Backbar

Hidden behind a nearly unmarked grey door in a Somerville courtyard, Backbar has earned a place on Time Out's Top 25 Bars in the World list and Boston Magazine's No.1 bar ranking — accolades that belie its no-reservations, walk-in-only policy and midnight closing time. The room opens to a colourful, Star Wars-decorated lounge where the cocktail programme draws on global flavours, house-made cordials, and a willingness to experiment that keeps regulars guessing. Last call hits at 11:15 — this is still Greater Boston — but the quality-per-minute ratio is unmatched. Backbar demonstrates that a neighbourhood bar with genuine ambition can compete with any destination cocktail lounge in the country.