OMI (Oceanview, Merced Terrace, Ingleside Heights): A Guide to San Francisco Neighborhoods

san francisco neighborhoods

OMI is a group of residential neighborhoods in the southern part of the city: Oceanview, Merced Heights, and Ingleside Terrace. The area has a suburban feel with plenty of detached single-family homes. Beware Karl the Fog in the summer months. It gets chilly and foggy here.

We polled real moms who live there to find out what makes this neighborhood a good fit for their family. Want to get the scoop directly from the experts? Join our Neighborhood Facebook groups or reach out to a realtor at Neighborhoods.com.

Why Moms Love It 

Views of the ocean, a quiet suburban feel, detached single family homes, convenient shopping and restaurants at Stonestown Galleria and on Ocean Avenue (including a Target and Whole Foods!), and relatively low housing costs make this area a nice place to raise a family. Plus, more and more free seasonal events continue to be offered around the community. is growing with free seasonal events

Local Family Favorites

Located in the center of a cul-de-sac in the Ingleside Terrace neighborhood, this huge white marble sundial has an interesting history and is a fun destination point for a stroll with the kids.
 
This large newly renovated facility has a gymnasium, community room, teen center, multipurpose rooms, arts and crafts room, preschool, kitchen and weight room. It offers a wide variety of programs and classes, along with a 10-acre park containing baseball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, play structures, and picnic and BBQ areas.
 
This green space has beautiful views and a community garden.
 
Lake Merced is a large freshwater lake in San Francisco’s southwestern corner. It’s at the center of a 614-acre park that’s popular with boaters, rowers, hikers, and cyclists, and is a wonderful spot for a picnic with the kids.
 
Watch the hang gliders take flight off the 200-foot high sandy bluffs on San Francisco’s southwest coast. Its network of trails is ideal for hiking and horseback riding, and dogs are allowed to be off leash all over the park and beach.
 
This is one of the only yoga studios in the city that offers childcare, a testament to the family-friendly nature of the area. They also offer kids’ yoga classes. 
 
 
This newly renovated facility near Merced Manner offers children’s classes, camps, and onsite childcare.
 
This is a great locally owned bicycle shop on Ocean Avenue with a large selection of children’s bikes, trailers, and seats for kids to ride along with parents. Notably, they offer a kids’ bike buy back program so you can upgrade your kids’ bikes as they grow.
 
This restaurant is family friendly, has live music on the weekends and other events throughout the week. Plus, local beer and good neighborhood vibe.
 
In a city full of delicious coffee options, Philz is a local favorite, and the cafe located in this neighborhood is great for kids, with a huge patio to hang out or have the kids stretch their legs.
 

Childcare and Schools

Here’s the thing about childcare and schooling: Your personal situation will determine the right fit for you, and, while there are plenty of options in this neighborhood, your best bet is to check out Winnie.com for an interactive map and comprehensive list of daycares and preschools across the city.  

Likewise, for K-12 schools, we can’t tell you whether the schools here are “good” or not because a good school is based on so many other factors besides test scores. Check out our Tips for Moving to San Francisco with Kids for more help navigating childcare and schooling and a local mom’s take on raising a family in San Francisco.

Learn More 

To get an even better feel for what it’s like to live here, scan our list of 100+ kid-friendly restaurants in the city, find the nearest branch of the public library, and check out the area’s trick-or-treating hotspots.
 
Visit Neighborhoods.com for photos and more details on OMI and nearby neighborhoods, including an up-to-date listing of properties for sale.
 

Neighborhoods.com is a full service brokerage and an easy to use online real estate resource that helps people find the perfect home as well as the ideal neighborhood. We believe that the neighborhood you live in is just as important as the home you live in. The people, places, schools and amenities that surround your home have an enormous impact on your quality of life. When you’re looking for a place to live, you aren’t just picking out a house. You are also deciding who your children will play with and who you might become friends with. So while many people search for their dream house, we believe you should look for your dream home. And your neighborhood is a huge part of that dream.

Check out the other areas featured in our San Francisco Neighborhood Guide for Families and learn more about our guide sponsor, Neighborhoods.com.