1. Campiello Ristorante's postcard-perfect courtyard dining starts during happy hour, when the cocktail set (lots of pastel-clad tourists, too) gathers under a shady oak tree, generating a buzz that drifts several doors down. When it's time to dine, the restaurant, based in the historic Naples Mercantile Co. building (est. 1919), serves rustic yet contemporary Tuscan cuisine-hand-tossed pizzas, roasted meats and sauced pastas. 1177 Third St. S., Naples; (239) 435-1166.

2. Breezy in the summer (thanks to a waterfront location) and cozy in the winter (thanks to an outdoor fireplace), Rumrunners boasts one of the best all-season patios in Lee County. A mixture of the rustic and the tropical-think pot pie stuffed with Gulf shrimp, scallops and crab in rich lobster sauce-it's a must-see in the Mediterranean-style Cape Harbour marina. 5789 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral; (239) 542-0200.

3. At Marie-Michelle's Restaurant on the Bay, classic French cuisine is served in an atmosphere that mimics a cliff-side Mediterranean village. From the outdoor terrace, you might spot a dolphin plying the waters of Venetian Bay as you dip into a bowl of award-winning bouillabaisse. As if that's not romantic enough, strings of white Christmas lights mirror the twinkling stars at night. The Village at Venetian Bay, 4236 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples; (239) 263-0900.

4. For those who want to see and be seen, Café Lurcat is doubly blessed. The main floor patio-tiled in terracotta, framed by Mediterranean arches and raised a few steps above the sidewalk-affords excellent people-watching. Upstairs, sit at one of a handful of balcony tables with treetop views of Fifth Avenue South. And the sophisticated American cuisine is some of the best on the avenue. 494 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; (239) 213-3357.

5. Want to dine on a beach but don't want to sacrifice white linen tablecloths? The loggia at Baleen is your place. Just steps from the sand, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort's restaurant soothes diners with Gulf breezes, lapping waves and top-drawer food and drink. Teak furniture and whimsical chandeliers (where monkeys cavort on branches) add to the tropical atmosphere. Couches and coffee tables in conversational arrangements invite more casual encounters. 9891 Gulfshore Drive, Naples; (239) 597-3123.

6. A Captiva Island classic, 'Tween Waters Inn rubs shoulders wiath the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. The patio at the resort's Old Captiva House is shaded by lacy white lattice, sprinkled with red bougainvillea and has palm trees growing through the roof. It's steeped in history, too, harking back to the 1920s, when famous guests included Teddy Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh. The lobster spring rolls are a favorite. 15951 Captiva Road, Captiva Island; (239) 472-5161.

7. It doesn't get much more open-air than Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, a restaurant virtually without walls. Located at Salty Sam's Marina on San Carlos Island, Parrot Key serves a taste of the tropics, including a distinctive strawberry-kiwi-mango barbecue sauce, in a setting that's been earning rave reviews. 2500 Main St. (Channel Marker 24, Fort Myers Beach); (239) 463-3257.

8. Splashy might be the best way to describe dining outdoors at Tanglewood. The terrace overlooks soaring fountains romantically lighted at night and the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point's arcadian pool area beyond. Take a romantic stroll on the mangrove-fringed boardwalk to work up your appetite for sugarcane shrimp and other Tanglewood seafood specialties. 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs; (239) 390-4290.

9. Tucked under the Matanzas Pass Bridge on San Carlos Island is a place locals love to gather-especially for the Sunday afternoon reggae party. The Bridge offers casual outdoor dining overlooking the picturesque boat traffic of Matanzas Pass. Seafood doesn't come much fresher, with the local fleet providing many of the daily specials. Avoid the Fort Myers Beach traffic and arrive by boat at Channel Marker 18. 708 Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Myers Beach; (239) 765-0050.

10. Named after a Southwest Florida tree, Gumbo Limbo gives visitors to the Ritz-Carlton, Naples an unmatched natural setting near the Gulf. Nestled on a boardwalk amid sea grapes, sabal palms and sea oats, it resembles a dockside Florida Keys cafe (but less rough around the edges, this being the Ritz). The cuisine is appropriately tropical-mangoes mingling with Jamaican jerk seasonings and, of course, exemplary Key lime pie. 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples; (239) 598-3300.