3 Little Figs

In a compact space on Highland Avenue, 3 Little Figs channels a Greek island vibe with bright whites and blues, including the handsome blue cups in which it serves Counter Culture coffee. As known for baked goods as for coffee, the cafe turns out choice cakes, cupcakes, and cookies (take a bag of the ginger-chocolate cookies home), as well as a lunch menu whose strength is sandwiches. If you want kale and quinoa, not cupcakes, you can order from the menu of Health Club, the owners’ second business in a neighboring space decorated to look like the set for a Jane Fonda workout video. A rotating list of guest roasters seldom seen in Boston (Sey and Bolt are recent examples) keeps the coffee options interesting. The preparation, by a mainly female staff, is top-notch. Gets crowded on weekends. 

—Alexander Henry