Downtown Aquarium

The Downtown Aquarium in Houston was an okay experience overall, but it definitely feels outdated compared to other attractions in the city. While the aquarium itself has some interesting exhibits and a few unique displays, the layout and design seem old and in need of a refresh. It didn’t have that “wow” factor I was expecting for the price. One of the biggest downsides was the cost—not just the admission, but the parking. The parking fees are pretty steep and honestly feel unreasonable for the location. That added cost makes the whole experience feel less worth it, especially if you’re bringing a family. The rides are a nice touch, but again, they feel a little old and not as exciting as you might hope. The staff was friendly and helpful, which was a positive, and the aquarium is clean and well-maintained. However, for what you pay, the value just isn’t quite there. Overall, it’s fine for a one-time visit, especially if you have kids who will enjoy seeing the fish and a few animals. But between the outdated vibe and the expensive parking, I can’t say I’d rush back anytime soon.

10/10. Went with my boys (13&15) and we had a really great time. We went on a Saturday and surprisingly it was not too packed (thankfully). The wait time for the rides were not bad at all. The sting rays were my favorite part for some reason. Everything was clean. Gift shop was nice. No complaints at all. Will definitely be back!

Cute for where it is. Coming from California coast line aquariums, this one was decent with the space they have. The stingrays were super friendly and jumping out of the water to greet people. Mostly because they expect to be fed, so if you don't have the fish, don't expect them to stay long. The all day access pass is definitely worth it. Fun rides, loved the shark tunnel train ride. We are two adults that went on a bad day with a lot of little kid groups touring so it was definitely busy, but still enjoyable. The tiger exhibit was very random for an aquarium, but fun to see.

This Aquarium was so much fun. From seeing fish to seeing tigers, to petting stingrays and riding the train to see real life sharks in a tunnel .. this place had amusement rides for all ages, places that kids can get face paintings(cost extra)people who drew pictures of you (if you want it but cost extra)and plenty of places to get food/drinks. We had a blast. I would definitely come back here. Even though it started raining while we were there, that didn’t stop us. We got soaked, but had fun doing it. The food was good and fresh and made right then. Definitely worth the money we spent. Would recommend for a family outing for sure.

We haven’t been to the aquarium in a while and that was because a few years ago we didn’t really like the food, but they have a brand new menu and everything was so delicious The kids had so much fun and I’m not gonna lie we had a lot of fun as well. our server was very helpful, prices were reasonable for the amount of food that we received. Overall, a great experience. So we decided to do our gender reveal here !!! Will post photos soon 🫶🏻

It's much smaller than I expected, but it's still beautiful. The reason why I gave four stars is because they are very small. There are many creatures I thought I would see. The creatures here are small, but the decoration here is very unique and suitable for bringing children.

I just visited for the first time and had a good time! It seems like this aquarium offers more things to do/experience vs just things to see. It would be a great place to bring the whole family! I’m not a person who has kids or enjoys rides, but I still had a good time though I do wish there was more to see.

Great for family. The full price gives access to everything. Tip: And if you go past the Aquarium three streets to the right is a park to park at. After, we have our bands to someone else waiting. Because why not show the love. Anyone. Lots of fun for kids and adults have a few options. As well.

My review of Aquarium Restaurant Downtown Houston: We had a fantastic time at the Aquarium Restaurant in downtown Houston. The food was delicious, and the experience was memorable from start to finish. We ordered the salmon with broccoli, which was cooked to perfection, and a pasta dish loaded with a variety of ingredients that elevated the flavors. The fruity drinks were a refreshing complement to our meal, and we loved that we got to keep the souvenir glasses as a memento. After dining, we enjoyed exploring the downstairs activities, which added a fun and interactive element to the visit. The fountain area provided a perfect spot for photo opportunities, capturing great memories of our time there. Overall, it was an excellent dining and entertainment experience, and we look forward to returning!

