Lafayette

 

Lafayette is a hip Contra Costa County city located to the immediate east of Walnut Creek. Lafayette has a young vibe with lots of trendy downtown restaurants. The city is also community-oriented, with lots of local youth groups and sports teams. Lafayette has a BART station and is bisected by Highway 24, providing convenient access to Walnut Creek, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco.

 

Lafayette features an eclectic housing mix representing various phases of development since the town was founded in the 1850s. Real estate ranges from well-maintained mid-century Craftsman homes and downtown condominiums to stunning acreage estates on sprawling wooded lots.

 

Lafayette is an in-demand community with much to offer. Several shopping centers and a lively historic downtown area provide a wide array of places to shop and dine. The community is also surrounded by numerous open space preserves and outdoor recreation areas.

 

Lafayette has a vibrant downtown area centered on Mount Diablo Boulevard. Here you’ll find dozens of chic restaurants, specialty shops, bakeries, and cafes. Standouts of the Lafayette dining scene include the refined Cooperage American Grill. The Coop’s menu features elevated American classics such as burgers, steaks, and rotisserie chicken.

 

Metro Lafayette is a bustling bistro serving seasonal Californian-French fusion cuisine prepared from fresh local ingredients. This stylish spot features a beautiful outdoor dining area flanked by mulberry trees, trellised vines, and a herb garden. Postino offers elegant Italian wining and dining in a romantic setting with exposed brick and fireplaces. Tutu’s combines a gourmet grocery store with an eatery serving elevated American comfort food and all-day breakfast and brunch plates. Social Bird offers thoughtful gastropub fare alongside a fine choice of craft beer and cocktails.

 

In September, the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival — one of the largest annual events in Contra Costa County — is held. More than 85,000 people typically head to Lafayette to enjoy two days of art, drink, food, and music. The festival features booths selling art and handmade crafts alongside food trucks and vendors selling delicious gourmet bites, quality wines, and microbrews. The festival also includes a kids zone and four stages of live entertainment.

 

Lafayette Reservoir is a scenic man-made lake surrounded by hiking trails on a site spanning 925 acres. Popular activities include boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on the lake as well as hiking along the paved 2.7-mile Lakeside Trail and the more challenging 4.5-mile Rim Trail. Briones Regional Park is another area featuring gorgeous scenery and outdoor recreation. Covering 6,117 acres, the park’s diverse landscape includes grasslands teeming with wildlife, rolling grassy hills, secluded canyons, and gorgeous seasonal wildflower displays. Peaks and trails in the park provide captivating views of Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, and the East Bay hills.

 

Lafayette Plaza Way Park is a smaller downtown greenspace surrounded by historic architecture. The campus of Lafayette Library features two beautiful buildings surrounded by gardens and an amphitheater. Many classes and programs are held at the library, including homework and STEAM lab clubs for kids. The library campus also has a community hall and a public art gallery.

 

Lafayette is served by the Lafayette Elementary and Acalanes High school districts.