphere isnt exactly what youd expect from a coffee shop - it feels more like a restaurant for people who want to be productive. Nonetheless, the coffee here is worth what it costs, and I would definitely go again.

High Ground is a wonderful coffee shop! Great atmosphere, fabulous coffee, employees are happy and intelligent, food is good, BUT the baked goods are soooooo bad. I do wish they would hire a new baker. We dont need anything fancy, maybe just an edible cookie or two?My friends and I will continue to go there, happily, but we respectfully request a change with the bakery items.

Lovely little coffee shop with some tasty pastries and breakfast tidbits. Wonderfully cozy, with a fireplace, a variety of comfy seating options, and a little collection of board games and periodicals around for learning or play.Always seems to be popular with students and writers, fueled by a steady stream of pourover coffee and all the basics (lattes, mochas, cappuccinos...). There are always a few special drinks that the baristas recommend, and Ive never been led astray by those.

Love this place great coffee friendly staff very quick service espresso is out of this world

This is a TOP-NOTCH cafe. Im talking next level stuff. If youre looking for beer, you better believe that they have it! They even have that one two-hearted ale or something, which Im pretty sure was ranked the BEST BEER OF ALL TIME. If you dont believe me, check it out! (Actually now that Im thinking about it, Im p sure that its just the best IPA of all time.) Either way, the REAL STARS of this establishment are Megan and Quintin. First of all, let me just tell you that my Schoolboy Q looks EXACTLY LIKE ME. Kind of crazy, right? So, hes super funny and nice, and then Megan just comes in scoring the kindness points THROUGH THE ROOF. If they arent paid at least a living wage of $15/hour, that would shock me, because they are THE BEST BARISTAS OF IOWA CITY. PERIOD. No doubt. Honestly. Okay, stellar. Anyway, Im out. I hope you all have a great evening. Thanks for reading. Youre the best! Stay golden. #letsdansky

Wonderful service and delicious coffee. The lavender latte is delicious! They happily made me a cafe miel off menu that was perfect with cinnamon and honey. Great meeting spot or quiet retreat. Parking is always available within the block.

Good latte and nice atmosphere. I really like that theyre open til 11 pm. Its one of the only coffee shops that stays open that late.

I had the staff pick, Campfire iced mocha! It was delicious! Also, the posters in the window and little LGBTQIA affirming touches made my heart happy! Thank you!

Food is great but vibes are weird. Its always pretty cold in here it doesn’t give off relaxing coffee shop vibes more like Starbucks in and out vibes. Would not recommend to study. Large space. Friendly.

Great food, good atmosphere. Its a nice, open place with a lot of Windows and natural lighting. Very peaceful and spacious, and the food is absolutely delicious. They have some good vegetarian options as well and its a nice place to study

I got a skim cappuccino. It wasnt awful, but Ive had better coffee. Espresso tasted very acidic, smelled burnt. Honestly would rather have Starbucks than this. If you want good espresso drinks in Iowa City, go to Cortado or Java House.

Not their fault they just didnt have loose tea for sale and the net said they did

This place is super cute! Great atmosphere. And they server wine... Score!

Visiting from Minneapolis, I was thrilled to find high-quality espresso and well-crafted beverages here. I thought I would be lost without a classic cortado for the weekend, but not only do they have it on the menu—they also do it really really well. I went back and immediately got another one. My caffeine happiness for the weekend was saved. THANK YOU, HIGH GROUND!

Dissaponting cup of morning coffee. I stopped in and ordered a poor over coffee in the morning. I waited for it to be brewed, added sugar, and then left. I took a sip of it and it was barely warm. The water they poured over it wasnt hot at all. I had to microwave it to warm it up.

Hands down this is the best coffee shop in Iowa City. The baristas take great care in making their drinks, and they have a wide selection of different beans for pour-overs. This place is a nice alternative from the overrun coffee shops closer to campus. If you just want to grab a drink to-go you can get in and out pretty quickly and when I do stay I have always been able to find a table.

I go here all the time and every time its amazing. The staff is always very friendly and the food and coffee are delicious. I highly recommend.

Quite and unique. The food was pretty good. Good prices. College students were studying no one was load.

Great place to study, awesome food. Have yet to have something bad there and Ive tried something new every time! Only downfall is that there are very few outlets to plug in my computer, but that definitely wont deter me from this coffee shop :)

The coffee was very good and the staff was friendly. The place is always clean and comfortable. Great place to meet a friend or just relax.

Awesome people, great atmosphere, Id love to have an office inside the store! Its that good and allows creative ideas and good flow of imagination.Forget Starbucks, this is where you should be in IC!