*A Capitalist Fever Dream Disguised as an Aquarium* The Downtown Houston Aquarium--where marine life takes a backseat to overpriced gimmicks and random land animals thrown in for good measure. I was one of the unfortunate souls who didn't do their aquarium research beforehand, and for that, I paid the price (well, technically my boyfriend did, but still). For the low, low price of $24.99 per adult, you too can enjoy a 15-20 minute walk through a "marine experience" that makes my brother's childhood fish tank look like the Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you're expecting amenities, think again--everything here comes with a separate price tag, including parking. Even breathing feels like it should cost extra. Perhaps the most baffling part? The aquarium boasts a bizarre selection of animals, including tigers, lizards, and amphibians--because when I think of an aquarium, I obviously think of big cats. If I wanted to see tigers, I would've just gone to the Houston Zoo for free with my Rice student ID. Oh, and if you're in the mood for some carnival rides--because, of course, that's what every great aquarium is known for--you can shell out even more money for those too! Not a single attraction is included with general admission. In summary: $24.99 for a glorified fishbowl and some misplaced zoo animals. That's roughly $1.25 per minute of underwhelming aquarium content.

We visited the Downtown Aquarium on a Saturday morning around 11 AM. Parking was available for $15.50, and admission was $28.13 per adult, though our 1-year-old was free. Unfortunately, the aquarium itself was underwhelming. The exhibit rooms were small, with tiny tanks and no air conditioning, making it feel muggy and uncomfortable. The viewing glass was dirty and highly reflective, making it difficult to take decent photos. The walk-through was quick, and by the end, we saw an outdoor tiger exhibit and an indoor space housing a rare white tiger--though it was asleep the entire time. The final section featured stingrays that visitors could pet, which was one of the few engaging aspects of the experience. Overall, the aquarium felt overpriced for what it offered. We finished in about an hour, and compared to other aquariums, this one was below average. While they do have a restaurant, carnival games, and rides outside, I wouldn't recommend this experience.

I grew up in Houston and I am sad to say, this is my first time at the aquarium. For a first time experience however, it wasn't bad. Credit to the establishment for their well maintained facilities. Credit to the valet and amusement park staff for being so courteous. It was a bit crowded but we were able to see all the animals. If I'm being frank, it feels like I've had this experience before. Perhaps not the amusement park but the aquarium itself. I was hoping to see more! Either way, I had fun. Thank you for the experience!

Have seen the Ferris wheel so many times passing by and never realized it was for this place. This is a cool experience starting from the beginning. The entrance starts with a waterfall. The aquarium holds a lot of interesting facts and wildlife. Going through the entire experience took us about an hour. After the sea life part, the tiger exhibit is next. When we arrived he was sleep but he quickly awoke. Prior to coming I see that they offer a special at the restaurant during the week. Kids eat free if you purchase a meal. We decided to not take that offer and go elsewhere to eat, but will be back to take advantage. The sting ray part has a very strong odor but a very cool experience. It was raining when we went so the outside portion was not as enjoyable. On a sunnier day I can see grabbing a drink from their bar stand and letting my kid enjoy the Ferris wheel or merry go round. This is a great place to take yours kids!

A little crowded but the rides are great, the staff are kind, playful, communicative and friendly and the restaurant has great food. The tigers cages are a bit small, but the shop is full of wonderful gifts.

There is a valet $18 or self parking $15 option for this location. Once you self park, you have to walk there the outdoor kids area past all the rides to get inside. There is a stingray feeding area once you get inside. We made reservations for dinner in advance and were seated right away lots of others different have reservations and there was a wait. The restaurant is upstairs but there is an elevator for strollers or wheelchairs. It is a unique experience. The service was good and our waiter was knowledge about a lot of the fish in the aquarium. The menu is smaller and we settled on salads and I enjoyed my mermaid cocktail but it was pricey.

This place was fun, and reasonably priced ($16.99 per adult), although parking will run you the price of another ticket ($15). My husband and I have been to the Kemah aquarium, which was smaller than this one, but both are owned by Landry's. Be aware that the stringray petting experience is included with that $16.99 ticket - they also had a $24.99 "all you can ride" type of ticket, but the only rides operating yesterday were the Ferris wheel and the ride that goes up and down. The aquarium was pretty nice, we spent about 2.5 hours there overall but we also spent a lot of time staring at their tiger, LOL (near the end/near the gift shop) and walking the grounds after. My husband also likes to read about each fish; if it was just me, I probably could've done the aquarium in 30-60 minutes. The gift shop was also nice - I picked up a pressed penny holder (and the aquarium also has two pressed penny machines) and a flamingo statue for my mom. The best part for me was the stingray petting experience at the end - you can also purchase food for the stingrays, we didn't do that this time but did at Kemah. You're advised to wash your hands before and after, and only touch the stingrays with two fingers. Overall this was totally worth the $16.99 adult admission, and I'd recommend it.

