The Rooms

📍 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s

Newfoundland’s Cultural Heart

Where Newfoundland’s Story Lives

The Rooms is the most important cultural building in Newfoundland and Labrador a bold, architecturally striking landmark perched high above St. John’s harbour that brings together the province’s museum, art gallery and provincial archives under a single dramatic roof.

Opened in June 2005, the building was designed to evoke the traditional fishing “rooms” of Newfoundland’s outport communities the waterside stages and stores where generations of fishermen processed their catch. Six floors of soaring spaces tell the full story of this extraordinary place and its people, from the earliest Indigenous inhabitants to the present day.

Beyond its remarkable collections, The Rooms offers some of the finest panoramic views in all of St. John’s sweeping vistas over the city, the Narrows, and the open Atlantic. It’s a place that repays repeated visits, and one no trip to St. John’s should be without.

2005

Year The Rooms opened to the public

3-in-1

Museum, art gallery & archives

$13.80

Adult admission (CAD)

City Views

Panoramic harbour & Atlantic views

Three Institutions, One Building

What’s Inside The Rooms

The Rooms brings together three distinct institutions each remarkable in its own right in one breathtaking clifftop building.

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The Provincial Museum

Natural & Human History

The centrepiece of The Rooms. The Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador tells the complete story of the province from its ancient geological origins and the remarkable Beothuk and Mi’kmaq peoples, through the age of European exploration, the centuries of the cod fishery, Confederation with Canada in 1949, and the province’s modern identity. Highlights include extraordinary fossil collections, Indigenous artefacts, and immersive galleries on outport life that will move you deeply.

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The Art Gallery

Provincial Art Gallery

The provincial art gallery houses an outstanding permanent collection of Newfoundland and Labrador art alongside a dynamic programme of changing exhibitions featuring local, national and international artists. The gallery is a champion of Newfoundland’s thriving contemporary arts scene and an essential destination for understanding the rich visual culture of the province. The dramatic gallery spaces, with their extraordinary light and harbour views, are themselves a work of art.

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The Provincial Archives

Historical Records & Documents

The Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador is the official repository for the historical records of the province holding government documents, maps, photographs, private papers and records going back centuries. For anyone tracing Newfoundland family history or researching the province’s past, the Archives is an invaluable and irreplaceable resource. Guided tours are available to help visitors navigate its extraordinary holdings.

Must-See

Highlights Not to Miss

With six floors of galleries and exhibits, The Rooms rewards exploration. These are the experiences and collections every visitor should seek out.

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Ancient Fossils of Mistaken Point
Newfoundland is home to one of the world’s most significant fossil sites  Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum holds remarkable examples of these 565-million-year-old Ediacaran fossils, some of the earliest evidence of complex multicellular life on earth. A genuine window into deep time.

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Beothuk & Indigenous Peoples Gallery
The Beothuk were the Indigenous people of Newfoundland, a culture tragically extinguished in the early 19th century. The museum’s galleries on the Beothuk and other Indigenous peoples of the province including the Mi’kmaq and Inuit are among the most important and moving in the building. Essential for understanding Newfoundland’s full history.

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The Cod Fishery Galleries
The cod fishery made Newfoundland. For over five centuries it shaped every aspect of life on the island its settlements, its culture, its language and its identity. The museum’s cod fishery galleries bring this world to vivid life through artefacts, oral histories and extraordinary photographs of outport communities that have now vanished.

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Newfoundland Art Permanent Collection
The Art Gallery’s permanent collection spans centuries of Newfoundland visual art from early landscape paintings capturing the wild beauty of the province, to powerful contemporary works by today’s most exciting local artists. The gallery actively collects and exhibits Indigenous art, ensuring the full breadth of the province’s visual culture is represented.

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Panoramic Harbour Views
Step away from the galleries and out onto the terraces or up to the upper floors of The Rooms for sweeping 270-degree views over St. John’s, the Narrows and the open Atlantic. In iceberg season (May–June), you may even spot a drifting berg from here. The views alone are worth the price of admission.

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Craft Café & Museum Shop
The Rooms Café serves fresh, locally sourced food with a menu that changes seasonally. It’s an excellent spot for lunch or afternoon coffee, with views to match the food. The museum shop is one of the best places in St. John’s to find unique Newfoundland gifts books, art prints, ceramics and locally made crafts.

