The Seven Cups is a definite local treasure: It's the first American tea company to have its own Chinese trading license, and is one of the country's best sources of high-quality Chinese tea. Walk in past the bulk tea shop, and you're transported to China. Seven Cup's tea-service menu is impressive (it's pages and pages long), including everything from rare green teas to tea balls that blossom into ornate flowers in hot water. Choose a Japanese dessert to go with your tea (you really can't go wrong here--they're all delicately sweet and delicious), and gaze upon the shop's incredible collection of tea sets as you wait for the tea to steep.

Runners up:

2. Chantilly Tea Room and Gift Boutique, 5185 N. Genematas Drive, 622-3303, chantillytearoom.com

3. Tohono Chul Park Tea Room, 7366 North Paseo del Norte, 797-1222, Tohono Chul Web site