Named for the six Victorian cottages lining the east side of the street, which were fortunate to be spared from the 1970s redevelopment of the Western Addition. There's a few steps at each end of the block, and a few more in the middle, but most of Cottage Row is a brick path.

There's a mini-park at the southern end of the block, and at Sutter Street is the Issei Garden - a small Japanese rock garden honoring the first immigrants from Japan.