What To Do

Experiences at The Rooms

The Rooms offers far more than a traditional museum visit from guided tours and family programmes to special events and live performances.

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Guided Tours

Join a guided tour of the museum, art gallery or archives to get the most out of your visit. The Rooms’ knowledgeable guides bring the collections to life with stories and context that go well beyond the exhibit labels. Tours run regularly check the website for current schedules.

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Family & Children’s Programming

The Rooms is an outstanding destination for families. Children’s programming includes hands-on workshops, school holiday events, and interactive gallery activities designed specifically for young visitors. The museum galleries are particularly engaging for children, with plenty of immersive displays and objects to get up close to.

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Special Events & Performances

The Rooms hosts a year-round programme of special events from opening night receptions for new exhibitions, to live music performances, literary readings, film screenings and panel discussions. Check the events calendar on therooms.ca before your visit to see what’s on.

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Photography & Architecture

The building itself is one of the most photographed structures in St. John’s. The dramatic exterior all angles and glass looks spectacular against the sky, particularly at golden hour when the setting sun catches the facade. The views from the upper terraces are equally photogenic and a highlight for any photographer visiting the city.

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Genealogy & Archives Research

Newfoundland has one of the most distinctive and traceable genealogical records in Canada. If you have Newfoundland roots, a visit to the Provincial Archives at The Rooms is a deeply meaningful experience. Staff are on hand to help navigate the collections and find records going back to the earliest European settlements.

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Changing Exhibitions

Alongside its permanent collections, The Rooms maintains a lively programme of temporary exhibitions bringing major touring shows from across Canada and internationally, as well as spotlighting local and regional artists and stories. There’s always something new to discover, making every visit feel fresh.

Visitor Information

Plan Your Visit to The Rooms

Everything you need to know before you go hours, admission, getting there and making the most of your time.

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Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday: 10am – 5pm. Sunday 12pm to 5pm First Wednesday Evening of every month. Closed Mondays. Extended hours during special events. Always check therooms.ca before your visit as hours may vary seasonally or on holidays.

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Admission

Adult: ~$13.80 CAD. Senior (65+): ~$9 CAD. Youth (6–17): ~$7 CAD. Children under 6: Free. Family rates available. First Wednesday Evening of every month an excellent option for budget-conscious visitors. Check therooms.ca for current pricing.

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Getting There

The Rooms is located at 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s a 10-minute walk uphill from the downtown core and the waterfront. Parking is available on site. It’s also accessible by Metrobus from downtown. The building is hard to miss look for the dramatic glass-and-steel structure on the hill above the city.

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Accessibility

The Rooms is fully accessible. Elevators serve all six floors, wheelchair-accessible washrooms are available on each level, and the café and shop are accessible at street level. Large-print exhibition guides and other accessibility aids are available contact The Rooms in advance for specific requirements.

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Café & Shop

The Rooms Café is open during regular museum hours, serving locally sourced lunches, soups, sandwiches and coffee. The museum shop stocks an excellent selection of Newfoundland books, art prints, ceramics, jewellery and gifts one of the best places in the city to find unique locally made souvenirs.

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How Long to Allow

Plan for at least 2–3 hours to see the main highlights across the museum and gallery. A full day is easily spent if you explore all three institutions and linger over the collections. The Rooms rewards slow, thoughtful visits bring a notebook and comfortable shoes.

While You’re Here

Nearby Attractions in St. John’s

The Rooms sits at the heart of St. John’s most walkable cultural district. Combine your visit with these nearby highlights.

5 min walk

Jellybean Row

↓ Downhill from The Rooms

The iconic colourful rowhouses that give St. John’s its instantly recognisable character. Stroll down from The Rooms into the hillside streets and soak up the vivid reds, blues and yellows of one of Canada’s most photographed streetscapes.

10 min walk

St. John’s Harbour

↓ Downtown waterfront

The working harbour of St. John’s, one of the oldest ports in North America, is just a short walk downhill from The Rooms. Watch fishing vessels, ferries and tall ships come and go through the Narrows, and explore the restaurants, bars and shops of the waterfront.

