36 Minutes in Lafayette

Image courtesy of La Fiesta Square.

A glorious small-town vibe awaits visitors to Lafayette, which has its very own BART station positioned in the center of town. Located between Berkeley and Walnut Creek, this little gem of a town is full of great places to explore and things to do once you step off the train. 

Here’s how we’d spend 36 minutes (or more) in Lafayette, California.

To see more features in our 36 minutes series, click here.

Image courtesy of Sideboard.

Though small in size, Lafayette is home to an impressive selection of delicious restaurants, of the high-end and lowbrow varieties. We begin our tour at a local favorite, Sideboard (3537 Plaza Way), a ten-minute walk from BART. At Sideboard, start with a steaming pot of coffee and their house-made beignets that come with a side of fresh jam for smothering. Take your order number out on the grass in front of the restaurant and make your meal a picnic.

Image courtesy of Yelp.

From Sideboard, walk five minutes down Moraga Road to Lamorinda Music (81 Lafayette Circle), a delightful local music store that sells and rents musical instruments. Need a hand playing that new trombone or ukulele? The shop also offers private lessons from experienced musicians as well as regular “jam” sessions.

Image courtesy of Yelp.

When you’ve had your fill of jamming, walk two minutes up Lafayette Circle to The Cooperage American Grille (32 Lafayette Circle). The food here is good, but this writer’s favorite draw at the bar and restaurant are its cocktails, specifically its gin and tonic offerings. For $26, you can get a G&T flight that features three whopping glasses of different varieties. If you’re looking for a less substantial tipple, get the beautiful Butterfly Effect (Empress gin, grapefruit, juniper, Fever-tree Mediterranean tonic) and sip away in the sunshine on the outdoor patio.

Image courtesy of Yelp.

After your G&T, it’s probably a good idea to think about food. You will be dreaming of Postino Restaurant (3565 Mount Diablo Boulevard) and its quaint setting for years to come. Just a two-minute jaunt from The Coop, Postino is situated in an idyllic historic brick and slate-roofed former post office. Here, you’ll find Italian mainstays – luscious eggplant parmigiana and sumptuous pastas, for one – all of which are sourced locally and seasonally.

Image courtesy of Bel and Bunna’s Books.

Hungry for a little shopping? There’s no sweeter spot than Bel and Bunna’s Books (3581-C Mount Diablo Boulevard), a “literary wonderland for children.” The independent bookstore is cozy and friendly – the perfect stopover for kiddos and their parents – and even offers story times, birthday parties, and “Wizarding Wednesdays” for budding Harry Potter-heads.

Image courtesy of EBMUD.

We’ve got a bit of a trek ahead of us at this point in our journey – but it’s worth the schlep. After a 28-minute walk down the sidewalk of Mount Diablo Boulevard, climb up a slightly steep hill to reach an oasis: the Lafayette Reservoir. You’ll be glad you took BART -- it’s pay-to-park up here. The gorgeous reservoir is one of the most popular weekend spots for locals, many of whom stroll the paved 2.7-mile trail surrounding the lake or tackle one of the more challenging hikes that offshoot from the pavement (the infamous “rim trail,” for example). Water fountains and bathrooms await you at the entrance.

Image courtesy of Yelp.

There’s no more fitting way to finish off your Lafayette visit than a trip to the Roundup Saloon (3553 Mount Diablo Boulevard). Yes, you heard that right, Lafayette has a saloon, and it’s probably the grimiest spot in the entire town. But that’s the charm of dive bars, right? Come for the cheap cocktails (cash only, with an ATM inside) and stay for the incredible people watching (Lafayette moms and dads are known to let loose here).

After the Roundup, it’s time to let the BART train carry you gently home. Lafayette Station is just a seven-minute walk from the bar.

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