1 / 3Roundhouse Aquarium
📍 Manhattan Beach, CA
Compact teaching aquarium on Manhattan Beach Pier with interactive touch tanks featuring sea urchins and starfish, jellyfish displays, and educational exhibits on southern California marine habitats. Free admission, donations welcomed.
Excellent place, small but enough to learn about marine life. I loved seeing the jellyfish, a living creature that never ceases to amaze me with how it moves in its habitat.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families already at Manhattan Beach who want to add a free, educational 30-minute stop to their beach day. Young children get direct contact with sea creatures in the touch tanks. The pier location means the walk out is part of the experience.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →909 Google reviews
Salomón
4 months ago
“Excellent place, small but enough to learn about marine life. I loved seeing the jellyfish, a living creature that never ceases to amaze me with how it moves in its habitat.”
Todd Mills
a month ago
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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”
Jul
4 months ago
“Small but full of interesting exhibits! 🐠 It’s a cute little aquarium right at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier — perfect to stop by if you’re already at the beach. Lots to see for its size, and it’s nice to just wander around and enjoy the ocean vibe. Great for kids and anyone who loves marine life!”
Amanda Coombs
4 months ago
“The kids were absolutely fascinated with being able to touch and experience the ocean life urchin and star fish. Staff was also educational and provided lots of info and it was free !!! Will be going back”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Roundhouse Aquarium occupies the end of Manhattan Beach Pier, focusing on southern California marine life with hands-on touch tanks where kids interact with sea urchins, starfish, and other local species. Jellyfish tanks and habitat exhibits cover local ocean ecosystems. Staff provide educational context throughout. The facility is small — most families spend 20–40 minutes inside — making it a natural complement to a beach day rather than a standalone destination.