15 min walk

Signal Hill

↑ Above The Rooms

The site of Marconi’s first transatlantic wireless signal and home to the historic Cabot Tower. Signal Hill offers some of the most dramatic views of St. John’s, the Narrows and the North Atlantic particularly spectacular at sunset. Combine with a visit to The Rooms for a full cultural day.

10 min walk

George Street

↓ Downtown

After an afternoon at The Rooms, head down to George Street for dinner and live traditional Newfoundland music. North America’s most concentrated bar and restaurant strip is the perfect way to round off a cultural day cold beer, fresh seafood and fiddle music await.

25 min drive

Cape Spear

→ Southeast of St. John’s

The most easterly point in North America, Cape Spear offers dramatic cliff walks and the chance to spot humpback whales and icebergs from the headland. A perfect half-day excursion to combine with a morning at The Rooms.

30 min drive

Witless Bay Reserve

→ South of St. John’s

One of the world’s great wildlife spectacles humpback whales and hundreds of thousands of Atlantic puffins in the same two-hour boat tour. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is easily paired with a visit to The Rooms as part of a full Newfoundland cultural and wildlife day.

When to Go

Best Time to Visit The Rooms

The Rooms is open year-round and worth visiting in any season but here’s what to expect at different times of year.

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Winter

Dec – Feb

The perfect time to escape the cold and spend a long, unhurried day in the galleries. Winter is the least crowded season and an ideal time to explore the collections at your own pace. The Rooms hosts special programming around the holidays and into the new year.

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Spring

Mar – May

Iceberg season begins in May, making the view from The Rooms terraces potentially spectacular. Spring brings new exhibition openings and the city starts to buzz with energy as the tourist season begins. A wonderful time to combine a cultural visit with iceberg spotting nearby.

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Summer

Jun – Aug

Peak season the building is most lively, the programming richest and the outdoor terraces most enjoyable. Summer brings special events, extended programming and the best chance to combine The Rooms with whale watching, puffin tours and coastal hiking. The free First Wednesday Evening of every month admission is a great summer outing.

⭐ Best Time to Visit

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Fall

Sep – Nov

Autumn brings cooler weather, fewer tourists and a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere in the galleries. New exhibitions often open in the fall season. The dramatic autumn light over St. John’s harbour, seen from the upper floors of The Rooms, is genuinely breathtaking.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about visiting The Rooms in St. John’s.

The Rooms is Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier cultural institution, housing three separate bodies under one roof: the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Art Gallery, and the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the largest public cultural facility in the province and one of the most significant cultural buildings in Atlantic Canada. The name references the traditional fishing “rooms” the waterside stages and stores central to outport life.

Admission is approximately $13.80 CAD for adults, $9 for seniors (65+), $7 for youth aged 6–17, and free for children under 6. Family passes are available. Most importantly, The Rooms offers free access First Wednesday Evening of every month a wonderful opportunity to experience the building without the daytime crowds. Always check therooms.ca for the most current pricing.

Allow a minimum of 2 to 3 hours to see the main highlights across the museum and art gallery. If you want to explore all three institutions thoroughly including the archives a full day is easily spent. The Rooms rewards slow, thoughtful exploration, and the café makes a comfortable midway stop. Don’t rush the upper floors the views alone justify extended lingering.

Yes The Rooms is an excellent destination for families. The Provincial Museum galleries are engaging and accessible for children of most ages, with plenty of interactive and visual elements. The Rooms regularly offers dedicated family programming and children’s workshops, particularly during school holidays. Children under 6 enter free, and the First Wednesday Evening of every month admission is ideal for family visits.

Absolutely. The Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, located within The Rooms, holds one of the most comprehensive collections of genealogical and historical records in Atlantic Canada. If you have Newfoundland ancestry, a visit to the Archives can be a deeply moving experience. Research staff are available to assist visitors navigating the collections. It is advisable to contact The Rooms in advance to arrange your research visit and confirm the records you’re hoping to access.

Yes The Rooms has its own on-site parking lot accessible from Bonaventure Avenue. Parking fees apply. The building is also a 10–15 minute walk from most downtown hotels and accessible by Metrobus from the city centre. Given its hilltop location, walking up from downtown involves a steep climb comfortable footwear is recommended if you’re walking.