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Roundhouse Aquarium
Photo via Wikimedia (Aquarium of the Pacific)
FreeFree (suggested donation)Animals & Nature · Indoor

Roundhouse Aquarium

Manhattan Beach, CA

Free (suggested donation)

Get directionsOfficial site →
Simir Shah

By Simir Shah

★★★★★4.5(983 Google reviews)

What parents say

AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these

A small aquarium at the end of the pier. Reviewers report no admission charge with donations encouraged, though confirm before setting out. Touch tanks with sea stars are the draw for kids, and staff explain things well. One reviewer wanted more variety of fish. It is a short stop, not a day.

This free aquarium occupies the pier's landmark 1922 octagonal Roundhouse, converted to a marine studies lab and aquarium in 1981. More than 100 local sea creatures — moray eels, octopus, sharks, and a touch tank of sea stars and urchins — live inside a building that's drawn crowds to the end of the pier for over a century.

Good for

  • Ages 0–2

Happening near here

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Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA

(310) 379-8117

Open nowToday: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM

Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.

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What visitors say

  • Katey Durbin★★★★★

    Small, interactive aquarium with science in mind. Admission is free and it is located right on the pier. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable. If you can, consider donating before leaving to help keep up their quality work.

    3 months ago

  • Todd Mills★★★★★

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Went to the Manhattan Beach Aquarium on the pier (Roundhouse Aquarium) and it was the cutest place! It’s free to enter, with donations accepted, which makes it such a great stop for families or anyone just walking the pier. You’re able to touch some of the sea creatures in the tanks, which makes it really interactive and fun. There are all kinds of different sea animals to check out, and it’s a cool way to learn about local marine life up close. It’s also kind of awesome that it’s located right at the end of the pier — the setting alone makes it special. Overall, it was really fun and definitely worth the visit. I’d go again for sure. Enjoy- Todd

    7 months ago

Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps

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