Cow Hollow, San Francisco: Homes, History & Local Life

The name “Cow Hollow” is one of those San Francisco neighborhood names that sounds whimsical until you learn what it actually describes: in the early 1800s, this narrow valley between the Presidio heights and Pacific Heights hills was literally full of cows. Dozens of dairies operated here from the 1850s, using a small freshwater lagoon fed by springs that ran through the hollow. By 1891, the city was growing fast enough that all livestock were ordered out and the lagoon was filled in to make way for houses, per Union Street Association. The neighborhood that replaced it. bounded by Pacific Heights to the south, the Marina to the north, Divisadero to the east, and Broderick to the west. is now one of the pricier residential addresses on The City’s north side, anchored by Union Street’s commercial corridor and defined by the Victorian and Edwardian homes that filled the old dairy land.

Is Cow Hollow right for you?

Cow Hollow is a premium neighborhood that draws established professionals, families, and buyers who want walkable urban amenities paired with a relatively quiet residential feel.

How do you get around Cow Hollow?

The 22 Fillmore bus. operating in some form since 1895, per Market Street Railway. runs the full length of Fillmore Street, connecting the Marina to the north and Mission Bay to the south, carrying over 20,000 riders daily per SFMTA. The 41 Union and 45 Union-Stockton lines run along Union Street itself. There is no Muni Metro light rail or BART in Cow Hollow.

Walk Score: 94. Transit Score: 68. Bike Score: 70. Source: walkscore.com, Cow Hollow.

For two-career households: one partner commuting downtown can take the 41 Union to the Financial District in about 20-25 minutes. The Presidio access via Broderick and Broadway is direct for Presidio-campus employers.

The history of Cow Hollow

Before the cows and the dairies, the hollow was a small wetland valley with freshwater springs. By the Gold Rush era the flat, well-watered land had attracted dairy farmers. By the 1860s-70s, the area supported dozens of dairies. The lagoon at the center (approximately where Union Street plaza is today) was filled in 1891, per Union Street Association.

After livestock were removed, Victorian and Edwardian homes replaced the dairies from the 1890s through the 1920s. The neighborhood survived the 1906 earthquake relatively intact. Union Street’s commercial character emerged in the mid-20th century, and today it hosts one of The City’s highest concentrations of Michelin-recognized restaurants, anchored by Dominique Crenn’s three-Michelin-star Atelier Crenn at 3127 Fillmore Street.

What does the housing look like in Cow Hollow?

Attached Victorian and Edwardian flats are the dominant housing type. two-to-four unit buildings built from the 1890s through the 1920s, with high ceilings, bay windows, and period details. Full-floor flats typically run 1,500-2,500 square feet.

Detached single-family homes are more present here than in many SF neighborhoods, particularly on wider lots toward Divisadero. When they appear, they typically go for $3 million and up.

Multi-unit buildings from various eras are present. Pre-1979 buildings are rent-controlled.

Where locals eat, drink, and shop in Cow Hollow

Perry’s at 1944 Union has been a neighborhood bar and grill since 1969 and is one of The City’s longest-running tavern-and-comfort-food spots, still drawing a regular Sunday brunch crowd.

Cow Hollow’s commercial life runs along Union Street between Steiner and Fillmore, with a denser run from Webster east to Van Ness. The mix is heavy on contemporary California restaurants, women’s boutiques, athleisure and home-decor retail, brunch spots, and neighborhood wine bars. Chestnut Street to the north extends the dining options into the Marina. The character is younger and more Saturday-brunch-oriented than the surrounding Pacific Heights and Marina edges, supported by the apartment density between Lombard and Union. Specific operators cycle on a normal restaurant timeline, but Perry’s has outlasted most of them.

Cow Hollow Pros:

• Walk Score approximately 97-99 near Union Stree. Daily errands on foot
• 22 Fillmore provides 24-hour bus service, one of Muni’s busiest lines
• One of SF’s most prestigious residential addresses at a slight discount to Pacific Heights proper
• Excellent restaurants and retail on Union Street
• Proximity to the Presidio, Marina Green, and Crissy Field

Cow Hollow Cons:

• No Muni Metro light rail or BAR. Bus-dependent
• Among the most expensive housing in The Cit. First-time buyers effectively priced out
• Very thin transaction volume. fewer than 10 SFH sales per year
• 22 Fillmore bus moves slowly through peak hours
• Street parking competitive on weekends near Union Street

What’s the Cow Hollow market doing?

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Cow Hollow is one of the thinnest markets in The City. Reach out: luba(at)lubasf(dotted)com

Cow Hollow frequently asked questions

What is Cow Hollow like to live in?

Cow Hollow is a premium neighborhood that draws established professionals, families, and buyers who want walkable urban amenities paired with a relatively quiet residential feel.

Who is Cow Hollow right for?

Cow Hollow is a premium neighborhood that draws established professionals, families, and buyers who want walkable urban amenities paired with a relatively quiet residential feel.

How do you get around Cow Hollow without a car?

Cow Hollow has a Walk Score of 94, Transit Score of 68, and Bike Score of 70. The 22 Fillmore bus. operating in some form since 1895, per Market Street Railway (https://www.streetcar.org/the-22-fillmore-a-line-to-love-since-1895/). runs the full length of Fillmore Street, connecting the Marina to the north and Mission Bay to the south, carrying over 20,000 riders daily per SFMTA (https://www.sfmta.com/routes/22-fillmore).

What kind of homes are in Cow Hollow?

Attached Victorian and Edwardian flats are the dominant housing type. two-to-four unit buildings built from the 1890s through the 1920s, with high ceilings, bay windows, and period details. Full-floor flats typically run 1,500-2,500 square feet. Detached single-family homes are more present here than in many SF neighborhoods, particularly on wider lots toward Divisadero.

What’s one thing people don’t know about Cow Hollow?

Before the cows and the dairies, the hollow was a small wetland valley with freshwater springs. By the Gold Rush era the flat, well-watered land had attracted dairy farmers.