Dive into Discovery: Your Guide to the Vancouver Aquarium

Nestled in Vancouver’s West End, Rosellen Suites is literally 492 feet from Stanley Park. This all-suite hotel offers fully-equipped kitchens, ideal for families.

You can’t beat the location of this place—it’s within easy walking distance to fantastic restaurants, cafes, and even Second Beach and pool! You won’t find a spot this close to Stanley Park at a better price.

Times Square Suites

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Address: 1821 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E4, Canada

Phone: +1 604-684-2223

Pricing: $

Times Square Suites offers snug apartment-style studios in a Victorian-style building complete with a clock tower. The apartments are carefully furnished, boasting a spacious fridge, cooking utensils, and even some salt and pepper sachets.

Despite the lively road noise, having a little balcony adds to the charm of the place, really.

Westin Bayshore

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Address: 1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4, Canada

Phone: +1 604-682-3377

Pricing: $$

Nestled on the shores of Coal Harbour, Westin Bayshore overlooks Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains. This stay is quite high-end, with refined rooms and an upscale rotisserie restaurant and lounge.

Additional perks include both indoor and outdoor pools, a round-the-clock exercise room, and a spa for your relaxation. Plus, there’s an expansive 70,000 sq ft of meeting space available.

Riviera Hotel

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Address: 1431 Robson St #1, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C1, Canada

Phone: +1 604-685-1301

Pricing: $

A 5-minute drive from Vancouver Aquarium, this hotel has an interesting mix of old-world charm and modern conveniences. The rooms here have a vintage appeal, but it’s spacious, with added kitchenettes.

You can also use the laundry facilities for a fee. Basic housekeeping is part of the package, but there’s an extra charge for kitchen and dishes cleaning.

The Listel Hotel

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Address: 1300 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C5, Canada

Phone: +1 604-684-8461

Pricing: $$

The Listel Hotel, spanning six floors and featuring its own parking, boasts rooms adorned with original artwork from both Canadian and international artists, each floor carrying its own unique theme.

Adding to its charm, the hotel offers extra luxuries like valet parking, a fitness center, and a laid-back restaurant with a focus on sustainable dining.

Where to Eat in and near the Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium Café

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 604-659-3474

Pricing: $$

This really nice café at the aquarium is where you can score good food in generous portions. They also offer a lot of plant-based baked goods which look super yummy.

The café has a modern and fresh aesthetic, complemented by laid-back music. While the fish and chips are solid, we highly recommend the chicken strips—they’re more filling and equally delightful.

Stanley’s Bar and Grill

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Address: 610 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 604-602-3088

Pricing: $$

Stanley’s Bar and Grill is a casual restaurant with a west coast inspired menu. From there, you already know what to expect—good food that can be paired with BC’s finest craft beers and wine.

Get a seat at the outdoor patio if you can. Need our advice? Try out the fish and chips, chowder, salmon, poutine, ravioli, and truffle fries!

Lift Bar Grill View

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Address: 333 Menchion Mews, Vancouver, BC V6G 3H2, Canada

Phone: +1 604-689-5438

Pricing: $$

Lift Bar Grill View is the spot where West Coast Cuisine gets cozy with local flavors. Their menu is a delightful fusion of locally sourced ingredients and inventive culinary creations.

The oysters here are bomb! They’re super fresh, savory, and creamy. Get the truffle fries as your side, and you’re all set.

Yasma

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Address: 550 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 3H1, Canada

Phone: +1 604-566-0493

Pricing: $$$

Yasma is the go-to place for an authentic taste of Middle Eastern cuisine, where everything is crafted from scratch and feels like a home-cooked delight.

They take genuine dishes, present them with a modern flair, but the original recipes are still there, and you can taste every bit of it. Our pick for hot appetizers was the Fried Kibbeh and Sambousak. Both dishes were light, crispy, and delicious.

H2 Kitchen + Bar

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Address: 1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4, Canada

Phone: +1 604-691-6966

Pricing: $$

Vancouver’s top spot for smokehouse classics, the H2 Kitchen + Bar is the spot for Southern-style cuisine like beef brisket, pulled pork, rubs, rotisserie chicken, and many more.

