Living in Orinda
A small-town community with beautiful hills and natural landscapes.
Orinda is located just east of Berkeley and 20 minutes from San Francisco. Nestled in the rolling hills, Orinda is one of the most desirable places to live in the Bay Area, with beautiful single-family homes and luxury estates nestled along hillsides and in the valleys of the rolling hills. It's a diverse, tight-knit community with a small-town vibe, known for its tree-lined streets, parks, and stately Orinda Country Club. The stunning community has beautiful hills and trees, excellent schools, boutique shopping and delicious dining. It has a small-town feel, but with the advantages of being near the city. It’s an ideal place to raise a family, retire, or start a business. Nearby neighborhoods include Lafayette, Moraga, and Walnut Creek.
What to Love
Peaceful and friendly community
High community involvement and annual events
Beautiful hills and parks
Proximity to Oakland/Berkeley and San Francisco
- BART station
Local Lifestyle
Many locals in Orinda feel like they live in a small town with supportive residents and luxury estates and homes while enjoying the convenience and proximity of big-city communities and amenities. Living in Orinda means enjoying a unique place where the residents care about each other and are happy to help when needed. Many of the community events and celebrations are centered around the community, which also makes for a lively and welcoming place to call home.
Orinda is a vibrant community with many resources and conveniences. It is close to the San Francisco Bay Area, making it easy to commute and enjoy the city's excitement. The area is also just a short drive from the beautiful California coast, which is a great place to relax and unwind.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Orinda is known for its charming downtown. There are locally-owned shops and restaurants and lively streets filled with people walking their dogs, enjoying a cup of coffee, or simply hanging out. The city offers a variety of shopping options, including specialty shops and boutiques. Some popular shops in the area include Orinda Books, Sanvitalia Home and Garden, and Orinda Village Antiques.
The Fourth Bore Tap Room & Grill is an industrial-vibe pub with outdoor seating and live entertainment on weekends that has a diverse menu and house-made drinks. Casa Orinda is Contra Costa's oldest operating restaurant serving its southern and Italian classics, like their famous fried chicken and pasta made from the freshest ingredients, in a western-inspired dining space. Hanazen is a unique family-owned Japanese experience that serves hand-crafted sushi and sake in an intimate space.
Things to Do in Orinda
The Wagner Ranch Nature Area is a historical preservation site with 18 acres of meadow, forest, ponds, and streams that feature informative environmental education programs and convenient hiking trails. Orinda Country Club features a historic, six-story, Hacienda-style Clubhouse that has hosted generations of families and friends with luxury amenities, including a well-maintained golf course, aquatic center, tennis courts, fitness center, event space, and a dining area.
The Orinda Theatre is a fun place to catch a movie with its original lobby and main showing theatre preserved and refurbished from the early 1940s. The Orinda Community Park is next to the Community Center and features a large, open grassy area, two playgrounds, picnic areas, and tennis courts. Many community events are hosted in the park and next door at the Community Center and Library, including summer movies, concerts, food truck evenings, and the seasonal, weekly Farmer's Market.
Orinda Schools
Although a smaller community, Orinda is home to some of the best public and private schools in the Bay Area. Orinda Union School District is a K-8 public education system that serves the community.
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