Visited the Downtown Aquarium yesterday for dinner ordered theCajun plate with shrimp crab cake,shrimp,fish,potatoes Our waitress Bianca was great I asked her to ask the chef to substitute the potatoes for vegetables the chef said no so I could not change potatoes for less of carb since I am doing no carb . If you are going to not work with customers for an expensive plate that's no good. My crab cake had little or no crab in there it was all bread or fillers not what a true crab cake should taste like. I am an open table member and I was treated with perfection . The chef could have worked with Bianca to get me off all those carbs and do something else instead of saying no and if I wanted rice instead of potatoes because that's all he could do. Not good customer service at all . She tried Miss Bianca so sweet. If you are doing a keto diet don't eat at the aquarium No substitute ever.

I don't often have such harsh opinions, however this "aquarium" was awful. When we reached the end of the exhibits I was in awe by how short it was. Definitely not worth how much money they are charging to get in. Not to mention just purchase the aquarium ticket you don't get to see the sharks or stingrays. However there is an all inclusive ticket but vastly increasing the cost. The aquarium itself lacked variety of fish and other animals. A handful of exhibits were empty or drained. There are screens that slideshow through the animals names and information. However some screens didn't move, and if you catch something right as it's moving to the next slide, you have to stand there and wait for it to come back to read it. Just have it physically printed. The following day we visited the Houston zoo which wasn't much more than the all inclusive ticket to the aquarium. I enjoyed their sea life much better than the aquarium, honestly they probably had the same number of aquariums. Save your money and take a trip to the Houston zoo!!

The downtown aquarium was very cute for kids and family! It was a bet smaller than I expected that's why I am giving it a 4 star rating. The animals look well feed and the staff are really friendly. There are a few rides in the end of the aquarium but majority are for smaller children. We did not get a chance to try the food therefore I cannot state my opinion on it. Also the ambience is very family friend. Highly recommend if you are in town! Please Note: Make sure to park in the Lyric Market Parking Garage which is only 1 block away. You pay $6 per 2 hours and if not you can purchase ANYTHING in the Lyric Market and get the parking free. You're welcome :D

Great visit today, Great service from the bartender Rashaun! The chocolate lava cake was great. Very clean and nice building. A lot of large tank with large fish. Definitely enjoyed my visit and highly recommend checking it out. Thank you.

This is such a great place! If you have kids, you definitely need to visit . The aquarium itself is amazing and has interactive activities for the kids. There's a restaurant upstairs, but there was a private party going on. There are amusement rides for the young outside as well. Oh, and a Ferris wheel for all too! Just loved it . The entrance price was very reasonable but I wasn't thrilled about the $15 parking fee. Glad I went.

Lived in Houston for 2 decades, drove by it many times, and I finally visited. Well was it worth it? Ehh, i'll let you figure it out. I think I would have been fine with never visiting. I've been to National Aquarium in Maryland so this aquarium was very underwhelming. You have the choice to buy just the aquarium exhibit (includes the stingray and seeing the tiger), individual rides, or an all day pass. The aquarium exhibit is quite small. Felt like 10-15 minutes. You can walk through it without stopping in 2 minutes. The shark exhibit is by train and a voice-over. It's a quick one and you can't walk through, which sucks. The stingray exhibit was cool. Seeing the tiger was cool. Not sure why there's a tiger in an aquarium but I'm sure it's a marketing gimmick. On a weekday afternoon, there isn't many people so you can get through all rides and exhibits in 2 hours or less. The ferris wheel requires a minimum of 2 people to sit inside. That was the only ride I didn't get to do because the employee didn't pay attention when I got in line and was alone Onsite parking prices are ridiculous so if you are willing to walk and drive around, park on the street to save your coins. On a Wednesday, we paid for 2 hours and we were done in under 2 hours. Street Parking was $4.20 for 2 hours. The restaurant is unique and visually appealing. I do wonder if the food is any good. Worth walking around it if you're curious. There's a tall fish tank along the staircase. If I had to EVER had to come back, it would be to dine at the restaurant.

