I frequent downtown Richmond Hill and Cover Notes is one of my fave spots. A refreshing watering hole for cappuccinos or black teas, and for a book lover and art enthusiast like me it's a fine retreat. A heritage landmark right next to the very contemporary Richmond Hill Center for the Performing Arts at the heart of the old downtown, it's a tree that stands tall for the town's artistic, musical, and intellectualculture.
Coffee and pastries are great and I enjoy it very much and I come here more for the vibe of the place. They have the used books bookstore, Books on the Hill, and an art gallery of local and professional artists which paintings are also for sale and far from being mediocre. You can spend hours reading the books from the shelf and sit yourself in a cozy nook at the backend of the room, or enjoy some light & air at the main dining where the paintings are. A simplistic and cozy country interior with clean pastel palettes and old school architecture it's a quiet place to write, think, read, and be among artists and writers who are very warm and pleasant.
This place will not blow you away like Starbucks would but it will impress you with its delectable charm and desirable simplicity.