Pacific Heights & Cow Hollow: Where Prestige Meets Vibrancy
Is Pacific Heights the Granddaddy—or Grand Dame—of San Francisco Neighborhoods?
Pacific Heights has long been synonymous with affluence, architectural grandeur, and historical significance in San Francisco. Established in the late 19th century, the neighborhood became a haven for the city’s elite, who constructed opulent mansions that showcased a blend of Victorian, Edwardian, and Beaux-Arts architectural styles. Its elevated position offers panoramic views of the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island, further enhancing its allure.
In 2024, Pacific Heights solidified its status as the city’s premier neighborhood when Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, purchased a mansion for approximately $70 million. This transaction set a new record for the most expensive home sale in San Francisco’s history. The property, located on the prestigious **Broadway—Billionaires’ Row—**was previously owned by Sloan Lindemann Barnett and Roger Barnett, who had acquired it in 2011 for $33 million. Built in 1916, the Spanish Renaissance Revival mansion underwent extensive renovations under their ownership. This landmark sale underscores Pacific Heights’ enduring appeal and its reputation as the pinnacle of luxury living in San Francisco.
Architecture, Scale, and a Constant State of Improvement
Pacific Heights homes are larger—often with bigger garages, deeper setbacks, and grander proportions—allowing for both privacy and spectacle. Architectural styles range from Beaux-Arts mansions and grand Edwardians to modernist masterpieces and Cape Cod-style residences. It’s a neighborhood where your spare Range Rover or Macan might be parked next to a landscape truck or a construction crew van—renovations are constant, and home improvement is practically a neighborhood pastime. In Cow Hollow, homes still command top dollar, but with a cozier scale and more walkability to the bustling Union Street corridor.
Billionaires’ Row and the Ever-Present Mix of Old and New
Broadway, famously known as Billionaires’ Row, is still home to some of the city’s most exclusive properties. From its perch above the bay, it cascades down toward Nob Hill in one direction and winds down toward the Presidio in the other. The architectural mix is striking—Gothic Revival homes stand beside sleek Brutalist and glass-walled modernist residences, a juxtaposition that somehow works.
Despite its prestige, Pacific Heights can sometimes feel surprisingly unoccupied. While some homes have been in the same family for generations, others serve more as assets than residences. You might not always see the owners, but you will see dog walkers, parents picking up children from elite private schools, and mid-day fitness enthusiasts heading to yoga or spin class. In Cow Hollow, you’ll see a younger, active crowd—tech professionals, finance executives, and socialites enjoying brunch, boutique shopping, or an evening out on Union Street.
Privacy and the Demand for Larger Parcels
Because homes in Pacific Heights tend to be similar in scale, privacy can be a concern—especially if a neighbor builds higher, adds a roof deck, or extends their property into their yard. Space is a luxury here, and truly oversized parcels are rare. Anytime a double parcel or estate-sized lot becomes available, competition is fierce, and prices soar to reflect the scarcity. These opportunities are highly prized, offering buyers the chance to create a true estate in a neighborhood where even grand homes are sometimes pressed up against one another.
Real Estate: When the Exceptional Defies the Norm
Pacific Heights is one of San Francisco’s most renowned neighborhoods, synonymous with old-money prestige, breathtaking views, and architectural grandeur. As you’ll see with the long-term chart below, it’s also where median prices for single-family homes have long been strong. It’s a place where Beaux-Arts mansions, grand Edwardians, and modernist masterpieces sit side by side, creating a skyline of elegance and ambition. The homes here are larger, more set back, and often feature private garages and lush landscaping, reinforcing the neighborhood’s exclusivity.
The heart of Pacific Heights is Billionaires’ Row on Broadway, where some of the most expensive and architecturally significant homes in the city overlook the Bay. Renovations are a constant presence, with landscapers, contractors, and designers working year-round to update and enhance these prestigious properties.
While Pacific Heights is one of the most coveted residential areas, privacy can be a challenge. Homes are often similar in scale, and when neighbors build higher, add roof decks, or extend their properties, sightlines shift. Large parcels are rare, and when a double-lot or estate-sized opportunity hits the market, competition is fierce, often commanding a premium price.
Though single-family homes in Pacific Heights tend to stay on the market longer due to their high price points, exceptional properties can sell at record speed. In 2024, a Vallejo Street home—designed by one of the city’s top architects and builders—sold in just five days for $14 million, proving that truly standout properties move quickly.
Beyond single-family estates, Pacific Heights has a few notable multi-unit luxury residences:
• The Pacific at 2121 Webster Street, a Trumark development, offers top-tier finishes and high-end amenities.
• On the edge of the neighborhood, Murano at 2301 Lombard Street offers 22 luxury condominiums that blend high design with a prime Marina/Cow Hollow location.
Commercial activity in Pacific Heights is more subdued, with small clusters of businesses along California and Divisadero Streets. The neighborhood’s appeal is its grandeur, history, and sense of permanence, making it one of the most desirable addresses in San Francisco.