Popular cafes Higher Ground, Top Paddock and Kettle Black have sold

Three of Melbourne's most popular cafes, Higher Ground (Melbourne CBD), Top Paddock (Richmond) and the Kettle Black (South Melbourne), have been sold in one fell swoop.

New owner the Darling Hospitality Group already owns several venues, including Dundas and Faussett in Albert Park, Asian eating house Bambu in South Melbourne, and South Yarra's Darling Cafe.

Mulberry Group director Nathan Toleman says it was a hard decision to sell the cafes, but it was time for the team to step out of their comfort zone.

Although tight-lipped about the sales figure, Toleman says the group had been negotiating with the Darling group's Sam and Nick Seoud for several months.

The Mulberry Group – Toleman, Ben Clark and Diamond Rozakeas – has a busy year ahead, with plans under way to revive the Beach House in Geelong, and Liminal, a hybrid cafe, wine bar and take-home produce venue at 161 Collins Street, Melbourne that's due to open in April 2019.

The Geelong project has been delayed by heritage issues, with the Geelong Advertiser reporting that Heritage Victoria had knocked back a planning application that included a pergola with heating and moving the existing kitchen outside to allow for extra seating.

Toleman says the group has always been about pushing the boundaries and evolving.

"We are more committed than ever to further develop our businesses with an even stronger commitment to social and environmental causes."

The ​new owners took over the three venues today. There are no staff changes planned and the Mulberry Group team will be present for a six-week handover.