A galley unit with a cart lift is provided for elevated storage of a food and beverage cart. The galley unit includes a mounting rack configured for mounting at least one first galley component thereon. The cart lift includes a platform for supporting a second galley component thereon. The platform is movable between a fully lowered, fully extended position and a fully raised, fully retracted position with the second galley component supported thereon. A support pillar is positioned to one side of the mounting rack and is operable to support and manipulate the platform in a fore-and-aft motion between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, and in an up-and-down motion between a fully lowered position and a fully raised position. The support pillar may include an operator controlled passive lifting system for assisting manipulation of the platform.