Top 4 Things to Do in Placentia, CA: The Ultimate Guide (2024)
The 110-ft tall, 50,000 gallon water tower is a Placentia icon.
Placentia At-A-Glance
| Population | 51,274 |
|---|---|
| Best known for | Old Town Placentia |
| Character | Bedroom community with a charming old town that boasts incredible authentic Mexican food |
Placentia is one of the least known cities in Orange County. Just 6.63 square miles, much of the space is taken up by single family homes. The name Placentia is derived from Latin and means “a pleasant place to live”.
According to Wikipedia, Placentia is best known for being a bedroom community/commuter town i.e., a bunch of residential homes.
Top 4 Things to Do in Placentia
1. Old Town Placentia
While most people point to Placentia’s quiet and safe reputation, it also has a quaint downtown area known as Old Town Placentia, with rich Mexican heritage.
Santa Fe Avenue in Old Town Placentia
Tlaquepaque - This Placentia mainstay has been around since 1965 and has a menu inspired by its namesake, a small town in Guadalajara, featuring signature fajitas.
El Farolito - El Farolito is Placentia’s most iconic restaurant that has been around since 1974. The authentic Mexican food attracts huge crowds and results in long wait times on the weekends.
Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant - I’ve been going to Los Gallos since the early 90s and the decor hasn’t changed much, in a good way!
Golden State Coffee Roasters - One of the newer businesses on Santa Fe Ave—a spacious venue with plenty of exposed brick character.
Golden State Coffee Roasters
Kelly’s Korner - Over 20 TVs so you can catch your favorite team and enjoy a cold pint of your favorite beer.
There are currently 3 breweries operating in Placentia. Learn more about them here.
2. Tri-City Park
Tri-city Park is a beautiful 40-acre park named for Placentia/Fullerton/Brea, with a manmade lake where you can fish with a license. Also great for walking, picnics, and parties.
The northwest corner of the park contains a newly constructed outdoor gym for adults.
3. George Key Ranch
The George Key Ranch is a historic park located in the middle of a residential community. Here, you can learn about Orange County’s roots in the citrus industry.
4. The Bradford House
The Bradford House is an example of an Orange County home from the 1800s. There are docent-led tours here on the second Sunday of each month.
