There’s something magical about dining outdoors. Without four solid walls, things feel different – more fanciful and fun –like you’ve traveled to some faraway place (even farther than the backyard). And now that it’s getting warmer, dining al fresco can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. So let your imagination soar. Here are four daringly delicious ways to take it outside.

COCKTAILS AT THE CASBAH:

If a sumptuous soiree in an exotic foreign land sounds good, here’s how to rock it.

You’re dining under the stars in the private courtyard of a sultan’s palace (an old high school flame). The night is warm and in the distance, the sound of flutes and drums floats softly on the breeze. In the center of the piazza, a large round table overflows with an abundance of ripe fruits, breads and seasoned oils. Overhead, giant Moroccan lanterns scatter pinpoints of light against the ancient stone walls, and everywhere you look, there are rich, heavy fabrics, curtains and plush patterned rugs.

The intoxicating fragrance of spiced pear and patchouli candles fills the air as the flames flicker and dance to the music. In the background, a massive honeycomb mirror glitters like a Cheshire cat smiling in the dark.

Suddenly, as if by magic, a servant appears with a large gold-embossed tray of exotic cocktails in sparkling tortoiseshell glass stemware. As you lean forward on your handcrafted rattan pouf to consider your selection, you can’t help but notice the saffron yellow plates and multicolored leaf-shaped bowls.

“This sultan really knows how to party,” you muse. And to think all this could’ve been yours. Oh wait. It still could be.