Pros

  • Great tourist location in Marina District close to waterfront
  • Lots of good restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance
  • Free garage parking
  • Rooms are spacious and bright, with some modern touches
  • Huge suites available with two bedrooms and full kitchens; good for families and groups
  • All rooms come with coffeemakers
  • Free Wi-Fi in rooms
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Cons

  • No ambience or public areas besides lobby inside of parking garage
  • No bar or restaurant
  • Some dated carpet, bedding, light fixtures, and wallpaper
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Bottom Line

The 130-room, budget Cow Hollow is part of a series of motor inns located along Lombard Street in San Francisco’s Marina District. Like the other properties, Cow Hollow is no-frills, and lacks a restaurant and comfortable lounge area. The best feature here is the lively Marina District location -- within a short walk of great restaurants, bars, and sights. While guest rooms still have older fixtures and furniture, they were freshened up in 2014 and include two-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Wi-Fi and underground parking are free. 

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Amenities

Oyster Hotel Review

Cow Hollow Inn and Suites

Scene

Modern Victorian-style building with some freshened-up touches, but no real lounge

There are a few people living in this hotel, a four-story Victorian-style building with brown vinyl siding and a couple of pretty, leafy trees out front. However, as with the company's other motor inns on Lombard Street, this one lacks any homey ambiance. There's no lounge area for guests -- just a reception area directly beside the parking garage with somewhat old-fashioned wood-paneled walls, sconces, and wood-framed armchairs. A more modern gray couch with cheerful, red throw pillows sits against a street-facing window, but the room partially faces the parking garage, so it's not exactly guest-friendly. The hotel used to be a car wash and a hamburger restaurant, and then was combined into a single property. The suites have a separate entrance on Chestnut Street, while the main lobby and entrance are on Lombard Street. Guests are typically tourists, mainly couples and some larger groups of friends taking advantage of the affordable suites. 

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Location

On busy Lombard Street, six blocks from waterfront in Marina District

The hotel lies along Lombard Street, a multi-lane thoroughfare leading to the Golden Gate Bridge, around the corner from the commercial center of Chestnut Street. The property is surrounded by restaurants, nail salons, and local boutiques. It's convenient to the Presidio area and the bridge, but somewhat isolated from the city center. Marina Green Park at the waterfront is a 12-minute walk from the hotel, while Ghiradelli Square is about 20 minutes' walk, and Fisherman’s Wharf is about 30 minutes on foot. The Presidio neighborhood, including Presidio Theater, is only a six-minute walk away. There are several bus stops within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, accessing all areas of the city. The Financial District is about 35 to 45 minutes away by bus. San Francisco International Airport is about a 30-minute drive in no traffic, or just over an hour away by bus.

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Rooms

Huge two-bedroom suites available, or basic but bright rooms

Rooms facing Lombard Street feel more like they belong in a motor inn than those facing Chestnut Street, which can have views of the neighborhoods and the Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance. All rooms have a grandmotherly style of decor, with heavy wooden headboards, nightstands, desks, and dressers, combined with Victorian-style chandeliers, and plush beds with mauve-patterned comforters. Each room has a modern flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, safe, and coffeemaker. Large, two-bedroom suites are available, too. These full-fledged apartments have complete kitchens -- refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, and all of the necessary tools and appliances. Each suite also has a gas fireplace, and each bedroom has its own TV. Bathrooms in all rooms and suites are basic, but notably clean with hairdryers and shower/tub combos.

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Features

Free garage parking and Wi-Fi access, plus suites 

Cow Hollow offers free garage parking and Wi-Fi access in the rooms. The property's spacious suites -- complete with kitchens and gas fireplaces -- set it apart from nearby motor inns. The Marina District location is also a major draw for guests. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Cow Hollow Inn and Suites

Scene

Modern Victorian-style building with some freshened-up touches, but no real lounge

There are a few people living in this hotel, a four-story Victorian-style building with brown vinyl siding and a couple of pretty, leafy trees out front. However, as with the company's other motor inns on Lombard Street, this one lacks any homey ambiance. There's no lounge area for guests -- just a reception area directly beside the parking garage with somewhat old-fashioned wood-paneled walls, sconces, and wood-framed armchairs. A more modern gray couch with cheerful, red throw pillows sits against a street-facing window, but the room partially faces the parking garage, so it's not exactly guest-friendly. The hotel used to be a car wash and a hamburger restaurant, and then was combined into a single property. The suites have a separate entrance on Chestnut Street, while the main lobby and entrance are on Lombard Street. Guests are typically tourists, mainly couples and some larger groups of friends taking advantage of the affordable suites. 

See More Scene

Location

On busy Lombard Street, six blocks from waterfront in Marina District

The hotel lies along Lombard Street, a multi-lane thoroughfare leading to the Golden Gate Bridge, around the corner from the commercial center of Chestnut Street. The property is surrounded by restaurants, nail salons, and local boutiques. It's convenient to the Presidio area and the bridge, but somewhat isolated from the city center. Marina Green Park at the waterfront is a 12-minute walk from the hotel, while Ghiradelli Square is about 20 minutes' walk, and Fisherman’s Wharf is about 30 minutes on foot. The Presidio neighborhood, including Presidio Theater, is only a six-minute walk away. There are several bus stops within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, accessing all areas of the city. The Financial District is about 35 to 45 minutes away by bus. San Francisco International Airport is about a 30-minute drive in no traffic, or just over an hour away by bus.

See More Location

Rooms

Huge two-bedroom suites available, or basic but bright rooms

Rooms facing Lombard Street feel more like they belong in a motor inn than those facing Chestnut Street, which can have views of the neighborhoods and the Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance. All rooms have a grandmotherly style of decor, with heavy wooden headboards, nightstands, desks, and dressers, combined with Victorian-style chandeliers, and plush beds with mauve-patterned comforters. Each room has a modern flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, safe, and coffeemaker. Large, two-bedroom suites are available, too. These full-fledged apartments have complete kitchens -- refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, and all of the necessary tools and appliances. Each suite also has a gas fireplace, and each bedroom has its own TV. Bathrooms in all rooms and suites are basic, but notably clean with hairdryers and shower/tub combos.

See More Rooms

Features

Free garage parking and Wi-Fi access, plus suites 

Cow Hollow offers free garage parking and Wi-Fi access in the rooms. The property's spacious suites -- complete with kitchens and gas fireplaces -- set it apart from nearby motor inns. The Marina District location is also a major draw for guests. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Basic Television

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.