Just moved to Clayton! (University City, California: new home, university, restaurants)

[newport2clayton]

Hi All! I'm new to the board and am moving to my new place in Clayton this Saturday and I was hoping some people could shed some light on my new home. I'm moving just north of Shaw Park in the downtown area, what are some of the cool bars/restaurants/things to do in the area? Is the Center of Clayton facility worth signing up for? I'm a 27 year old young professional from Southern California so it's all new to me. Appreciate any tips or advice, thanks!

[zach_33]

Center of Clayton is a very nice facility and Clayton residents get a good rate, so I would definitely go there if you enjoy exercise.

The bar scene kind of depends on what you like. I am partial to dive bars, which are few and far between in central Clayton, but I always enjoyed having drinks at Kilkenny's on Central - it's an Irish style bar with a pretty bustling happy hour crowd ranging from early 20s on up. The joint next door, JP Fields, is more of an English/Scottish styled place, a little more low key and nice place to have a drinks as well. J Buck's and Cardwell's are a little bit more "see and be seen" and so tend to have more wealthy professional clientelle. Come to think of it, there is a dive on Maryland just east of Gay, a place called McGraugh's (that'd be very close to you), and another one on Forsythe just east of the Metrolink station, Krueger's, but both of these dives seem to cater to the 50+ crowd. The bar in the Ritz lobby is kind of fun for a swanky experience.

There are 100+ other bars within a 2 mile radius of you, but those come to mind nearby.

Party in the Park is a routine summer gathering in Shaw Park where lots of younger professional types drink and listen to music. I think they happen monthly in the Summer and they are a lot of fun.

There's also a good Farmer's Market that set's up in the Straubs parking lot there off of Maryland.

Don't miss the Loop entertainment district in University City when you feel like venturing a couple miles away from your place. Lots of good bars and restaurants.