We came here with some friends and brought my kids. The rides were fun for the littles, the exhibits were alright. Nothing to write home about and I probably wouldn't go again. There were two tigers on display and they seemed miserable. My friend paid extra to feed the stingrays. They seemed like they were starving and we questioned if they get fed by anybody but the patrons. We went because it was homeschool day and it was still super packed. The decor was nice in many of the areas but I had a hard time finding themes and educational information about the animals. I'm from Salt Lake City and our Aquarium there was pretty amazing. Places like this make me wonder what the point is besides all the money they make. Animal exhibitions which exist to inform the public and preserve species are doing it right. I didn't get any kind of feel for that here.

*** EVENT VISIT REVIEW: I pet a stingray-- and I liked it! Hubs and I visited (first-timers) for the Sip and Stroll charity event supporting their Sawfish project. One thing about me-- add food, wine or cocktails, a good cause to support, and I'm there-- ALWAYS! I didn't know what to expect from the Downtown Aquarium, but it more than delivered and I'm so glad we got to check everything out. I think I expected a kid-focused space, but it was adult friendly also, with much longer hours than I thought. We went on the cute 10-minute train ride, the Ferris wheel, the different exhibit rooms, and were completely surprised to find a few gorgeous tigers in the mix. (I had no idea they'd be there. lol, no really-- or the cute parrot for that matter.) Love that they have a mascot, photo ops, a bar area w/ TVs (the Astros were playing), a restaurant that we didn't try, and a very nice event space upstairs. The aquarium was clean, the divers interacted with guests via signs and various water art creations for "oohs and ahhhs!" Overall, I'd definitely return for an event, and/or with our nephews and out-of -town guests. It's a nice outing for sure if you're looking for something different. Cheers!

I don't know if it needs to be said but this place is a tourist trap. The amusement park rides should have given it away. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as your children may absolutely love seeing colorful fish and riding a Ferris wheel shortly after. And if your kids are happy... that's a win for any parent. Just to clarify, this is not an aquarium that focuses on education and science above all. This place is a novelty -- it's owned by Landry's (the company that owns Joe's Crab Shack, Morton's, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., McCormick & Schmick's, among others). One of the main attractions here is their seafood restaurant, located upstairs from the aquarium. All that being said doesn't mean that the aquarium has to be disappointing, right? However, it unfortunately is. It's very small and tight to navigate (especially with a stroller). We went through it pretty fast. There is an opportunity to pet stingrays (I believe it costs extra) that could be worthwhile. We skipped it though. The restaurant was surprisingly decent. Large tanks with stingrays were a nice touch. The food was typical chain restaurant food but still pretty good (we had the steak and lobster). Friendly and fast service. The Ferris wheel actually has awesome views of downtown. We didn't do any other rides. There is a large parking area however it does fill up during busy times. Personally, I wouldn't come back here. I'd rather take my child to a better aquarium and go to a carnival for rides. That being said... your kids might love it here.

Get the CityPass and save money! It was alright, nothing insane. Very interesting animals, but very short experience. Not worth the initial price so go with a City Pass.

We visited the Houston Downtown Aquarium on the very first day of our Texas trip. We purchased the Houston City Pass, and the aquarium was one of the attractions to choose from. Using the City Pass, the only thing that is included in your ticket is the aquarium. The rides was an additional cost of $6 per person. The aquarium was nice. As you walk through the rooms are very well-themed and there are a good number of things to look at. There are even white tigers in this aquarium, which was a nice surprise. The only issue that I had with the aquarium portion is, it was HOT. There wasn't much of an airflow in the rooms. It was crowded and I found myself walking through the exhibits faster than normal just to get out and find a cool spot. The carnival rides on the outside are just that, carnival rides. The kids had fun riding everything and with the exception of the Ferris wheel, everything was walk on with no wait. The Ferris Wheel had about a 20 minute wait, but is worth it for the views. The train ride was also a nice surprise, don't miss that one. The Train will take you to another building that is actually a tunnel into the shark aquarium. Very cool! Overall the Downtown Aquarium was cool. I don't know if I would have choosen to go, if it wasn't part of our City Pass, because by it's self it was about $25 per person. We spent about 2 hours and did everything. There is also a restaurant on the 3rd floor. We did not eat here, but we did go up and check it out. It's cool. The center of the room is a giant aquarium that is beautiful to look at while you enjoy your meals.

