Serra dei Giardini is a café, flower shop and community space in Castello, on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi near the Giardini della Biennale. It occupies a glass-and-iron Art Nouveau greenhouse built in 1894 to shelter plants for the International Art Exhibition. Inside, the high roof and windows frame a small garden setting; you can also sit outdoors among the plants. Stop for coffee, hot chocolate with cream or a sweet, and browse the plants. It can get busy, so an early visit may mean less waiting for a table.
A greenhouse built for the exhibition
Serra dei Giardini, historically known as Serra Margherita, was built in 1894 as a glass-and-iron tepidarium. It housed palms and other exotic plants used to decorate that year’s International Art Exhibition. The greenhouse later fell out of use. A restoration by the City of Venice brought it back into use in 2006.
The building is in Castello, along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, in an area that formed part of the original layout of the Biennale. The Giardini della Biennale are a few minutes away on foot.
A café, flower shop and cultural space
The restored greenhouse now houses a flower shop and a small café. Its tall roof and glass windows bring in daylight and give the indoor seating a garden-like feel. There is also a garden outside, with space to pause over a drink or snack.
Serra dei Giardini is used for educational and cultural activities, including projects focused on culture, ecology and public space. It can suit a relaxed break between visits to the nearby Biennale gardens. At busy times, service and tables may take longer, so it is a better fit when you have time to sit than when you need a quick stop.
FAQ
Where is Serra dei Giardini?
It is on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi in Castello, a few minutes from the Giardini della Biennale.
What is Serra dei Giardini?
It is a café and flower shop inside a glass-and-iron Art Nouveau greenhouse built in 1894. The space also hosts cultural and educational activities.
What can you order at Serra dei Giardini?
Coffee, hot chocolate with cream, sweets such as a cupcake or small cornetto, and savoury spinach torta salata are among the options mentioned.
Can you sit outside?
Yes. The venue has outdoor seating in its garden as well as seating inside the greenhouse.
