After 14 years of serving approximately 3,000 distinct cocktails—including about 700 clarified milk punches—Backbar, Somerville's quirky and beloved cocktail destination, has new owners who promise to preserve everything that made it special.
Andrew Brady and Sara Markey, the team behind the adjacent Field & Vine restaurant, have taken over the acclaimed bar from founding team Sam Treadway, Diana Kudayarova, and Tse Wei Lim. The transition, completed in early 2025, ensures that Backbar's unique blend of craft cocktails and geeky charm will continue to thrive.
Since opening in 2011, Backbar has become legendary for its Star Wars-themed décor (including a Millennium Falcon cockpit replica), inventive rotating cocktail menus, and welcoming atmosphere. Treadway, who started as bar manager and became one-third owner, helped create a culture that celebrates creativity, inclusiveness, and storytelling through drinks.
'We fell in love with Backbar as we've been working alongside it,' says Markey. 'It's such an important part of Somerville and of the Boston-area cocktail scene. It's really unique and has a lot of charm, so why would we want to change something that feels so authentic?'
The new owners plan to expand food offerings from the Field & Vine kitchen while maintaining Backbar's signature themed cocktail menus. Recent themes have included 'Home for the Holidays' and music-inspired drinks ranging from Avril Lavigne's 'Complicated' to Herbie Hancock's 'Cantaloupe Island.'
'I love that we go above and beyond to be woke and thoughtful and inclusive,' reflects Treadway. 'We've tried to make it cozy, a place where people feel taken care of.' That spirit lives on under new stewardship.