Highly disappointed with this aquarium. Firstly, the parking lot is atrocious. The lot is super small and although the lot is full, they continue to allow cars to enter and collect the $15 parking fee. We were driving around and got stuck for a bit because it was jam packed and decided to just double park and wait to see if anyone was leaving. There was a point where we were going to leave and ask for our money back. Luckily, someone was leaving so we were able to park. I had a citypass but still had to wait in line so they could scan in the pass to give me entry tickets. The only highlights of the aquarium were the half glass hallway with the swimming seals and the white tiger at the end. The actual size of the aquarium is quite small and only took us at most 20 minutes to walk through. Definitely do not recommend and not worth the headache of finding parking.

I was not impressed. We went because I Googled to find an activity I could take my kids too that was indoor. We are in Houston for a few days and the news said it would be 92 today but it would feel like 113. Yikes! It was $80+ for two adults and one kid plus $15 to park. It is small, it was hot, it was crowded, and it wasn't entertaining. #1 It is small. We were able to walk through the whole thing in about 20 minutes. Granted, we didn't dawdle because it was hot and crowded but there wasn't a ton to look at anyway. There were multiple small tanks in each room but nothing that made us want to linger. #2 It was hot. I was looking for an indoor place and though most of the rooms are indoor there doesn't seem to be any aircon. The games/rides are all outside. I was sweating just standing in line to buy tickets and was looking forward to going through some doors and feeling cool air but ..... no. #3 It was crowded. We had to wait in line to buy tickets. We had to follow the long line of people from exhibit to exhibit. There wasn't room to turn around. There were people everywhere. The halls are narrow and the rooms are small. At some point, I just wanted to get out of there. #4 It wasn't entertaining. The exhibits were small and didn't provide much information about each animal. Nothing was interactive. We walked through, took some photos/videos and ended up at the tiger enclosure in about 20 min. We didn't get on any of the rides because it was hot .... and outside. I'm not sure what I expected but this was not it.

The aquarium was really small. It was a cute experience but I thought it would have more to see. The best experience was being able to touch the stingrays. It reminded me of the Boston Aquarium with that experience. Overall, I wish there was more to see! Also it was a bit random that they had a tiger there.

The Downtown Aquarium is more of a children's amusement park than an actual aquarium. There's surprisingly very few fish here; I only saw a couple of tanks of fish that maybe took up 10% of all the attractions at this location. The remaining 90% consisted of a carousel, ferris wheel, shark-themed roller coaster, and other amusement park essentials. The Stingray Exhibit was nice though. That's probably the only reason to come here.

What a great place to spend the weekend. I loved this under the sea experience. What a great way to take your family out to eat and also take them out to have some fun. I liked that theres a carousel , an under the sea train, Ferris wheel carnival games and it's all connected in one big aquarium and aquarium restaurant. I would recommend to definitely get a reservation for the restaurant. Once you have a reservation down, it is quick and easy service. The restaurant itself was pretty busy, but had a great family ambience to it . Food: The food was pretty good. I didn't expect much from our a aquarium restaurant however, the food was flavorful, I loved the desserts, the most, which is rare for one, an aquarium restaurant; two a steakhouse. This was definitely worth the trip.

Thumbs Up: The interactive exhibits are engaging, making for a fun and educational outing for kids. Thumbs Up: The highlight of this attraction is the large aquarium tank, where you can see a diverse range of fish and other sea creatures up close. Thumbs Up: There's also a restaurant with a fantastic underwater view, adding a special touch to your dining experience. Neutral: However, keep in mind that it can get busy with families, so it may not be the best spot for a romantic dinner. Neutral: As a local, I found it to be a bit touristy for my taste (but that's a personal problem). Neutral: Getting here can be tricky for some. I've seen people clogging the streets trying to enter the driveway, and I can't count how many times I've witnessed cars going the wrong way on a one-way street while looking for parking!

For me it was my first time coming to the aquarium, honestly I was not that impressed with the exhibitions themselves but more with the amenities, like the restaurant, splash pad, rides, etc. I didn't drive we walked as we were staying downtown, so I can't speak about the parking. My husband says that there's definitely some improvement done since the last time he came in 2017. Since we had just little time to spend as we wanted to visit other places we went it and about 1.5 hour, we saw all the exhibitions and had the 'all inclusive pass' which was like $30 and gave us the chance to ride the train and see the 'shark experience' that was so cool btw and touch the stingrays :o Also we rode on the gondola and the played some dart games and off we went!

