"Airport cuisine" has never been popular with foodies, but luckily, that's not what Ella's at the Airport specializes in. Although it's a stone's throw from Watsonville Municipal Airport, the culinary team whips up gourmet Italian and American dishes that change with the seasons. For instance, summer might usher in a prosciutto, melon, and burrata-cheese salad. Other culinary creations range from grilled salmon with a caper-mustard cream reduction to wood-fired pizzas with optional gluten-free crusts.

Guests can enjoy these dishes outside on the patio, which is particularly lovely at night when the sun sets and the lights strung up above begin to twinkle. When temperatures fall, Ella's keeps things toasty by switching on heat lamps and lassoing the sun until it moves a bit closer.

A popular time to visit is the weekend, when bottomless mimosas accompany brunch dishes. Brunch isn't the only thing that makes weekends special at the eatery, either, because on Sunday nights, musicians play live jazz.