Higher Grounds Café by Manolo’s is on the ground floor of Myers Park United Methodist Church, at 1501 Queens Rd in Charlotte. Manolo Betancur, who owns Manolo’s Bakery on Central Avenue, opened it in 2024 with the church.
The café’s site calls its coffee “specialty non-profit Colombian coffee.” It also serves tea, pastries, gelato and grab-and-go food. At opening, the baked goods came from Manolo’s, the pies from Tita’s Cake House, and the gelato and gluten-free cookies from Artisen Vegelato. The space seats about 70 inside, with more seats on the patio.
The church and Betancur had worked together before. In 2020, the church hired him and his staff to make meals for people in need during the pandemic. Axios reported that profits from the café would go back to the community as grants, much like the ones the church gives each year. Betancur also said he planned to hire people who need a second opportunity, including immigrants, minorities and people with disabilities.
The café’s motto is “for you, for me, for everyone.” It’s open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and you can reserve a table online for groups of up to 10.
Stop in for coffee before the lunch rush.
1501 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