Chad made me a ice Carmel latte. It was professional, appealing and very appealing. Great review good atmosphere!

Nice place. Friendly staff. Good sandwiches. Iron goddess tea

This is a great coffee shop. Great location, friendly service, priced well and a nice patio. Glad we have it.

The apple chai-der was amazing!

Great ambiance, excellent food, their chai is very good. I would visit again when I’m in the area.

Tried the panini. It was the absolute best!! Ingredients were fresh and flavorful. Enjoyed the mozzarella cheese with the jalapeños. Compliments to the chef and accommodative staff!

A regular Sunday morning ritual for me. Great coffee and the best banana bread around! The baristas are always really easygoing and nice.

Overpriced. Food is good, coffee is not

Try lavender latte here while sitting next to the fireplace - best afternoon experience

Amazing atmosphere, and some of the best spiced Chai I have had in quite a while. Stopped in to check it out, will definitely return for a lovely tea and a cute study spot.

Iced Dirty Chai Latte at High Ground Cafe is second to none in Iowa City! Also, be sure try one of the sandwiches, because I cant pick just one! The staff at atmosphere makes this one of my favorite places to study/hang out in town!

This is the only cafe Ive found that has regular, non espresso coffee that will truly keep me up and moving. Food is good too. Can be a bit pricey for what you get at times.

The High Ground, with free internet, is the hangout place for students. The coffee, served in a mug, was excellent and of high quality. Service at the counter was friendly and efficient.

Honestly my favorite coffee house, friendly staff, fair prices, amazing coffee from an amazing roaster. Kickapoo coffee company is one of the best Ill always come here over anywhere else

Great atmosphere to study or just hang out! So much natural light! My barista was very friendly, and knowledgeable. Best espresso in town!! Its a perfect location, right on the corner of market & linn st, you cant miss it!!

Nice cafe atmosphere with plenty of university students but 4 stars because an iced tea should not cost $3 in my opinion...and I come from California.

Good coffee. Nice place to study or work. Out door space available.

Some flies. But the coffee is good. Nice place to work on writing.

I love the natural lighting here and the atmosphere is great for studying and hanging out, but the barista was very rude. She rolled her eyes at my when I asked a question and wasnt friendly at all. I will be coming back because I still think it is great, but it was disappointing to have someone who worked here be as rude as she was.

Fun and cozy atmosphere. Plenty of tables and not as busy as Java House downtown. Great place to hold interviews.

I was alone

A great cafe. Plenty of space, the prices are great. Best decaf coffee around.

Friendly, comfortable place. Good coffee and sandwich. Priced right.

I enjoyed a tasty smoothie with fresh fruit while my friend asked for specific preparation for her latte and was very happy with her drink being prepared to her specifications.

Great service and even better food.

To be honest I just went there to do some project and from what I saw they dont have a veru clean place and the chairs looked very disorganized. But i liked the environment there and the decoration.

Our drinks where just a bit watery but good.

Great coffee and food. Awesome atmosphere with terrific views and outdoor patio.

Nice place!

Great service with amazing teas and coffee! Also a great place to study.

Nice area. Seating can feel a bit like a mess hall and nothing like cozy booths.

One of the best coffee shops in Iowa City to sit down and get work done or visit with friends. Staff is courteous, the place is spacious and the coffee is delicious.

This place is a northside highlight. All of the coffees are great, especially love the mocha java. The banana bread is so so good.

Very rude manager, I believe named Wes, that kept talking about his failed engagement while I waited over 30 minutes for a cup of coffee.

A decent venue, decent coffee, decent staff... But just decent. Half the time my coffee is completely watered down. The other half of the time, the coffee is great! Lattes are yummy!The location is nice (oasis, haunted bookstore, barbershop, bluebird, hamburg inn, etc. all nearby). Dogs are allowed on the patio. The amount of body odor, dirty clothes, and bad breath is atrocious during uiowas fall and spring semesters. The solid stream of regulars is always great to see. Board games are available to play (watch out for missing pieces). Newspaper selection is nice. Wi-Fi is out 10-20% of the time.

Arguably the best cup of coffee in Iowa City. Great pour-overs, ambiance, wifi, and the avocado slam is great. Nice place to hangout or study.

Great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Food simple and wholesome.

Arguably the best cafe in Iowa City - definitely better than Java House.

First time there - GREAT latte!

Have been to here twice now and actually enjoyed their food. Their paninis and deserts are great. Only gripe was the service when ordering food. Baristas didnt know what food was what and just plopped it down on the table. A little menu knowledge and this place will be even better.

My favorite coffee place in town, never had a bad experience.

The food, drinks and atmosphere are always enjoyable.