Backbar

Backbar is a 39-seat cocktail bar down an alley in Somerville’s Union Square. Look for the orange door on Sanborn Court, then settle in for a menu that changes themes as well as drinks. Co-owner Sam Treadway and the team make room for people who want to talk through a cocktail order, with nonalcoholic choices alongside spirits, beer and wine. The main bar takes walk-ins rather than reservations, so it suits a small group with some flexibility. For a more planned visit, the separate Closet Bar hosts bookable tastings, and cocktail classes offer a chance to learn how the drinks come together instead of just watching from your seat.