ZIP Code Guide

94123

Marina and Cow Hollow

Waterfront flats, Chestnut Street retail, and bay views where the 1906 landfill meets the Golden Gate's northern approach

  • Marina District
  • Cow Hollow
  • Union Street corridor

ZIP code 94123 covers the Marina District and Cow Hollow within San Francisco County — a waterfront postal area built on 1906 earthquake rubble fill where Mediterranean Revival apartments, boutique retail, and bay views define the northern edge of the peninsula. The code spans Chestnut Street's commercial corridor, the Marina Green waterfront, and Cow Hollow's Union Street shops.

Geographic Position

94123 occupies the northeastern waterfront portion of San Francisco, bounded by San Francisco Bay to the north, Lyon Street to the west, and Pacific Avenue to the south. Chestnut Street forms the Marina's primary commercial spine, while Union Street serves Cow Hollow's boutique retail corridor to the south.

The ZIP sits on fill land created from 1906 earthquake debris, giving the Marina a flat terrain unusual among San Francisco's hillside neighborhoods. The Marina Green, Crissy Field, and the Presidio lie along the northern waterfront. The Golden Gate Bridge approach is visible from bay-facing blocks.

Neighborhood Character

1906

Earthquake rubble is dumped into the bay to create landfill for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition site.

1915

Panama-Pacific International Exposition opens on the filled land; exposition palaces establish the Marina's Mediterranean Revival architectural character.

1920s–1930s

Residential development fills the exposition site with apartment buildings and flats in Mediterranean and Art Deco styles.

1989

Loma Prieta earthquake damages Marina soft-story buildings; retrofit and rebuilding shape the district's housing stock for decades.

2000s–present

Crissy Field restoration, Presidio development, and Chestnut Street commercial vitality define the waterfront neighborhood.

Within 94123, the Marina presents Mediterranean Revival apartment buildings, flats, and condominiums along bay-view streets. Chestnut Street carries restaurants, fitness studios, and retail serving residents and visitors. Cow Hollow features Victorian and Edwardian homes, boutique shops along Union Street, and a quieter residential character south of Pacific Avenue.

Economy & Employment

Residents of 94123 draw income from finance, law, technology, healthcare, and professional services across the Bay Area. Chestnut Street and Union Street businesses employ workers in retail, dining, fitness, and personal services. Proximity to the Presidio, Financial District, and Fisherman's Wharf supports diverse commuting patterns.

Local commercial activity concentrates along Chestnut Street and Union Street corridors. Restaurants, bars, boutiques, and fitness studios line Chestnut Street. Cow Hollow's Union Street offers antique shops, cafes, and neighborhood-serving retail. The Presidio Trust and waterfront recreation facilities generate hospitality and recreation employment.

Market & Housing Context

According to U.S. Census Bureau data for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 94123, the area had a population of approximately 24,054 and 15,129 housing units as of the 2020 Census. American Community Survey estimates for the 2019–2023 period indicate that roughly 30 percent of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 70 percent are renter-occupied.

The housing stock consists primarily of 1920s Mediterranean Revival and Art Deco apartment buildings and flats on the Marina fill. Condominium conversions have divided many buildings into owner-occupied units. Cow Hollow includes Victorian and Edwardian single-family homes and duplexes. Post-1989 earthquake retrofits and rebuilds have updated substantial portions of the Marina's soft-story stock.

Living in 94123

Public parks and open space within and near the ZIP include Marina Green along the bay, Crissy Field in the Presidio, and Moscone Recreation Center. The Presidio's trails, beaches, and cultural venues lie along the northern waterfront.

Public schools are operated by the San Francisco Unified School District. Campuses serving portions of the ZIP include Sherman Elementary School and Marina Middle School. School assignments depend on specific addresses and district enrollment policies.

Muni bus routes serve Chestnut Street, Lombard Street, and Union Street. The Embarcadero and Ferry Building lie within reach via bay-front routes.

94123 Today

24,054

Population (2020 Census ZCTA)

15,129

Housing Units (2020 Census)

70%

Renter-Occupied Units (2019–2023 ACS)

1920s–1930s

Dominant Housing Era

Government and Civic Life

94123 falls within the consolidated City and County of San Francisco. Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhood associations participate in planning hearings, waterfront access advocacy, and Chestnut Street commercial corridor discussions. Presidio Trust planning affects the northern waterfront interface.

Culture and Community

The ZIP's cultural life reflects waterfront recreation and boutique commercial character. Marina Green hosts jogging, sailing, and community events with bay and bridge views. Chestnut Street's restaurants and bars serve residents and visitors. Fleet Week air shows and Presidio events draw crowds to the waterfront. Cow Hollow's Union Street maintains a village-scale shopping character.

Geography & Environment

94123 spans flat fill terrain along the bay, contrasting with San Francisco's typical hillside topography. The Mediterranean climate brings cool, breezy summers moderated by bay air and mild winters. Marina Green and Crissy Field provide open waterfront access with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

The Presidio's coastal bluffs and beaches lie along the ZIP's northern edge. Urban tree canopy along Chestnut Street and residential blocks contributes to the area's streetscape.

Transportation & Connectivity

Muni bus routes serve Chestnut Street, Lombard Street, Union Street, and the Embarcadero. Lombard Street connects to the Golden Gate Bridge approach. The Presidio offers cycling and walking trails to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Downtown and the Financial District are reachable via Chestnut Street and Lombard Street bus connections. San Francisco International Airport is accessible via Embarcadero BART connections.

Looking Forward

San Francisco planning documents address Marina soft-story retrofit completion, sea-level-rise adaptation along the bayshore, and Crissy Field management. Chestnut Street commercial corridor improvements and Presidio development proceed through community and trust planning processes. Cow Hollow preservation discussions balance architectural heritage with accommodation of infill.

Residents participate in land-use decisions through community meetings and district supervisor advocacy.

The ZIP's Character

94123 sits on earthquake fill at the bay's edge — Mediterranean Revival flats along Chestnut Street, Cow Hollow boutiques on Union Street, and Marina Green views of the Golden Gate.

"94123 rises from 1906 rubble fill to the bay's edge — a ZIP where Mediterranean Revival flats, Chestnut Street commerce, and Golden Gate views define the northern waterfront."

From Marina Green's open waterfront to Cow Hollow's Victorian blocks, the ZIP offers a geographically distinctive slice of northern San Francisco. Buyers, sellers, and investors evaluating 94123 benefit from understanding its Marina versus Cow Hollow submarkets and position within the broader San Francisco County real estate landscape.