Originally, this area between the fashionable Marina District and Pacific Heights was used for grazing cows.  Rapid development began near the turn of the cedntury and the beautiful architecture is very much admired today in the Victorian and Edwardian homes and condominiums.  Union Street is the "main street" of the historic Cow Hollow district and is reknowned for its preserved homes where one now finds a variety of speciality shops and restaurants.

Cow Hollow is roughly bounded by Lyon Street to the west, Lombard Street to the north, Van Ness Avenue to the east and Vallejo Street to the south.