Sold2 Birch Ct
+/-1760 Sq Ft 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath + 180 Sq ft Detached Office $1,375,000
Home / Neighborhoods / Downtown Orinda
Downtown Orinda
Orinda
Downtown Orinda is the small village center where Highway 24, Camino Pablo and Moraga Way meet. The freeway splits it in two: Orinda Village along Orinda Way to the north and Theatre Square to the south, with the Orinda BART station in between. Homes nearby, from condos to older single-family houses on quiet side streets, put shops, restaurants, the library and BART within walking distance.
WhereAround Orinda Way and Theatre Square, next to Orinda BART
HomesCondos and townhomes, plus older single-family homes nearby
Typical home (Amy's sales)About 1,800 sq ft, 3 bedrooms
Elementary schoolVaries by street
In the villageCommunity center, library, Tot Lot, Orinda Theatre
Amy's downtown Orinda sales6 and counting
My take on downtown Orinda
Every time I drive through downtown Orinda I think how cute it is. It hasn’t changed much since I was growing up, which I love when everything else changes so fast. Orinda never redeveloped its downtown the way some towns did, and it’s stayed quaint, local and interesting.
The main drag is tree-lined, with the community center and the Tot Lot in the middle, a great playground with a big play structure and a smaller one across the way, plus tennis courts and the library right next door. In summer there are concerts in the park, and this is the route for the Fourth of July parade.
Some people say it could use a facelift, but there’s a charm to it that speaks to me. Orinda Motors is one of the coolest buildings in town, right across from Safeway. There aren’t many chains, just a Starbucks and a Peet’s, along with all the essentials: grocery stores, drugstores, UPS and FedEx.
The food is better than people expect. Hanazen is a reservation-only Japanese restaurant most people don’t even know about, and if you love sushi it’s exceptional. Casa Orinda is one of the oldest places in town, with a great bar and the Gun Room, a total throwback. Newer spots have opened too, like Genuine Goodness and ReChic, a consignment clothing shop, plus little gift shops. And you can find Thai, Chinese, Mexican, pizza and hole-in-the-wall taco shops. Maya is one of my favorites.
Across the freeway, Theatre Square is right by BART, so you can have dinner before a show or a concert in the city and walk to the train. Sorso, a new wine bar, just opened there. The Orinda Theatre is a throwback too, and I’m so glad it’s been preserved. On Saturdays there’s a farmers market. I just really love our downtown.
The homes
Homes in and around downtown range from condos and townhomes, like those along Brookwood Road, to older single-family homes on nearby streets such as Underhill Road and Barbara Road.
Amy has been part of 6 downtown Orinda sales. Across those homes, the typical house was about 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms, ranging from roughly 900 to 2,300 square feet.
Schools
Downtown Orinda is in the Orinda Union School District, and elementary assignment varies by street. Students then attend Orinda Intermediate School (6 to 8) and usually Miramonte High School in the Acalanes Union High School District. In kindergarten through third grade, Orinda classes run about 20 students, and the early-bird and late-bird schedule splits each class into reading groups of about 10 for part of the day.
Attendance areas can change and can vary near the edges, so confirm a specific address with the Orinda Union School District.
Getting around
The Orinda BART station sits between Orinda Village and Theatre Square, and Highway 24 runs right through downtown, so San Francisco, Oakland and Walnut Creek are a short train ride or drive away. Moraga Way leads south toward Moraga and Camino Pablo north through the rest of Orinda.
Life downtown
Orinda Community Center Park sits in the middle of the village, with the Tot Lot playground, tennis courts and the Orinda Library next door. Summer brings concerts in the park, and Orinda Way is the route for the Fourth of July parade.
Orinda Way has the everyday essentials, from Safeway to drugstores and shipping, plus Casa Orinda, a longtime local favorite. Across the freeway, Theatre Square has restaurants and Sorso wine bar steps from BART and the historic Orinda Theatre. The Orinda Farmers’ Market sets up on Saturdays. Restaurants around downtown range from Hanazen, a reservation-only Japanese spot, to Maya and casual taco and pizza places.
Homes I've sold in downtown Orinda
Sold
Sold67 Brookwood Road #11
897 Square Feet, 2 bed, 1 bath, Large deck! $572,250
Sold37 Underhill
±1838 sq ft, 3 beds, 2 bath, 3 car - $1,200,000
Sold75 Barbara Road
2129 sq ft, 3 bed, 3 bath, .22 acre, $1,850,000
Sold124 Moraga Way
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2251 Sq. Ft.| $1,085,000
downtown Orinda questions
Where is downtown Orinda?
Downtown Orinda is where Highway 24, Camino Pablo and Moraga Way meet. Orinda Village runs along Orinda Way north of the freeway, and Theatre Square sits to the south, with the Orinda BART station in between.
Can you walk to BART from downtown Orinda?
Yes. The Orinda BART station sits between Orinda Village and Theatre Square, so homes in and around downtown are within walking distance of the train.
What is there to do in downtown Orinda?
The village has the Orinda Community Center Park, the Tot Lot playground, tennis courts and the library, plus Casa Orinda, the historic Orinda Theatre in Theatre Square, a Saturday farmers market, summer concerts in the park and the Fourth of July parade.
What homes are near downtown Orinda?
Condos and townhomes plus older single-family homes on nearby streets. Across the 6 downtown Orinda sales Amy has been part of, the typical home was about 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms.
Thinking about downtown Orinda?
Whether you're buying or selling here, call or text 925.212.3897, or email amy@amyrosesmith.com.
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