Mt. Diablo Boulevard is the main street: restaurants, a bookstore energy, and enough shops that Saturday does not require Walnut Creek. The Lafayette Reservoir is the after-work loop. Trails connect toward the larger regional parks.
Schools and the suburban brief are a big part of the draw, and prices behave accordingly. The BART station puts San Francisco within reach, with a longer ride than Oakland or Berkeley and a much greener walk home.
Known for
- Downtown Lafayette
- Lafayette Reservoir
- BART
- Trail access
Getting around
Lafayette BART sits near downtown. Cars still cover school and trailheads. Walnut Creek and Orinda are one stop or a short drive.
Coffee, beer, parks, schools
Restaurants
Gastropub
Social Bird
Craft cocktails and a seasonal menu on Lafayette's restaurant row.
Open
Breakfast
Tutu's
Lafayette's breakfast spot. The Saturday table on Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
Open
Italian
Locanda Positano
Amalfi pasta and a patio on Brown Avenue. The Lafayette reservation people plan the week around.
OpenNearby
Lamorinda
Orinda
A village downtown at the mouth of the Caldecott.
OpenLamorinda
Moraga
A college town tucked into a valley of trails.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Walnut Creek
The East Bay downtown people drive to on purpose.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Saranap
The neighborhood between Walnut Creek and Lafayette.
Open