With the chilly winter quickly approaching, the days getting shorter, and the sky bleak, it’s about the right time to be spending more of your days indoors, huddled over a hot cuppa joe and a good book. For folks living along the Cambridge-Somerville line, in that nether region amid Inman, Harvard, Porter, and Union Squares, that means one place: Panini Bakery.

Well-known as the spot to pick up a fresh Vienna loaf ($2.25) and a pungent cup of coffee, Panini also offers a handful of high-quality lunch items. The pizzas ($2.50) are a treat — thick slabs of bread topped with a thin spread of ricotta cheese and a generous assortment of vegetables. We tried a slice of the artichoke, tomato, and eggplant: very nice. The salads are masterpieces of simplicity. Try the mesclun greens with goat cheese, cranberries, and pecans with a balsamic vinaigrette ($3.85). Also available are mini-sandwiches ($2.50), served on Panini’s own hearty dinner rolls. We tried the mozzarella, tomato, and basil mini — a bit on the small side, but undeniably good. It’s all made fresh daily, so the pickings will likely be slim come late afternoon.

If your taste runs to the sweet side, there are plenty of baked goods to rot your teeth on, like the sinfully sticky cinnamon twists ($1.75) and the oh-so-rich pecan coffeecake ($2.75). Try the blueberry-peach turnover ($2.75), or a massive tart ($3) so laden with fruit it’s impossible to eat without making a mess. And then there’s Panini’s special take on the scone. Dense and lumpy, dusted with cornmeal, these scones are unlike any other. Standards like raisin ($1.60) are available, but we prefer the more savory varieties like cranberry-walnut or raspberry-ginger ($1.75). The choices vary from day to day; get there in the morning for a bigger selection (or wait until closing to get what’s left at two-for-one).

So when you head out your door for a rainy-afternoon caffeine fix, save some time and room for lunch. And if you finish your book before your free coffee refill, there’s a Phoenix box just outside for something else to read.

Panini Bakery, located at 408 Washington Street, in Somerville, is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (617) 666-2770.