At the bend of a small street shaded by tall trees, in a tiny town that appears as if from a movie as you round a hill covered in the forests of the Eastern Townships, there is a very old red-brick convent with rectangular windows framed in white.
The Mont-Saint-Patrice Convent building, built in 1884, now houses the Richmond Art Center and its music school, and on the garden level there’s a café serving the best sandwiches in the area—to be enjoyed with your feet in the grass, in a quiet, shaded spot.
The Café du Couvent is celebrating its 7th anniversary this year, and it’s one of our best-kept secrets—but it’s summer, and the place is too great not to send you there.
RICHMOND, LE CAFÉ DU COUVENT, THE ART CENTER
The one-piece plastic chairs on the soft grass, the café’s “homey” atmosphere, the local products, and the ultra-fresh menu with vegetarian and gluten-free options—the Café du Couvent is the ultimate village café, and it’s a must-stop when visiting the Townships.
The cheese sandwiches, salads, fries, coffee… everything is perfect at this eco-friendly, locally-focused café, where you can slow down and almost bring a book to linger in the garden, in the shade of the trees.
We also recommend stopping by to see an exhibition or a show—or just popping into the Richmond Art Center, which is one of the most beautiful in the area.
AND ALSO…
For a road trip through the Eastern Townships, there are several stops that , in our opinion, are practically a must.
- The Ulverton Wool Mill, which is just a 10-minute drive from the Café du Couvent
- The Frelighsburg Farmers’ Market, every Saturday morning during the summer
- The village of Knowlton, which inspired Louise Penny’s mystery novels
- The Massawippi Trail, for a swim at a wild beach at the end of a very scenic hike
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Where? Café du Couvent, 200 Rue du Couvent, Richmond, QC
When? Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
