Ontario, CA Area Guide: Things to Do, Coffee and Food
Ontario spreads across the valley floor of western San Bernardino County, laid out in 1882 by the Chaffey brothers and incorporated in 1891, with Euclid Avenue, a broad boulevard with a grassy center median, running north and south through its historic downtown. Ontario International Airport, which opened as a municipal field in 1929, sits in the middle of the city between Interstate 10 and State Route 60, close to Toyota Arena, the Ontario Convention Center and the Ontario Mills mall. The southern section, Ontario Ranch, is former dairy and farm land rezoned in 1999 for new neighborhoods, parks and shopping centers.
Getting around
Interstate 10 and State Route 60 cross the city from east to west, Interstate 15 runs along its east side, and Euclid Avenue (State Route 83) is the main north-south boulevard. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is in the center of town, Metrolink's Riverside Line stops at East Ontario station off Haven Avenue, and Amtrak's long-distance Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains stop at the Ontario station.
Neighborhoods to know
Downtown and Euclid Avenue. The historic core along Euclid Avenue's wide lanes and grassy median, with the Museum of History & Art in the WPA-funded former City Hall, Ontario Town Square's clock tower and amphitheater between B and C streets, Logan's Candies on B Street, and storefront windows along Euclid carrying temporary public art in fall 2026.
Convention Center and Vineyard Avenue. North of the airport along Vineyard Avenue and G Street, hotels, restaurants and offices surround the Ontario Convention Center, including Porter's Prime Steakhouse in the DoubleTree hotel just south of Interstate 10.
Ontario Center and Ontario Mills. Between Haven Avenue and Interstate 15 north of Interstate 10, office buildings and hotels line Haven and Inland Empire Boulevard, Toyota Arena and the Via Piemonte restaurants sit off Ontario Center Parkway, and the single-level Ontario Mills mall sits inside the Mills Circle loop.
Ontario Ranch. The city's southern section on former dairy and farm land, rezoned in 1999, with newer master-planned tracts of single-family homes and townhomes, parks, and shopping centers along Ontario Ranch Road.
Things to do in Ontario
Ontario Museum of History & Art, 225 S. Euclid Ave. Free museum in Ontario's second City Hall, a WPA-funded building on Euclid Avenue, with exhibits on regional history and art; current shows cover water in the Chino Basin and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Open Thursday and Friday noon to 4 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ontario Town Square and Euclid Avenue, 224 N. Euclid Ave. Downtown park on the east side of Euclid between B and C streets with an amphitheater, a clock tower about 54 feet tall, a 34-foot history wall and a rose garden. Euclid's wide lanes and grassy median, laid out by the Chaffey brothers, once carried a mule-drawn tramway.
Logan's Candies, 125 W. B St. Family candy shop on B Street since 1933 that makes chocolates, fudge, ribbon candy, brittle and candy canes by hand. Ticketed demonstrations show candy canes or ribbon candy being made and let guests bend a warm cane; new dates post each Monday at 10 a.m.
Toyota Arena, 4000 E. Ontario Center Pkwy. City-owned arena that is home to the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign and the Empire Strykers indoor soccer team and also books concerts and touring shows.
ONT Field, 9375 Riverside Dr. Ballpark of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Single-A California League team in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, which opened for the 2026 season; it has lawn seating, standing room in the Baggage Hall and fireworks after Wednesday and Friday home games.
Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, 800 N. Archibald Ave. 150-acre county park with two fishing lakes, a splash pad, a playground and rentable picnic shelters; vehicle entry is $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends, and the swim complex pool is closed until further notice.
San Antonio Winery Ontario, 2802 S. Milliken Ave. Tasting room, wine and gift shop and covered country patio from the family behind Los Angeles's San Antonio Winery, with wines by the glass, self-guided flights and hosted tastings with charcuterie; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Ontario Mills, 1 Mills Circle. Single-level outlet mall of about 1.4 million square feet, opened in 1996, with outlet stores, the AMC Ontario Mills 30 cinema, Dave & Buster's and Slick City Action Park, which opened in March 2026.
Events and markets
Ontario Reign hockey. When: Regular season runs from October into April; 2026-27 is the team's 19th season. Where: Toyota Arena, 4000 E. Ontario Center Pkwy. American Hockey League games by the Ontario Reign, with home dates posted on the team and arena calendars.
Ontario Tower Buzzers baseball. When: April through September; weeknight games usually start at 6:05 or 6:35 p.m. Where: ONT Field, 9375 Riverside Dr. Single-A minor league baseball with lawn seating and postgame fireworks on Wednesday and Friday home games; parking is $15.
Road to California Quilters Conference and Showcase. When: Every January; the 2027 show runs January 20 to 23. Where: Ontario Convention Center. Quilting conference and showcase with classes, a quilt contest and general admission days, with tickets and class registration online.
