SANTA
ANA.
Street art. Historic architecture. Tacos. Galleries. Museums. Coffee. Music. Nightlife. Santa Ana is one of Orange County's most layered cities—and downtown is where a lot of that energy collides.
COLOR
OUTSIDE THE LINES.
Santa Ana is historic and modern at the same time. Downtown blocks move from old architecture to murals, galleries, restaurants, cafés and nightlife without losing the city's unmistakable personality.
COME
HUNGRY.
From tacos and smash burgers to brunch, gastropubs and outdoor dining, Santa Ana has one of Orange County's most varied food scenes.
4TH STREET
MARKET
A Downtown Santa Ana food hall built around independent concepts, variety and the idea that everyone in the group can order something different.
TACOS
LOS CHOLOS
Char-grilled meats, tacos and a lively downtown setting make this an easy stop when the plan is simply to eat well.
HAMMER
BURGER
Crispy-edged smash burgers, fries and a casual beer-hall atmosphere in Downtown Santa Ana.
PLAYGROUND
A name closely tied to Downtown Santa Ana's modern food identity and its chef-driven dining scene.
BENCHMARK
A tree-shaded outdoor setting with contemporary American food and the feel of a very good backyard dinner party.
WURSTHAUS
Sausages, fries, German and Belgian beer in a casual downtown beer-hall setting.
WALK
THE BLOCKS.
Downtown is where Santa Ana's history, restaurants, murals, independent businesses and nightlife all share the same streets.
HISTORIC
DISTRICT
Historic commercial buildings meet murals, restaurants, shops and the modern rhythm of Downtown Santa Ana.
4TH STREET
SCENE
Walk 4th Street for restaurants, food, independent businesses and some of downtown's most active blocks.
FIRST
SATURDAY
Downtown's art scene spills into the streets with galleries, exhibitions and community activity during the monthly ArtWalk.
CULTURE ON
EVERY BLOCK.
Murals beside historic buildings. Galleries around the corner from taco shops. Old theaters next to new ideas. Santa Ana works because the layers are the point.
START
STRONG.
Coffee, brunch and breakfast before a day of walking downtown, museum hopping or seeing where Santa Ana takes you.
CAFÉ
CULTURA
Contemporary Mexican breakfast and brunch paired with specialty coffee and a strong sense of place.
HOPPER &
BURR
A specialty coffee stop built for people who take the coffee itself seriously.
CRAVE
A downtown staple for breakfast, sandwiches, salads, coffee and a quick lunch before getting back outside.
LOOK
CLOSER.
Galleries, independent cinema, murals and artist-run spaces give Santa Ana one of Orange County's strongest creative identities.
THE FRIDA
CINEMA
An independent nonprofit art-house cinema screening everything from classics and cult films to documentaries and special programs.
GRAND CENTRAL
ART CENTER
Contemporary exhibitions and visual culture in the heart of Santa Ana's Artists Village.
OCCCA
An artist-run contemporary art space with exhibitions and events tied closely to Santa Ana's creative community.
LEARN
SOMETHING.
World cultures, science, aviation and local history give Santa Ana some of Orange County's most recognizable museums.
BOWERS
MUSEUM
Global art and culture, permanent collections and rotating exhibitions in one of Orange County's signature museums.
DISCOVERY
CUBE
Interactive science exhibits designed around hands-on learning and family exploration.
LYON AIR
MUSEUM
Historic aircraft, vehicles and military history inside a hangar beside John Wayne Airport.
HISTORY
STILL LIVES HERE.
Santa Ana's historic core isn't frozen in time. Courthouses, old storefronts and landmark buildings sit inside a downtown that continues to change around them.
OLD OC.
RIGHT HERE.
Before Orange County became freeways and master-planned communities, Santa Ana was already building its civic center, neighborhoods and downtown.
OLD ORANGE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE
A restored historic courthouse and one of the clearest reminders of Santa Ana's role in Orange County history.
HOWE-WAFFLE
HOUSE
A restored Queen Anne Victorian house connecting Santa Ana's architectural history with the story of Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle.
HISTORIC
WALK
Skip the car for a while and explore the historic core one building, mural and block at a time.
STAY
LATE.
Rooftops, bars, restaurants, movies and live events keep Downtown Santa Ana moving after the galleries close.
NATIVE
SON
Rooftop drinks, beer and downtown energy above one of Santa Ana's busiest blocks.
CHAPTER
ONE
Cocktails, comfort food and a lively downtown atmosphere in a bookstore-inspired space.
LATE MOVIE
AT THE FRIDA
Trade the bar for a cult classic, repertory screening or late-night movie at Santa Ana's independent cinema.
MAKE A
DAY OF IT.
Art, food, museums, history, movies and a zoo. Santa Ana gives you plenty to work with.
VISIT
BOWERS
Start with one of Orange County's major cultural institutions.
EAT YOUR WAY
DOWN 4TH
Start hungry and let 4th Street decide what lunch becomes.
CATCH A
MOVIE
Check the Frida calendar and watch something you probably won't find at the multiplex.
SANTA ANA
ZOO
A compact city zoo and easy family stop on the east side of Santa Ana.
GET
HANDS-ON
Let the kids touch the exhibits. That's basically the point.
GALLERY
HOP
Start at Grand Central Art Center and keep exploring the surrounding Artists Village.
SEE OLD
ORANGE COUNTY
Step inside the restored Old Orange County Courthouse and see a different era of OC.
SEE THE
AIRCRAFT
Get close to historic aircraft and vehicles inside Lyon Air Museum.
DO THE
ARTWALK
Time the visit right and experience downtown with galleries and community events in full swing.
JUST
WANDER
Sometimes the best Santa Ana itinerary is simply parking downtown and seeing what you find.
SEE YOU
IN SANTA ANA.
Come hungry. Walk downtown. Look at the walls. Catch a movie. Visit a museum. Stay for dinner. Santa Ana has more layers than one afternoon can cover.