We arrived early on a Sunday & parked free in handicap. Parking is $15 in garage. This is a clean place. It's not very big- we went through in less than an hour. They do have stingray feeding which was cool. Nice place & a restaurant upstairs.

We where shocked by this aquarium, we didn't have high hopes for but also taught it was was going to be worth the $120 we spend for admission. #1 it is to over price for such a small aquarium, the exhibits of the sea creatures was minimal. #2 when we went today (Tuesday June 30th) the white tiger was not there, when we asked the staff they were nice but gave us a vague answer. We were told we couldn't not leave and comeback even if we were just going to the rides while we waiting for the tiger to come out. So we did what everyone else was doing which was to wait inside the white tiger temple. After 45 minutes of waiting we decided to leave since they said they were waiting for the paint to dry inside the tiger exhibit. This was the main attraction we wanted to see after being disappointed of the aquarium :/ #3 the aquarium had poor air flow, yes it was better than being outside but it was not indoor cold #4 when we were getting in the rides one of our members lost their wristband and we explained it but said we needed to purchase it again even tho we had proof of purchase. Maybe the works where having a roughy day I'm not sure but least to say it was a waste of money and time.

I've eaten at the restaurant a few times, but have never been inside the aquarium itself. We did a guided tour for a children's party. As an adult, the aquarium is very underwhelming, but the children enjoyed it. It took about 30 min to walk the whole thing, that's how small it is. The young lady doing our tour did give us some good information and fun facts. It might've had maybe 10 "large tanks" at most with different fish. I did see Dori and Nemo. I stayed clear away from the snake tank. I was told it was a big one. They had a couple turtles, one small tank with frogs, and a tank of seahorses. They have 4 tigers on the property which is very out of place. One of them was in an indoor "play" room and looked so sad pacing back and forth. It's too small of an area for a big animal. The main highlight for me was petting the rays in the pond downstairs. After this tour we ate at the restaurant. I do enjoy the big tank in the middle of the restaurant. We had two servers working our big party. You only have 1.5 hr to be seated so to make it simple we told them to do chicken tender plates for all the children and bring that first. This time I only had the shrimp and crab dip and a drink. The dip was creamy and cheesy. I didn't notice where the crab was but saw a few shrimps. It definitely tastes better in the garlic bread than with chips. The drink was good.

It was super small and a very short experience. If I could give negative stars I would. Not worth the money at all, $50 wasted to see a small amount of animals.

I've been to many Aquariums in the past, and although this one is small, it's jammed packed with lots of cool creatures to see. Located in Downtown Houston, this Aquarium is very easy to find. Unfortunately, parking will set you back a whopping $15.00. The experience at the Aquarium itself lasts between 45-60 minutes, but it really depends on how much time you want to spend looking and reading about the fish and other animals on display. They have a variety of fish, eels, stingrays, spiders, snakes, and more to see here. They also have a White Tiger on display as well. We visited on a Friday around 1pm, and we practically had the place to ourselves. There were only a few other people walking around during our visit, which was nice because we were able to take our time and relax. The entire facility was very clean, smelled fresh, and the staff was very helpful and friendly. Sadly, we didn't get to see the Shark(s). You have to purchase an additional ticket for the rides to be able to take the train to see the sharks. So we opted to skip this part. In addition to the Aquarium, there is an entire section of rides and games similar to the experience at a Costal Pier, as well as a restaurant you can dine in while watching the fish swim. We didn't dine here, but took a peek inside and it looked pretty cool. Overall, we really enjoyed our trip to the Downtown Aquarium. Like I said before, it's not a huge Aquarium, but if you take your time and really take it all in, you'll enjoy yourself. Highly Recommended for everyone!

Great day spent at the aquarium. Visited the tanks then on to the food! There are hundreds of different fish to see. Big fish. Little fish. Loved them all. We were greeted by a cute little hostess. There is an enormous tank full of fish and sharks and stingray. Very pleasant to watch while enjoying the ambiance. The shrimp kisses were phenomenal. We found out we're not big fans of red fish. First time trying it. Not a fan. But it was plated well. Great place!

