Tucked in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the Japanese Tea Garden epitomizes the term urban retreat. And aside from the serene sighing from fellow visitors, the quiet escape promises only the sounds of a trickling waterfall.

Though few people in San Francisco would probably remember the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, it did leave one of the cities’ most enduring legacies – the Japanese Tea Garden. Housed in its original location in Golden Gate Park, the 106-year-old garden is a portal to Japanese tradition of a bygone era.

Wanderers and romantics alike visit the gardens to rediscover their Zen amongst the pagodas, ponds, and winding pathways. And forever elegant in its simplicity, it’s an escape steeped in history – just like its tea. Paying homage to traditional tea gardens across the pond, this San Franciscan escape serves sencha tea in a meditative house overlooking the waters.