Empire Park is a charming little oasis tucked away on Commercial Street, where Chinatown meets the Financial District. This space was once an alleyway, and now features plenty of seating, a fountain, and ample amounts of greenery. The park is a must-visit for anyone needing respite from the busy streets of downtown. Photo via Dylan Pilaar

Embarcadero Center West features pedestrian paths filled with places to stop and smell the flowers. The spaces all share an unmistakably '70s vibe, as well as numerous fountains. Nonetheless, the POPOS at the Embarcadero Center is a fantastic spot for kicking back or cracking open a good book.Image via San Francisco Days

The terrace at 343 Sansome Street is one of the FiDi's best-kept secrets, and it's also been called downtown's best outdoor lunch spot. It features tables, benches, planters filled with seasonal flowers, and views of a portion of the bay. Plenty of the space's Yelp reviews mention that it's never crowded. The space is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.Image via Yelp

Located in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid, Redwood Park is one of the Financial District's greenest and most serene spots. Here, towering redwoods surround statues and a large central water feature. Plus, the park is often empty, which means there's almost always a bench available for the hogging. Potential visitors take note: the park is closed every evening. Photo via Sally Kuchar

101 California has the most expansive public plaza on California Street. The space features orderly rows of planters placed on terraced podiums, as well as a central fountain and seating. Image via the Examiner

Right across the street from 101 California's giant POPOS is the plaza at 50 California Street. This green space comes complete with a Starbucks and lots of areas to sit and watch the cable cars clang down California.Image via SPUR's Photostream

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Liliia Venediktova (@lili_rogacca) on Sep 9, 2015 at 7:40am PDT

Located on the roof of 100 First Street's parking garage, this public space is chock-full of impressive water features (including a water garden) and sculptured grass areas. It's the perfect place to wind down and enjoy a lunch break. Even though it's a POPOS, the terrace is open 24/7. It's mostly empty on weekends. Photo via Sally Kuchar

Tucked away amid a stand of supertall buildings, the urban garden at 100 Pine is accessible via the building lobby or through a not-so-obvious passageway on Front Street. It doesn’t get much in the way of sun, but last we checked in, there’s a cafe open till 3 p.m. as well as seating and planters.Image via SPUR

The Cocker Galleria roof terrace is tough to find, but totally worth the search. The rooftop garden filled with shrubbery, benches, flowers, and a fountain is accessible from the the top floor of the Crocker Galleria, and features great views of the surrounding skyscrapers. Photo via Yelp

The roof terrace at One Kearny is one of San Francisco's best POPOS. The well-appointed garden is located on the building's 11th floor, and features sweeping views of downtown, and a close-up look at the mansard roof of the building next door. Image via Sherwood Engineers

The indoor park at 101 Second Street is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and features a bright multistory atrium with seating, trees, and public art. The space is a great place to eat lunch on a rainy afternoon. Image via Cater 2 Me

This large public courtyard is subdivided into three distinct spaces, all of which include plenty of greenery and seating options.The plaza is often shaded by adjacent buildings, but it's still one of downtown's best places to sit and relax. There are plenty of take-out dining options nearby, and the space is open at all times.Image via g-l-o-b

With its massive water feature, modern centerpiece sculpture, and bamboo grove, 560 Mission Street's POPOS is pretty much the zen oasis of downtown. The plaza features plenty of movable tables and chairs, and is accessible from both Mission and Jessie streets. Plus, this POPOS is open 24/7. Image via KSDG

With plenty of seating, this pleasantly shaded spot is a great place to escape the hubbub of the FiDi. This POPOS is easily accessible, has a cafe, and never closes down.Image via Flickr