One of the main things I wanted to do while visiting my sister in Knowlton was to visit the Café Three Pines which I had the privilege of visiting with one of my sister's friends.
The café is located underneath the Brome Lake Bookstore and can be accessed via the outside or through the bookstore itself.
For those of you are familiar with Louise Penny, brilliant author of the Inspector Gamache series, you'll feel right at home in Three Pines as you enter this cozy space. If you look hard enough you just might see Gabri or Olivier, or even Ms Penny herself.
When you walk over to the counter, you'll be greeted by one of the lovely staff and then your eyes will be drawn to the menu, and the heavenly aroma of baked goods and freshly brewed coffee. To your right is a station with napkins and cream for your coffee, and don't forget to look up at the container of jelly beans with paper muffin cups alongside, in case your sweet tooth doesn't get sated enough. I forgot to ask why there weren't any licorice pipes but I'm thinking they're not easy to find anymore.
Lots of cozy sofas and chairs dot the café so you can enjoy your goodies, and a couple of "fireplaces" on either side of the space adds to the warmth of the atmosphere, although they don't generate real warmth unless you use your imagination.
I will be back again before leaving town just because it brings Three Pines to life and there's always that possibility Louise Penny will drop by.
PS Everyone in the café and bookstore are bilingual (French & English) as are the books sold upstairs read more