San Francisco Neighborhoods · Merced Heights
Merced Heights
Persistent Fog zoneA quiet hilltop village in the city's southwest corner — modest mid-century homes along a ridgeline, big Pacific views from Brooks Park, and the deep-rooted, neighborly spirit of the historic OMI.
- Peaceful, residential hilltop streets
- Hilltop views at Brooks Park
- Steps from City College's Ocean campus
- Historic, diverse OMI community
On the map
Open Merced Heights on the map →The story
Merced Heights sits at the center of the OMI — Ocean View, Merced Heights, and Ingleside — on a ridge running between San Jose Avenue and Junipero Serra Boulevard. The name dates only to the years after World War II, when open hillside on the western slopes was subdivided into new housing. Beginning at midcentury, an influx of African-American families settled here, and Merced Heights emerged as an island of Black home ownership uphill from earlier residential parks that had barred minority buyers, making the OMI one of San Francisco's early integrated neighborhoods. City College of San Francisco's Ocean campus anchors the area's northern edge. Atop the neighborhood's peak, Brooks Park preserves rocky outcrops with native plants and a large community garden, on land once used by Ohlone families summering near Lake Merced.
Things most people don’t know
Island of ownership
After WWII, Merced Heights became a rare hilltop enclave of African-American home ownership, helping make the OMI one of the city's early integrated neighborhoods.
Brooks Park
A hilltop park at 400 Shields St with native-plant gardens, a large community garden, and sweeping Pacific views.
City College
CCSF's Ocean campus at 50 Frida Kahlo Way, the college's largest, borders the neighborhood.
Beep's since 1962
Beep's Burgers has flipped patties at its original Ocean Avenue drive-in since 1962.
Eating and drinking near Merced Heights
Merced Heights is primarily residential — these sit in Ingleside, the Ocean Avenue strip.
Restaurants
- Beep's Burgers · 1051 Ocean Ave
- Sakesan Sushi & Robata · 1400 Ocean Ave
- That's Amore SF · 1901 Ocean Ave
Bars
- Ocean Ale House · 1314 Ocean Ave
Getting around and getting care
Transit. Muni 29-Sunset and 54-Felton serve Merced Heights directly. Muni Metro K-Ingleside and M-Ocean View run nearby along Ocean Avenue; the 49 Van Ness/Mission is close. Balboa Park BART and Muni station is the area's major transit hub.
Nearest hospital. CPMC Mission Bernal Campus, 3555 Cesar Chavez St
Thinking about Merced Heights?
Send me an address and I will come back with its sun, wind and fog, what is under it, and what has closed on the block.