Affluent suburban town with great downtown shopping & dining
Lafayette is an affluent suburban community located within the bucolic hills of the East Bay region’s Contra Costa County. Highway 24 runs east to west through the heart of Lafayette, and a thriving downtown area runs alongside it. Highway access and Lafayette’s downtown BART station make this an ideal spot for commuting into San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. Lafayette is bordered to the east by Walnut Creek, which also offers many employment and recreation opportunities.
Lafayette was settled in the mid-19th century as a rural village and blossomed into a bustling commuter town by the mid-20th century. The community’s diverse housing options reflect its steady growth. Real estate in Lafayette includes renovated mid-century Craftsman properties, sprawling estates, and breathtaking contemporary single-family homes.
Lafayette is an educated community with many residents commuting to the University of California Berkeley campus and the employment hubs of San Francisco and Walnut Creek. Lafayette’s walkable downtown area has every amenity you need within easy reach. Activities include exploring the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s extensive trail network and participating in local youth groups such as the Lamorinda Youth Association and Lafayette Little League.
Mount Diablo Boulevard winds east to west through Lafayette alongside Highway 24 and is lined with many great places to shop and dine. You can pick up organic groceries and other household goods at Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, or local favorite Diablo Foods. Sideboard is a wonderful spot for artisanal coffees, fresh-made pastries, and rustic meals prepared from fresh locally-sourced ingredients. The Cooperage American Grille is an award-winning restaurant that puts a contemporary chef-driven twist on American comfort classics. Along with delicious brunch and dinner dishes, The Coop has a 1920s-style speakeasy lounge open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for craft cocktails and live music.
At Mount Diablo Boulevard’s eastern end, Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa has an upscale bistro and bar offering farm-to-table Californian cuisine with European influences. Lafayette Park’s other amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center and a full range of spa treatments, massages, and services. Oakwood Athletic Club also provides its members with access to an exceptional fitness center and a range of therapeutic spa and massage services. Other facilities include an outdoor heated pool open all year round and first-class courts for basketball, racquetball, squash, and volleyball. Oakwood has fitness classes, sports programs, and personal instruction available for all ages. Lafayette Library and Learning Center programs guest lectures from distinguished speakers, T’ai Chi classes, and afterschool homework help clubs.
A 925-acre recreation area surrounds Lafayette Reservoir on the community’s western boundary with Orinda. Popular activities here include fishing and boating on the reservoir’s waters and hiking and jogging around its perimeter. In October, the Lafayette Reservoir Run raises funds for local education initiatives with 5K and 10K certified runs and an easier two-mile walk/run. Fundraising activities are frequently organized by community organizations such as Lafayette Community Foundation and Lafayette Partners in Education.
Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre has been a cornerstone of the community for over a century. The Town Hall Theatre moved into its current auditorium in 1944 and regularly stages many diverse productions, from contemporary plays and Chekov classics to kid-friendly fairy tales. Other community events include September’s Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. More than 85,000 people attend this huge free admission celebration to enjoy scores of food vendors, wines, microbrews, and booths showcasing the work of talented local artists and handicraft makers.
The 7.65-mile Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail winds through Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park and alongside San Leandro Reservoir on its path between Lafayette and Downtown Moraga. This multi-use trail is open to hikers, runners, cyclists, and horseback riders.
Public schools in Lafayette are zoned to the Lafayette Elementary and Acalanes Union High School Districts. Highlights include:
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3595 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Suite 200 Lafayette, CA 94549 CA DRE# 01330630
