Moraga

 

Moraga is a quiet Contra Costa County town located to the east of Berkeley and Oakland amid the rolling hillsides south of Orinda and Lafayette. Moraga has a friendly and safe atmosphere with a close-knit community and a laid-back pace of life. The hills of the Moraga Valley insulate the community from fog blowing in from the SF Bay and provide it with a mild Mediterranean climate. While Moraga feels as though it exists in blissful isolation, the community is within an hour’s drive of San Francisco and under 30 minutes from Oakland and Berkeley.

 

Moraga’s real estate mix ranges from classic Californian ranches to stunning contemporary custom builds. Housing options also include homes in luxurious gated communities. Moraga’s hilly landscape provides many homes with wonderful views over the Moraga Valley and out to Mount Diablo.

 

Moraga is a small community with around 16,000 residents. However, Moraga features businesses and amenities that far outstrip its size. Residents enjoy access to lots of shopping and dining within several commercial areas around Moraga. The beautiful surrounding landscape also provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.

 

Moraga offers a great mix of local and national businesses. Rheem Valley Shopping Center features retailers such as TJ Maxx, CVS, and Home Goods alongside several restaurants. Sushi Fighter is a popular spot at the Rheem Valley Shopping Center that serves a wide selection of rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and other Japanese eats. Stop by on Friday and Saturday nights to gorge on an all-you-can-eat special. Nation’s Giant Hamburgers serves delicious oversized burgers alongside all-day breakfast eats and a vast array of tasty pies.

 

Moraga Shopping Center offers more restaurants, retailers, and services anchored by a Safeway supermarket. L a Finestra is a fine choice here for Italian dining. Inside La Finestra’s elegant white tablecloth dining space, diners can enjoy authentic Sicilian dishes. La Finestra offers a good selection of French, Italian, and Californian wines and cocktails. Diners can also BYOB with no corkage fees on Tuesdays. Just south of Moraga Shopping Center, Canyon Brewing Company is a family-friendly neighborhood tavern with a beer garden. Canyon Brewing Company offers fresh house-made craft beers alongside a menu of elevated pub grub.

 

Moraga Farmers’ Market is held year round on Sunday mornings, with more than 40 local vendors selling farm-fresh produce and gourmet foodstuffs. Moraga Commons Park is a large greenspace with amenities and activities including bocce ball, sand volleyball, a skate park, picnic areas, and playgrounds for kids with a water spray feature. The park also has a bandshell for events. Between June and August, the bandshell hosts a series of outdoor concerts for Moraga Summer Music on the Commons. Moraga Pear & Wine Festival is a signature community event taking place every September at Moraga Commons Park. The festival celebrates the fall harvest with community booths, a petting zoo and other kid-friendly activities, wine tastings, pear pies, and other tasty harvest treats.

 

Hacienda de las Flores is a romantic Spanish estate often used as a wedding venue. The hacienda is surrounded by a rolling tree-flanked lawn and pretty gardens. Moraga’s annual July Fourth Celebration takes place at the Moraga Country Club, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display.

 

Saint Mary’s College of California is one of the top liberal arts institutions in California. This private Roman Catholic college is known for its high-performing sports teams, which have developed many athletes who later found success in Major League Baseball, the NBA, and the NFL. Attractions on the college campus include Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art, which features exhibitions and permanent displays focused on Californian landscape paintings.

 

Moraga Country Club features a picturesque golf course with stunning views over the hills, creeks, and canyons between Moraga and Orinda. Other sports facilities at Moraga Country Club include 12 professional tennis courts and a pool complex featuring a nine-lane lap pool, a baby pool, and two spas. Members can also enjoy upscale dining and drinks in the clubhouse’s formal dining room and bar and lounge areas.

 

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