Cow Hollow Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Cow Hollow showing signage and street scenes
Cow Hollow showing signage, a city and central business district
Cow Hollow featuring markets, food and street scenes
Cow Hollow featuring signage, street scenes and a city
Cow Hollow showing signage and street scenes

Take in picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge and visit other well-known San Francisco attractions in this affluent neighbourhood.

Cow Hollow is a youthful, lively district with exceptional restaurants and cosy wine bars. Enjoy delicious French and Italian food and shop for specialty coffee and teas. Inspect local sights and walk to many nearby attractions, including a museum that celebrates the life of American entrepreneur and animator Walt Disney.

Wander around Cow Hollow to come across a few of the neighbourhood’s most notable buildings. Among them is the sky-blue McElroy Octagon House, a prime example of the octagon-shaped residences that became popular in the 1850s. Don’t miss the Vedanta Society Old Temple, an exuberant Hindu temple with red onion domes.

Go shopping along the main commercial stretch of Union Street, which is lined with clothing stores and restaurants. Return to Cow Hollow after dark to experience its animated nightlife scene. Bars and nightclubs can be found on Filmore Street as well as nearby Union Street.

Crissy Park is less than 2 miles (3 kilometres) from the centre of Cow Hollow. This wide grassy area is known for its sandy beaches, picnic areas and great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick a walking trail to trek along and spend a day outside in this pretty recreational zone.

Find the Walt Disney Family MuseumOpens in a new window next to Crissy Park. This remarkable museum features exhibits on the life of the famous animator. See original illustrations from Walt Disney’s early career and learn more about Disney’s feature-length animated films. This museum also has a gift shop and runs educational programmes for children.

The classical-style Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, which hosts music, dance and other performances, is also less than 15 minutes from Cow Hollow on foot.

Cow Hollow is located between the Marina DistrictOpens in a new window and Pacific Heights. Revel in the vibrant atmosphere of this neighbourhood. Its proximity to top city attractions make it a great jumping-off point for exploring the city.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Cow Hollow Hotel Deals

Comfort Inn by the Bay

Comfort Inn by the Bay

2.5 out of 5
2775 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$267 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
NZ$267
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,147 reviews)
"Pizza nearby outstanding"

Reviewed on 8 Oct 2025

Comfort Inn by the Bay
Cow Hollow Inn & Suites

Cow Hollow Inn & Suites

3.5 out of 5
2190 Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,356 reviews)
"Clean modern room with bay window overlooking bustling SF life. Quiet at night and slept with the windows open. Garage parking was a great amenity being so secure and offering a peace of mind. Restaurants galore with a Noah's Bagel attached. I booked one night with Hotels.com and had to extend another ..."

Reviewed on 8 Oct 2025

Cow Hollow Inn & Suites
Star Motel

Star Motel

2 out of 5
1727 lombard street, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$209 per night from 11 Nov to 12 Nov
NZ$209
11 Nov - 12 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Pier 39 and Alcatraz Island are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (215 reviews)
"i love this place for staying in the city."

Reviewed on 10 Oct 2025

Star Motel
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

3.5 out of 5
1500 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$255 per night from 9 Nov to 10 Nov
NZ$255
9 Nov - 10 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,690 reviews)
"Price was high but had everything we needed."

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Hilton San Francisco Financial District

Hilton San Francisco Financial District

4 out of 5
750 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$265 per night from 9 Nov to 10 Nov
NZ$265
9 Nov - 10 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and WiFi (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,875 reviews)
"Room was clean but not the best lighting. Bathroom is a little outdated. Prices for the room + parking in the garage were up there which wasn’t surprising but overall I would stay there again because it’s walkable to many cafes/restaurants etc"

Reviewed on 11 Oct 2025

Hilton San Francisco Financial District
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

4 out of 5
2500 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$324 per night from 11 Nov to 12 Nov
NZ$324
11 Nov - 12 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (6,984 reviews)
"Breakfast was great for us with alot of choice . We found the location excellent. We actually walked to the cruise ship port rather than Uber because it was so close !"

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Cow Hollow

Pacific Heights showing a park

Pacific Heights

4/5(8 area reviews)

Take time in Pacific Heights to visit attractions like Van Ness Avenue and Mrs. Doubtfire House. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at California St & Van Ness Ave Stop to see more of the city.

Pacific Heights
Marina District featuring heritage architecture as well as a small group of people

Marina District

4/5(76 area reviews)

The beautiful waterfront views and popular shops are just a few highlights of Marina District. Make a stop by San Francisco Bay or Chestnut Street while you're exploring the area.

Marina District
Default Image

Russian Hill

4/5(1 area review)

Travellers choose Russian Hill for its pristine beaches. Hop aboard the metro at Hyde St & Filbert St Stop or Hyde St & Union St Stop and check out top sights like Macondray Lane.

Russian Hill
Nob Hill which includes a city and street scenes

Nob Hill

4/5(59 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from SF Masonic Auditorium to Cable Car Museum – discover Nob Hill, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Nob Hill
Default Image

Western Addition

4.5/5(20 area reviews)

Alamo Square and Painted Ladies are top sights in Western Addition, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at Duboce Avenue & Noe Street Station or Duboce Ave & Church St Stop to see more sights in the area.

Western Addition
Fisherman\'s Wharf showing a bay or harbour

Fisherman's Wharf

4.5/5(7 area reviews)

Travellers love Fisherman's Wharf for its popular shops, and you can see more of San Francisco by jumping on the metro at Jones St and Beach St Stop or Jefferson St & Taylor St Stop. You might spend time checking out top sights like Pier 39 and San Francisco Bay.

Fisherman's Wharf


Cow Hollow Travel Guide

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