Living in Cow Hollow

Cow Hollow is a refined, leafy neighborhood on San Francisco’s north side, nestled between Pacific Heights above and the Marina below. Its quiet residential streets are lined with well-kept Victorians, Edwardians, and view homes, and it has long been one of the city’s most desirable — and walkable — places to live. The name is a nod to its 19th-century past, when the little valley was full of dairy farms and grazing cows.

Today the neighborhood is best known for the Union Street shopping district — a charming run of Victorian storefronts filled with boutiques, salons, cafés, and restaurants — often called simply “the Union Street district.” Just up the hill, the Lyon Street Steps offer a famous workout and postcard views toward the Palace of Fine Arts and the Bay, and Chestnut Street and the Marina Green are a short stroll north.

Cow Hollow Market Snapshot

As of mid-2026, Cow Hollow medians run roughly $1.8–2M depending on home type — condos lower, larger Victorians and view homes higher (Redfin / Compass). Medians are a guide, not a valuation for any specific home — ask us for a personalized estimate.

Cow Hollow is a sought-after, character-rich market spanning condos, flats, and full single-family homes, so values vary widely. A tailored read matters here. The Primavera team sells across Cow Hollow and San Francisco’s north side.

Shop & Dine on Union Street

• Rose’s Café
  A charming all-day Italian café and Cow Hollow institution · 2298 Union St
  Map · Yelp
• Perry’s
  The classic American bar & grill that’s anchored Union Street since 1969 · 1944 Union St
  Map · Yelp
• Union Street boutiques
  Several blocks of independent fashion, beauty, and home shops in Victorian storefronts — a premier SF shopping street
  Map

Parks & Landmarks

• The Lyon Street Steps
  A famous landscaped stairway climbing the Pacific Heights hill, with views toward the Palace of Fine Arts and the Bay — a beloved workout spot · Lyon St at Green
  Map
• Allyne Park & the Octagon House
  A small, hidden garden park beside the historic 1861 Octagon House · Gough & Union
  Map
• Moscone Recreation Center
  Fields, courts, and a playground at the neighborhood’s northern edge · Chestnut & Buchanan
  Map

Schools & Getting Around

Cow Hollow is served by neighborhood public schools and several prestigious private schools, and it’s highly walkable. Frequent Muni buses run along Union, Lombard, and Van Ness, and Lombard Street (Highway 101) offers a quick route to the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown.

Neighboring Neighborhoods

• Pacific Heights
• The Marina
• Presidio Heights
• Russian Hill
• The Presidio

Fun Facts About Cow Hollow

• The neighborhood is named for the dairy farms and grazing cows that filled the little valley in the 1800s.
• The Lyon Street Steps are one of San Francisco’s most famous staircases — equal parts workout and photo op.
• The Octagon House (1861) on Gough Street is one of the city’s few surviving eight-sided Victorian homes.
• Union Street’s Victorian storefronts make it one of the most picturesque shopping streets in the city.

Talk to the Primavera Team

Beatrice & Vera Kopilenko · Primavera Realty

Call: 415.407.5324  ·  Email: info@primaverarealty.com