Downtown Aquarium
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Downtown Aquarium offers a unique blend of aquatic life, exotic animals (tigers!), and amusement park rides, all centered around an immersive 360-degree aquarium restaurant. It stands out for providing diverse entertainment that caters to a wide range of ages, from infants to adults, combining educational elements with pure fun and delicious dining options.
Key Highlights
- ✓Opportunity to pet stingrays, providing a hands-on experience.
- ✓Features a majestic tiger exhibit, an unusual addition for an aquarium.
- ✓Immersive restaurant experience with 360-degree seating around a central aquarium.
- ✓Specific food items like gumbo, New Orleans plate, and kids fish plate are highly rated, with special mention of amazing shrimp and creole cream sauce.
- ✓Train ride that leads to the shark exhibit and also offers unique educational insights into Houston's history.
- ✓On-site rides are available and are specifically noted as suitable for all ages, including infants and little ones.
- ✓Has a small amusement park outside the main aquarium for additional entertainment.
Standout Features
- ⭐Immersive 360-degree restaurant aquarium.
- ⭐Knowledgeable restaurant staff regarding both food and aquatic life.
- ⭐Train ride to the shark exhibit, doubling as a unique Houston history lesson.
- ⭐Petting stingray experience.
- ⭐Dedicated tiger exhibit.
- ⭐Small amusement park located outside the aquarium.
- ⭐On-site rides designed to accommodate infants and small children with their families.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider ordering extra plain rice with the gumbo to balance potential saltiness.
- →If your party does not include small children, evaluate if the 'all-day pass' for the aquarium alone offers sufficient value, as some found it lacking.
- →Be mindful of guest conduct at interactive exhibits like the stingray pool, as supervision may vary.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Aquarium portion described as 'smaller than anticipated' by some visitors.
- ⚠Reported instances of guests not following rules, such as placing arms into the stingray pool.
- ⚠Some exhibits, specifically reptiles, were noted as missing during visits.
- ⚠The all-day pass might not be considered worth it for visitors without small children if they primarily seek a large aquarium experience.
- ⚠The train is the sole method to reach the shark exhibit, lacking a walking option for families dependent on strollers or those preferring to walk.
Price & Value
The all-day pass might not be considered 'worth it' for visitors without small kids, implying the standalone aquarium experience may not justify the full price. However, the combination of good food, unique animal exhibits (tigers), interactive experiences (stingrays), and rides for all ages likely enhances the perceived value for families.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The train ride is the only option to access the shark exhibit, which may present a challenge for 'people with multiple children and are stroller dependent' who wished for a walking option.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Features a 'top-notch' restaurant with 'great service and delicious food'.
- •Specific menu items include gumbo (can be salty, suggested to order extra rice), New Orleans plate, kids fish plate, amazing shrimp, and yum creole cream sauce.
- •The restaurant provides food in an 'amazing environment for the family' with a 'beautiful/romantic bar area'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Observation of guests not following rules at the stingray pool may indicate periods of higher traffic or less stringent supervision, but no direct crowd level descriptions are provided.
🛡️Safety Features
- •A concern was noted regarding 'guests not following rules placing their arms into the sting ray pool', suggesting potential areas where supervision or guest compliance could be improved.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your primary expectation is a very large, traditional aquarium focusing solely on vast aquatic exhibits, as it's described as 'smaller than anticipated' for just the aquarium portion.
- • If you have older children or adults who are only interested in a traditional aquarium, as the all-day pass might not be seen as value for money without engaging in the other attractions.
- • If you rely heavily on strollers and prefer walking to exhibits, as the train is the only option to reach the shark exhibit.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 5 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
T Hall
a week agoTalk about boring! This was probably the worst aquarium I ever visited. Not sure why tigers are at the aquarium but maybe that’s to pull visitors in. I observed guests not following rules placing their arms into the sting ray pool. I was hoping… never mind. Some of the reptiles were missing. There were some cool things but not much. My overall experience was, eh. If you do not have small kids, I’d skip the all day pass. It’s not worth it.
Mei Mei Gaetz
2 weeks agoFinally one of these tourist trap that has good food. I m gladly trapped in this beautiful restaurant with an amazing aquarium. Seating is 360 around the aquarium. There is also a small but beautiful/romantic bar area. We had the gumbo , new Orleans plate and the kids fish plate. All very good, a little bit too salty in the gumbo. I suggest ordering extra plain rice for the gumbo to soak up the saltiness. The shrimps are amazing, creole cream sauce is yum. I'm grateful that this restaurant provides food as well as an amazing environment for the family
Tom Ryals
a month agoHad a good time. The restaurant and its aquarium are pretty spectacular. Our waitresses was very knowledable about the food and the fish in the restaurant aquarium. The train ride to the sharks was enjoyable too. At my age I have seen many aquariums and there were still several exibits in the main areas that we interacted with. And last but far from least they 2 tigers which were icing on the cake.
Tye Brantley
a month ago⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing Experience at Downtown Aquarium Houston! Our visit to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston was absolutely fantastic! We got to pet stingrays, see a majestic tiger, and explore some incredible sea life—it was both fun and educational. One of the highlights was the train ride, where we even got to learn about Houston’s history in such a unique way! The rides were a great bonus, and the best part? They’re perfect for families—you can even ride with little ones and infants. The restaurant inside was top-notch, with great service and delicious food, making the whole experience even better. If you’re looking for a fun-filled adventure for all ages, this is the place to go! We had an unforgettable time and will definitely be back
Stef Mamakos
a month agoGreat little aquarium, definitely smaller than anticipated but still an excellent attraction to visit. To see the sharks you need to take a little train they have on site to get there- I wish there was an option for you to walk there for people with multiple children and are stroller dependent. Petting the stingrays and visiting the tiger was definitely a highlight for us. In addition to the aquarium, they also have a small amusement park outside which was a cool twist. Super fun visit for families or individuals looking to break up the day!