I was very let down by my experience at the Downtown Aquarium. By my own fault, I did not buy tickets ahead of time. However, once I got there. I decided to buy the ticket online once I saw the line was moving SUPER slow. We bought the ticket, then we walked to the entrance, just to be told we had to stand in ANOTHER line to get wristbands. Luckily, we are Landry's members and they have a "fast lane" for some people which include Landry's members. Finally...inside. I've been before but SEVERAL years ago. I'm not sure if I just didn't remember, or if it was because it was on a Saturday. It was just a horrible flow. It's pretty much like you're walking through a "line" through the whole museum because of the small rooms/spaces. Just NOT fun or conducive. I am not sure if I'll ever be back (esp. for as much as it is). I will say they had a good variety of animals/insects to view but the viewing experience left MUCH to be desired.

cool place if you have small children and want to just waste some time . there's not too many animals to see , but there is a random tiger at the exhibit . the staff is fairly helpful with explaining the exhibits and how to maneuver the facility . there are a few concession stands for drinks and light snacks . wouldn't put it at the top of my list , but a nice spot to visit if you're in the area

This place is a must visit! They have great rides and great attraction. It's not pricey and worth it. It's 25$ to do all the attractions and ride. I highly recommend the day pass. You can touch the stingray and go on all the rides. The sky drop and train was my favorite! You get to see a tiger, big sharks, and feed the stingray (two tiny fish for $2.99) Reasonable price. Although the fishes seems to be stuck and facing the wall most of times. They do only get fed 3 times a week from the train overhead speaker we heard. I highly recommend getting your tickets online! Saves you waiting in line.

We loved visiting this jam packed small aquarium in downtown Houston. We purchased a day last for $24.99 and were able to enjoy the Stingray Reef and Shark Exhibit. It took us about 2 hours to walk through and enjoy all Exhibits, Games and Rides. We could have enjoyed it longer but we had other places to visit while on vacation. Definitely recommend giving this aquarium a visit if you are in the Houston Area. It's small but clean, the staff is friendly and they have a-lot of exhibits. Great for all ages. FYI: On-site parking was $15

If I could give it a 0 I would. This is the blandest Aquarium I have ever been to in my life. For the price of this place to have a bland exhibit ( no star fish , no bright colored fish, no Nemo and dori... literally nothing exciting just a bunch of dark fish) and see a depressed tiger stuck in a basement is sad . It broke my Heart ...The tiger looked so sad and skinny.. he has no space ...) how is this legal? I will not be contributing going forward to the Landry Inc. who owns this aquarium. Sickening .

Came here for the first time with my family and we had a blast. Several people has told me that they were disappointed in how small this aquarium is, but coming from Hawaii, this aquarium is huge! My family and I still had a good time and seeing critters and creatures that we don't normally see back home especially a Bengal tiger! I thought the admissions fee was decently priced especially involving a pretty cool and informative shark tour via a small train ride and a stingray area where you can touch them. There's a little area where you can get wet from the water shooting out of the floor and there's also a few carnival rides and games. If you haven't gone once, it's definitely worth it to me. Staff are very friendly. They have a huge parking lot which you pay $15 for.

From the parking lot, this place looks enormous, but once you are indoors, not so much. Thought it was rather pricey for the amount of time you were there. I know they had construction going on, so that could've played a role in limiting people to various areas.

Must be on your to do list with or without children If you travel with very little children below 8, consider a stroller because there is lots of walking especially during summer and fall Some homowners I did not meet, cause they were either sleeping or hiding out

Walked out of this establishment dissatisfied with the exhibits- pet store has better viewings than this... I would not recommend anyone to do this activity. Underwhelming.

I love this place! I didn't think j the food was going to be as good as it was. I kinda thought it was your Hard Rock Cafe/ Rain forest cafe kinda food. But it was not! I love how we always get really good seats! Right in front of the action. The service is great- we have been there multiple times and it's so good! Great ambiance!

First time visitor. Drove in from cypress (west Houston) and directions are easy. 290 east to I-10 than studemont then to Washington ave and it turns into Preston and you end up right at entrance to park. $25 all day pass covers everything compared to $15 for aquarium only) and it's worth it instead of paying for each exhibit. Parking is $15 and it's under freeway so covered parking. Place opened at 10am on Sunday and I arrived at 10am and there was a good amount of people in line ready to enter. But not overwhelming busy. The main bldg is not that big and has the tigers and fish displays. Then you get on a small train to go see the sharks, takes you to tunnel and once in tunnel it stops for about 3-5mins you can take video and pics and they have a recording telling you about the sharks. There are rides also like Ferris wheel and the one I got on was the one that brings you to the top and drops about 5-6 times. There is a lot of spots to take pics and you can see downtown skyline and buffalo bayou too I went with my daughter and grand children (teens) but this place is great for small children also. There is indoors (AC) and outdoors so bring a hat and drinks are not to costly. Cold bottled water is $3.50, dipping dots a little pricey at $8 and of course the aquarium restaurant is onsite but make a reservation!!!!

