Coffee & Treats in Watertown

Lauded by Daily Candy for accommodating raw and vegan diners, Prana Restaurant balances native temperatures with mouthwatering flavors in organic and gluten-free dishes. After being greeted by fresh hair streaming through wide-flung windows, diners dip flora-favoring taste buds into garlic, veggie, or fig balsamic pizza on naan crust ($10). Chefs trade off gluten-rich pasta for ribbons of zucchini in the pesto primavera entree, served raw or slightly warm with spinach, a seasonal garden medley, and almond-and-cashew cream sauce ($16). Chard leaves or chia-seed shells trump humdrum tortillas in a lunchtime burrito that bulges to bursting with vegetables, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa ($12). Refuel after fatigue-inducing feasts or all-night model-UN deliberations by chugging a coconut-rich SuperCharger smoothie tinged with cacao, dates, and cashews ($9.75).

If the name wasn’t enough of a clue, a close-to-empty donut case at 11 a.m. reveals the main draw of Linda's Donuts. Owner John, who has handcrafted donuts at Linda’s since 1982, rolls and shapes dough in the back while his wife, son, and daughter work the front of house, greeting customers, taking orders, and complimenting sock choices.

Customers line up for flavors such as chocolate-glazed and honey-dipped, waiting to dunk them into steaming cups of coffee while catching up on work using the shop’s free WiFi. After the donuts run out, customers turn to hearty sandwiches and burgers for lunch.

Lilly’s Cafe & French Bakery owners Alex and Susan sate sweet and savory cravings with a lineup of deli-style sandwiches, pastries, and renowned specialty cakes. Lunchtime trips to Lilly's replenish flagging bodies like a puff of nutrient-rich steam with hearty deli sandwiches prepared with fresh ingredients including Boar's Head meats and cheeses. The mediterranean-chicken sandwich ($6.95) harks back to sunlit walks under Roman arches with a full complement of hummus, roasted red peppers, and lemon oregano on focaccia. Pastry lovers can select from a bouquet of croissants and sweets such as specialty red velvet cupcakes or miniature cheesecakes.

Cherry Bomb Bakery combines creative cakery tricks with fresh, scrumptious ingredients to provide new spins on cupcake classics. With this deal, you'll get a dozen of Cherry Bomb's imaginative cakes, with the option to include up to 12 different flavors. Cherry Bomb's lineup includes the Double Chocolate: chocolate cake topped with chocolate buttercream and a slice of chocolate-covered bacon—best eaten while sitting in a hot-cocoa sauna. The Irish Carbomb uses Guinness stout cake and Bailey's icing, and the Red Velvet Sexiness is topped with vanilla buttercream. Cookie purists can salivate over Cherry Bomb's Cookies and Cream cake, which is crowned with crumbly buttercream. Cherry Bomb also offers plenty of vegan options, from the Vegan Corn Bread to the tropical-inspired Coconut cake.

You heard right. $20 for $50. And in case your Texas Instrument can't handle that calculation, it's a whopping 60% off your dinner. Located at 26 New St. in Cambridge (near Fresh Pond), Basha offers a variety of new experiences. If you've never smoked flavored tobacco from a hookah, it's time. The water cools the hot smoke, allowing you to enjoy the flavor without the burn. Ride that buzz right on through the live belly dancing. Newcomers to belly dancing will be impressed with the skill of Basha professionals, who can even tap dance with special tap cummerbunds fastened to their abs. Hang out in the outdoor patio while enjoying the great drink selection, especially the Basha Signature Martini with Blueberry Stoli, pomegranate juice and blackberries.

Pair up with a pal or loved one for an escape to the quaint and sunny L'Aroma Café, where skilled baristas steep imported teas and steam espressos with the level of care seen among ex-plumbers in belt shops. Glass-top tables fog up under mugs of freshly brewed drip coffee and espresso concoctions, and teas sourced from Sri Lanka fill the air with scents of jasmine, spiced chai, and mango. Other beverages range from hot chocolate and chai lattes to zesty apple cider, and L'Aroma can serve any coffee drink on ice, decaffeinated, or in a miniature replica of the local water tower. Fresh pastries and other desserts beckon tongues from behind the café's glass counter. French macaroons wave-down taste buds with buttercream icing and tea bread spells out invites with apricots and pecans.