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. When: Early December; in 2026, Thursday, December 3, 5 to 8 p.m. Where: Ontario Town Square, 224 N. Euclid Ave. Free city event with cookie decorating, letters to Santa, community performances, photos with Santa and the lighting of the tree.
Holiday Light Parade. When: Early December; in 2026, Saturday, December 5, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Where: Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street. Free evening holiday parade down Euclid, followed by carolers, crafts and photos with Santa at Ontario Town Square.
Coffee in Ontario
Klatch Coffee Ontario, 951 N. Haven Ave. Cafe from Klatch, a family-owned roaster operating since 1993, serving espresso drinks and its own roasted beans with sandwiches and muffins; small indoor lobby and outdoor seating near the airport.
Special Needz Coffee, 2920 Inland Empire Blvd., Suite 108 (Transpark Business Park). Coffee stand in a trailer at the back of the Transpark Business Park lot, started to create jobs for adults with special needs, serving espresso drinks and tea weekdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mestiza Coffeehouse, 200 S. Euclid Ave., Suite A. Downtown coffeehouse on Euclid Avenue near the museum serving lattes, including a Spanish latte, pastries such as a ham, cheese and jalapeno croissant, and cakes to order; open daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Popping Yolk Cafe, 3420 E. Ontario Ranch Rd., Suite 1. Breakfast and brunch cafe in an Ontario Ranch shopping center with specialty lattes alongside pancakes, French toast and omelets.
Places to eat
Vince's Spaghetti, 1206 W. Holt Blvd. ($). Spaghetti house on Holt Boulevard that began as an open-air stand in August 1945, serving pastas, lasagna and garlic bread, with a banquet room and party pans to go.
Panda Inn, 3223 N. Centre Lake Dr. ($$). Sit-down Chinese restaurant from Panda Restaurant Group, whose first Panda Inn opened in Pasadena in 1973, serving American Chinese classics alongside regional dishes.
Porter's Prime Steakhouse, 222 N. Vineyard Ave. ($$$). Steakhouse inside the DoubleTree hotel on Vineyard Avenue, just south of Interstate 10, serving prime steaks, prime rib, seafood, poultry and pork with wine and cocktails; dinner Monday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.
The Chef's Pho, 1359 E. 4th St. ($). Vietnamese noodle shop on Fourth Street serving pho, including a beef short rib version, and chef's specials; open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Casa Sanchez Restaurant, 2264 S. Mountain Ave. ($$). Mexican restaurant on Mountain Avenue cooking family recipes such as menudo, flautas, grilled steak and shrimp in cream sauce, with breakfast dishes and margaritas; opens at 9:30 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends.
Juan Pollo, 615 S. Euclid Ave. ($). Rotisserie chicken chain that Albert Okura founded in Ontario in 1984; this location sits on Euclid Avenue south of downtown.
Left Coast Brewing Co. Ontario, 980 N. Haven Ave., Suite 100 ($$). Brewery tasting room, smokehouse and distillery serving brisket, pulled pork and tri-tip sandwiches, sliders and mac and cheese with beers brewed and spirits made on site.
Picante, 2411 S. Vineyard Ave., Suite D ($). Peruvian restaurant opened in 2022 serving lomo saltado, tacu tacu, ceviche, tallarines and alfajores.
Hours, prices and event details checked October 2026.
Ontario questions
Why is Ontario called the Model Colony?
The name goes back to its founding. The Chaffey brothers laid Ontario out in 1882 as an irrigated farm colony with town amenities, a mix of agriculture and town life that earned the Model Colony name, and an act of Congress declared it a model colony in 1903.
Is the Ontario Museum of History & Art free?
Yes. Admission and programs are free. The museum at 225 S. Euclid Ave. is open Thursday and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with parking in the lot behind the building.
Can you fish at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park?
Yes. Its two lakes are open for fishing year-round, stocked with trout from November to April and catfish from May to September. A daily permit is $15 for adults and $5 for ages 4 to 14, plus vehicle entry, and the lake being stocked closes to fishing on Thursdays.
Escrow notes for Ontario
Transfer tax. San Bernardino County documentary transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500), collected at recording. Ontario's Municipal Code (Sec. 3-7.02) sets a city real property transfer tax of $0.275 per $500, half the county rate, which the county credits against its own tax under Revenue and Taxation Code section 11931, so the total stays $1.10 per $1,000 with nothing added by the city. Source: official page.
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About this guide. Cal West Escrow wrote this guide to share general local information. No business paid to be included, and we do not accept free goods or services for mentions. A mention is not an endorsement, and hours, prices and events change, so check with each business before you go. Business names and trademarks belong to their owners. Transfer tax and other escrow notes are general information as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice. Cal West Escrow is committed to fair housing: this guide describes places, not people, and is not meant to suggest who should live anywhere.