Making advanced reservations at this establishment is highly recommended and necessary to ensure a smooth dining experience. Upon arrival, we conveniently parked in their paid parking lot and proceeded to the second entrance of the building. Upon entering, we directed ourselves to the right, where a host stand awaited to assist with the check-in process. The wait time was minimal, and we were soon guided up a set of winding stairs that surrounded a captivating cylindrical aquarium, teeming with an array of mesmerizing fish. Upon reaching the restaurant area, we checked in again at the host stand to await our table. When our table was ready, we were escorted around the centerpiece of the restaurant - a large aquarium housing a variety of fascinating marine life, from a magnificent grouper to smaller fish dutifully performing their cleaning duties. It was a delightful sight to behold, and even the younger patrons in the restaurant were enchanted by its presence. Our server, Jess, was an absolute delight. She attended to our every need and graciously provided detailed explanations of the menu items upon request. Throughout the course of our meal, we engaged in pleasant conversations with her and learned that she had been with the establishment for an impressive five years. She shared amusing and intriguing anecdotes with us, which added an extra layer of enjoyment to our dining experience. As we were celebrating my birthday (yay Taurus!), Jess went above and beyond by arranging special additions to our desserts from the talented kitchen staff. To start our meal, we indulged in the Castaway Combo appetizer, which featured a delectable selection of tasty and well-crafted components. The crab dip stood out as a personal favorite, though everything on the plate was delightful. As for the main course, each of us opted for shrimp dishes, and we took the opportunity to sample each other's plates, finding them all equally enjoyable. While the overall quality of the food was commendable, we did find the shrimp slightly overcooked. However, considering the bustling nature of the restaurant, we were impressed by their meticulous attention to presentation, attentive service, and overall freshness of the dishes. In conclusion, our dining experience at this establishment was enhanced by the thoughtful arrangements made through advance reservations. The captivating aquarium, attentive service from Jess, and the overall culinary experience left a positive impression. While the shrimp could have been better executed, the restaurant managed to deliver on presentation, service, and freshness, even amidst a bustling crowd.

The downtown Houston aquarium is such a family friendly place!! We loved taking our little one here this past year. It was very special to celebrate her 1st birthday here with a family dinner. Food was great and service was fast and attentive to our family with a little one. Would definitely recommend and will continue to come here as our little one gets older and her love for aquatic animals grows.

Definitely not a big aquarium and kinda pricy for an aquarium that small. It's more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes than enjoyable and worth the time. The food is okay but their mixed margaritas are pretty good! It's more of a kids and toddlers place then anything else, the aquarium its very very small and hard to walk around when crowded considering the size. Ifs okay if you have kids it's worth the time and money for a couple of time but or grown adults it's definitely not worth it more then once

Okay so this restaurant is losing a star for almost killing me. I ordered their fried onion sticks and when it came out there was shrimp on it. I'm allergic to shrimp. They did replace it with a fresh batch. I will say it was quite tasty. I was given three dipping sauces and all went well with the fried onion sticks. The videos show how beautiful the restaurant is. They really stick to their theme throughout. The waiter was lovely, so much so, I gave him and really big tip.

Great attraction to see some ocean creatures. Plenty of parking and fast valet. Theres a few rides outside. You can even touch stingrays with your hands.

I must say, I was quite unimpressed with the exhibits in this aquarium. I was confused as to where the actual entrance is when first arriving. There were no employees to be found to assist us. The most exciting thing was definitely being able to see the tiger exhibit which seems out of place in an attraction about marine life. They have webbed paws but I don't think that makes an exception. We also absolutely loved the sting ray exhibit. They are so active especially when being fed. Expect to get wet! While we all had a good time, overall it's probably more fun for younger children. Aside from the size and and variety of species, the aquarium was clean and tidy.