Erbaria

San Polo, Venice – Produce and fish market by day and casual meeting place by night, the three squares that make up the Erbaria on the San Polo side of the Rialto Bridge create an informal meeting place for young locals and visitors alike.

At the center of the city’s daytime commercial and tourist activity, the bustling Erbaria begins to transform around twilight with the arrival of a gregarious pre-dinner crowd of young professionals.

In competition with Campo Santa Margherita as Venice’s prime social environment, the Erbaria may have one up on its “big sister” due to its more compact quarters that naturally create a denser and more inviting environment, especially in the evening when it fills with alternative and artsy students.

Most of the small bars and cozy restaurants in the area offer outdoor seating and serve delicious cicchetti (finger foods) and spirits, creating a vibrant atmosphere perfect for barhopping.

However, because the squares are so small – and there are rarely enough chairs to go around – the crowd often congregates on the piazza steps and around the closed market stands to chat, drink, and occasionally play music.

This festive yet laid-back vibe continues even in the colder months as tight huddles of friends pack the square to share laughter and body heat, ensuring the Erbaria is a lively gathering place year round.    ← read less