Antico Mercato di Bologna in Bologna's Saragozza is the modern multi-vendor food hall with the Emilian salumeria-and-cheese stalls, a daily lunch carte and the long aperitivo crowd.
Tip: Walk-in only; the food hall runs Monday to Sunday with the lunch peak 12:30 to 14:00 and aperitivo from 18:00.
Address: Via Aurelio Saffi 47/A, 40131 Bologna BO
Mercato di Mezzo in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the 19th-century covered market relaunched in 2014 as the multi-stall food hall, with 15 vendors and a long aperitivo crowd.
Tip: Walk-in only; the food hall runs 09:00 to midnight daily. The first floor is the calmer seating; aperitivo on the ground floor.
Mercato delle Erbe on Via Ugo Bassi in Bologna is the 1910-founded covered market with the produce stalls in the morning and the cucina-and-aperitivo restaurants taking over by 18:00.
Tip: Produce stalls run 07:00 to 14:00; the food courts and restaurants open at 11:00 and run to midnight. Closed Sunday.
FICO Eataly World in Bologna's east is the 100,000-square-metre Italian food theme park from 2017, with 40 vendors, working farms, cooking classes and 25 restaurants across regions.
Tip: Bus 35 from the central station runs every 30 minutes; full-day tickets are 5 to 20 euros depending on activities. Closed nothing.
Mercato Albani in Bologna's Bolognina is the multi-ethnic neighbourhood produce market with Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Chinese and North African stalls alongside Emilian fruit and vegetables.
Tip: Saturday morning is the busiest; the multi-ethnic stalls are best from 09:00 to noon. Cash preferred for the small vendors.
Mercato Ritrovato in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Slow Food-led Saturday farmers' market at Cineteca Bologna, with 30 Emilian producers selling cheese, salumi, bread and produce.
Tip: Saturday morning only, 09:00 to 14:00. Bring cash for the small producers; the Parmigiano Reggiano stall is the order.
Mercato della Piazzola on Piazza VIII Agosto in Bologna is the 1251-founded twice-weekly street market with 200 vendors selling clothing, household goods, produce and snacks.
Tip: Friday and Saturday mornings 07:00 to 14:00. The market is best browsed by 10:00; the produce stalls are the back of the square.
