Owned by Mitchell Frank (who brought us Spaceland and the Echo) and designer Jeff Ellermeyer, El Prado specializes in obscure beer and European-style bar snacks such as fresh breads, cheeses, meats and fruits. The selections are written on the mirror with a white wax pencil, and there are usually no more than seven or eight options.
If La Chouffe sounds more like a French cat burglar than a beer to you, fear not. The knowledgeable bartenders can recommend a selection based on what you normally like to drink. But if you like to chug out of a bottle or can, sorry—El Prado uses small kegs so the beers on tap can change by the week. (And in this current political climate, change is a wonderful thing.)
The real piece de resistance, though, is the L-shaped oak bar top that runs nearly the entire length of the space. Made of wood reclaimed from an old barn, it's a thing of sublime beauty that, like Lebowski's rug, really ties the whole place together. There are plenty of spots to rest your elbows at the bar, and if you arrive late in the evening, you can find a perch and admire the masonry while listening to the vinyl-only selections playing through the hi-fi.
New York may have some great locales, but it does not have an El Prado, and that is something L.A. should be proud of.
Stay tuned: A wine list will soon be incorporated into the menu.
Click here for El Prado's location and hours.
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