Al fresco

Scent of herbs

At Firefly Bistro, you dine beneath a canopy in a garden filled with herbs and vines. At night, the bushy ficus trees are covered in tiny white lights. Sit back and enjoy a rack of lamb served with caramelized Brussels sprouts, or a sausage, shrimp, calamari and chicken paella in the jasmine-scented air. (Rack of lamb, $20; paella, $20.)

Firefly Bistro, 1009 El Centro St., South Pasadena, (617) 236-5200.

Lemon and ivy

Beams and chandeliers overhead give Aubergine’s lemon- and ivy-filled patio the feeling of a private dining room. Splurge on decadent rabbit and foie gras pastilla or exceptionally tender braised pork belly. (Prix-fixe dinner, $85.)

Aubergine, 508 29th St., Newport Beach, (949) 723-4150.

It’s Italy in L.A.

“Where am I?” you may ask when you take a seat on Orso’s lush, sun-dappled patio. Lunching on pizza margherita and wine, for a moment you’ll think you’re in a small hill town north of Rome. (Half carafe of wine, $11; pizza margherita, $11.)

Orso, 8706 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (310) 274-7144.

An urban garden

Cafe Pinot is surrounded by skyscrapers, but only a green hedge separates its patio from the Central Library’s serene Maguire Garden. Here, with lights illuminating the trees surrounding the restaurant at night, you can enjoy a buttery wild mushroom risotto or a special of rich, tender Kobe beef topped with foie gras. (Wild mushroom risotto, $21; Kobe beef with foie gras shavings, $8 an ounce.)

Cafe Pinot, 700 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, (213) 239-6500.

-- Jessica Strand