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 a half acre of 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.

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.

Be sure to check out the charming water feature by Pepo Pichler in the courtyard.

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.

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.

The Garden Terrace at 150 California has great views of the FiDi's gleaming office towers, and plenty of space to sit and take in some fresh air. A huge metal art installation adds some pizzazz to the terrace, and it's rarely ever crowded. 

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.

The plaza at 525 Market is one of the most pleasant plazas in the Financial District, thanks in part to the new fountain near the sidewalk: a two-tiered circular water element made of clear acrylic. The plaza, which gets a lot of sunlight during the daytime, is surrounded by eateries, which makes it one of the most popular lunch spots in the FiDi.

The former Paris-London Bank building was built in 1912, and hollowed out to make way for public space at the base of the Citigroup Center. The elegant enclosed atrium features Moolicious (a crepe stand), a fountain, seating, and more than a dozen queen palms. It’s also smack dab in front of Bird’s new headquarters.

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.

A 24/7 private public park area (with public Wi-Fi) featuring outdoor seating and artwork, most notably the famous 1969 fountain by San Francisco sculptor Ruth Asawa and Love by local artist Laura Kimpton. Also a choice spot for unboxing your latest Apple doodad acquisition.

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.

The plaza next to 555 Mission Street stands out thanks to its funky Ugo Rondinone sculptures and lovely green wall. The space also features a towering art installation by Jonathan Borofsky, which adds color and grandeur to this little gem.

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.

Don’t be deceived—the first-floor plaza inside (cringe-worthy) 222 Second Street is for everyone, not just LinkedIn employees. An enclosed open space, with operable floor to ceiling windows and doors, can be access via the street-level lobby. It also boasts a cafe, restrooms, and Wi-Fi to boot.

An ideal spot of worker drones and techies who want to chill while gazing into their laptops.

Few know about it, but there's a terrace with great views of the skyline on the roof of the Westfield San Francisco Centre. The space isn't easy to access, and you'll probably need to get clearance from one of the shopping center's many security guards before they let you enter. That being said, the deck's views and relaxed atmosphere are well worth the hassle.

This POPOS is only open during the mall's business hours.