Order their signature rotisserie chicken. They’re juiced and delicious, and they’re best paired with the truffle fries for a truly indulgent meal.

What to Do in the Vancouver Aquarium

Meet the Marine Animals at B.C.’s Wild Coast Exhibit

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

B.C.’s Wild Coast Exhibit is home to the aquarium’s rescue marine animals, such as seals and sea lions. These marine animals are rehabilitated and released back to our local waters.

You can see these creatures in chilling and immersive exhibits that recreate their natural habitats. The exhibit also offers educational programs and interactive displays to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation.

Learn about Canada’s Arctic

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

Highlighting Canada’s Arctic, this display is brimming with the narrative of the thawing Arctic and how it’s affecting both its inhabitants and specially adapted wildlife.

The Arctic of Canada boasts one of the most extensive archipelagos globally and is inhabited by animals well-suited for icy living. This exhibit sheds light on the repercussions of climate change in this expansive, secluded region.

Check Out the Amphibians at Frogs Forever?

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

Frogs Forever is your chance to encounter a variety of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Featuring over 20 amphibians, this exhibit shines a spotlight on the global diversity and challenges faced by these creatures.

You can explore the intricate details of their life cycle, such as their transformation from tadpoles to adults, and discover the unique adaptations they’ve developed to thrive in diverse habitats.

Walk along Pacific Canada Pavilion

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

The Pacific Canada Pavilion extends across two levels, showcasing the captivating marine life right at Vancouver’s doorstep—the waterfront.

Here, you’ll have an aerial perspective of the Strait of Georgia exhibit from above, then take the plunge downstairs to encounter the remarkable diversity of marine animals.

Stand Face-to-Face with Sea Lions at Steller’s Bay

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

Steller’s Bay will take you to sea lions, where you’ll be whisked away to a fishing village on Canada’s west coast. The exhibit boasts huge viewing windows, creating the illusion of being underwater with these magnificent creatures.

You get to observe their powerful and agile movements as they glide through the water, providing insights into the crucial role they play in safeguarding their counterparts in the wild.

Explore the Tropics

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

Step into the Tropics, where you’ll be immersed in the beauty of coral reefs, mangrove forests, and equatorial rivers and lakes. Highlights of this exhibit include vibrant tropical fishes, graceful stingrays, and the presence of a blacktip reef shark.

You’ll get to witness a mesmerizing display of delicate tropical jellyfish, along with a stunning array of pink, blue, and yellow fish. There are also swift and elusive sharks, including the bamboo shark and epaulette sharks.

Discover the Variety of Ecosystems at Treasures of the BC Coast

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

The Treasures Of The BC Coast exhibits gives you a top view of massive coastal scenes, and a diver’s view of the marine life below the waves.

It’s like being surrounded by a cast of characters, from the slimy hagfish to the hungry sea stars, and don’t even get us started on the giant Pacific octopus – the bigwig of all octopus species worldwide.

Investigate the Wet Lab

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

The Wet Lab gives you a unique hands-on experience with local marine animals while unraveling the conservation challenges they face.

You’ll get to meet cool invertebrates—those creatures without a backbone, including crabs, sea anemones, jellies, sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and shrimps

Meet the Jellyfishes at Wondrous Jellies

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Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada

Phone: +1 778-655-9554

Website

The Awesome Jellies exhibit features all jelly species from all over the globe. Their scientists grow them not just for the displays but also for teaching and research.

They’re always breeding different types of jellies to learn more about how they live and what they need from their environment.

Apps to Download for a Trip to the Vancouver Aquarium

Aqua Colour: interactive, digital colouring book for tablets and phones inspired by the Vancouver Aquarium.

Transit: Get live updates on Vancouver buses and trains, including service alerts, bus capacity predictions, and real-time vehicle locations

Street Food Vancouver App: Locate nearby food trucks on a map and check their operating hours.

Paybyphone: app for cashless parking in Vancouver that enables payment and registration.