Backbar

Backbar is a beloved, geeky craft-cocktail bar hidden behind a nearly unmarked door down a back lane in Somerville's Union Square, open since 2011 and known for its tchotchke-filled, kitschy room and its inclusive, playful spirit. The bar is famous for elaborately themed, frequently rotating drink menus — past runs have included comic-book and Lord of the Rings concepts, and the current menu is Studio Ghibli-themed — each of which includes a full slate of non-alcoholic cocktails alongside the spirited list. Beyond the printed NA menu, bartenders will build a bespoke spirit-free "Mockingbird" (a non-alcoholic bartender's-choice cocktail) based on a quick conversation about your tastes, making it a genuinely accommodating spot for non-drinkers. In late 2025 the bar changed hands: the team behind neighboring farm-to-table restaurant Field & Vine (owners Andrew Brady and Sara Markey, at 9 Sanborn Ct) acquired Backbar along with the restaurant space, while cofounder Sam Treadway departed after the sale; the new owners have said they intend to preserve Backbar as-is given its importance to the Boston-area cocktail scene. The bar has earned significant recognition over the years, including being named Boston Magazine's top bar in Boston (2020), Wine Enthusiast's "Best Overall Bar in Boston" (2024), and a place on Time Out's global best-bars lists. It is a walk-in-only, no-reservations bar serving Tuesday through Sunday evenings. Because its NA cocktails rotate seasonally with each themed menu, the specific named spirit-free drinks change often, but the dedicated non-alcoholic program itself is a consistent, longstanding feature.