Higher Grounds

slow mornings in northern liberties have a particular rhythm, and 631 n 3rd st fits right into it. higher grounds sits on a stretch of philadelphia where the neighborhood is still figuring itself out, which means you get the foot traffic without the tourist noise. locally, people talk about this place with the kind of easy confidence that takes years to build, not months. it's not a destination you have to convince yourself to visit. the work gets done here, the coffee gets you through it, and the corner of 3rd doesn't feel like a compromise. if you're heading in on a weekday, the morning cortado is where to start.