Fulfilling a generation's needs: filament lighting, dimly-dimly lit, exposed brick, vinyl record player, menu written with marker on glass, long wooden bar, cheese plates, and a curtain. Oh that curtain. Look, I get it. I know what the appeal of a curtain means to a business. However. One day I would love to open that curtain to find a scene from 1914 Paris where people are fucking alive. They're brimming with creativity & emotion. They're smoking. They're dazzling strangers. They're tap dancing on the tile. They're making announcements on the bar. It's no issue with El Prado here. They're executing everything they'd set out to do, and they're doing it very well. Their wine list here is simple, straight forward and very good. A Sparkling Pinot. Cava. So much goodness. But just once would I love to see my generation doing something in a place like this other than doing not a goddamn thing. Often times these brooding bars of hunched over backs, cackling couples & plaid-plaid-plaid just don't seem very welcoming (and I'm sure they're okay with it). If there's ever a place that defines a time, it's this one, and they should be very proud of that.
Review Source:Maybe my pants aren't tight enough, but trying to squeeze through this bar from one side to the other when it is busy isn't worth the hassle. But if you're super-hip and have a touch of claustrophilia, I can see the appeal.
I've been here a number of times in the last couple of years, and I'll say the service has always come with a smile. However, the beers are overpriced and the place is the width of a small car.
El Prado isn't the cheapest beer & wine bar in town, but I find myself here quite often. I guess there are reasons for that besides the fact that I can easily walk there.
They keep a great selection of beers on tap. They must be very diligent about keeping their tap lines clean, because everything always tastes crisp and I never get a headache after drinking here. Beers are always nice and cold.
They also have a fun selection of non alcoholic drinks, such as Topo Chico water and Mexican coke. I have a few friends who don't drink, and I don't feel weird about taking them here to hang out and talk and have a drink (whether or not there's booze in it.)
The other reason I like El Prado, though this can be a little hit or miss, is they don't play music at ear splitting volume. Maybe I sound like an old fart, but it drives me crazy when I go to a chill, local bar/pub/lounge and they have their music cranked up like it's a dance club. They play entire vinyl records at El Prado, which gives it sort of a comfy, intimate vibe like you're hanging out in someone's living room. Granted, as it gets later in the evening on Friday and Saturday nights, the music does tend to get louder but it's not as bad as some other places.
The bartenders are attentive and pleasant, too.
I guess there's a level of pretension that exists simply by this establishment being in Echo Park, but I find El Prado to be pretty low key and chill and I like that. One time I came here with a friend and there were these two adorable, white haired, elderly ladies enjoying glasses of wine in one of the booths. One of them was wearing a black, zip up hoodie. I guess the hipsters have won, guys.
stopped in here for a drink after eating at Mohawk Bend.
its a cool little spot, great for a after dinner drink. we were here fairly early on a thursday night so it wasnt really all that busy. but, as small as the place is, i can see that it probably can get jam packed in there.
they only serve beer and wine so that kinda blows. but the beer selection was good.
and, the bartender was really cool. she was playing some albums on the turn tables behind the bar and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
This place is classy and delicious and always has a lovely and somewhat esoteric beer selection. I like to sit at their lovely and formidable wooden bar and enjoy a lovely sour or a Goose Island IPA and consider all the lovely music their turntable puts out, and talk to their lovely bartenders and eat their lovely olives.
Review Source:The bar itself is in like a hallway. A very narrow, small bar with an outdoor patio where you can smoke and also sit around.
We had a group of about 8 so we went to the patio. Luckily the weather was warmer so being outside at night was very nice. I got a glass of wine so I cannot speak for the variety they have about other alcohol.
A pretty chill beer & wine only bar in the Echo Park area. Â Very mellow vibe...almost has a lounge feel to it due to the general darkness and noise level. Â I've always had a good time here and enjoy that they have some nice bar nibbles as well if you need something to snack on while drinking!
Review Source:I really like the feel of this place. Dim lighting, cool atmosphere, not too crowded, and of course awesome music. Â I brought in my own selection of vinyl to have the DJ play, but got distracted by having too much of a good time, and there was already good tunes playing. Â
There's just a beer and wine selection, and I believe a few food items, like a cheese and charcuterie board.
I'd definitely go back for a mellow night out
Dropped into this place tonight for something a little different with some friends. The vibe was very mellow and only a few people at the bar on a Saturday night. Depending on what you're looking for, I enjoyed this place because of the chill vibe and not having to fight for a drink.
On this night, they had some Cat Stevens playing behind the bar and a nice bartender who was more than happy to give us recommendations from the list of craft beers on draft.
I would have liked the option of ordering a cocktail which is why I'm giving 3/5 stars. It's a beer and wine bar so I can't hate too much. I'll be back.
El Prado is a small hole in the wall place that spins records on turn tables. Â That's pretty cool and unique. Â The crowd here is pretty mixed but more hipsters. Â This place is a good place to meet friends for drinks or in my case, a blind date. Â The dim lighting sets an exciting mood. Â Take that sentence to where your mind leads you too. Â
Street parking. Â Also, be prepared to be friendly with your neighbor as the place is small. Â Be friendly and make some new friends with your neighbor. Â Cheers!
All is forgiven El Prado.
I feel like a total jerk, I meant to write this update about a year ago, and at this point I think I owe YOU a beer.
I've been back about 4 times since my previous bad experiences, and it's been great. I love the selections, the service has been relatively fast and very friendly.
i do believe i'm at el prado about once a month or so.
i'm usually a cocktail drinker, so my knowledge of beer is nonexistent (i like olympia and old milwaukee. that's how good my taste in beer is). despite this "handicap" on my part, i've never had a bad drink here. i just stick to IPAs and lagers and i'm golden.
came here most recently on the saturday after thanksgiving. unlike most saturdays, it wasn't jam packed (yet), and we immediately found counter seating...and about 20 minutes later a table opened up! jackpot. normally on a saturday this place is more crowded than a can of sardines, so it was a nice change of pace.
the decor here is hip. lots of candlelight, aged wood, etc. pretty sexy, and good for a date. when i discovered the smoking patio i was stoked, but since i don't actually smoke, i have no use for it. they have dj's here pretty regularly, and they're good w/the music.
the one HUGE downside here (other than the crowds) is how ear-splittingly loud it gets. i'm a whiner. i just want to be able to hear my friends talk!!!
otherwise, a neighborhood gem. come early, come often.
I came here last night for a birthday event and I absolutely love it! Its not too loud, not too crowded, and the beer selection is excellent. The beer of the night for me was the Unibroue (highly rec if you like blue moons and such). I'm  not quite sure if they do cocktails or not but they do serve a nice selection of wines and beer. Most beers are priced around 7/8. Parking was easy (street parking) and really clean inside. Walking distance to the echoplex.
Review Source:They've got an exceptional menu of locally produced beer and wine. No cocktails. Great playlist some nights depending on who's bartending. The crowd is an interesting mix of people; mostly hipsters, some college kids and the occasional creep or two. It's a great bar to hit up on a weeknight for a drink and is just as fun on the weekends when it's packed. The place has an almost Gothic yet modern take on decor. The menu is scribbled on glass mirrors, the hanging lights are dim and there are wooden stools to match the wooden countertops. It all comes together quite nicely. It's a tiny but intimate space and would be perfect for a drink after hours with someone you want to catch up with. Their privy upkeep is outstanding and yes, I needed to note this. Always clean and well stocked. You're doing it right, Prado!
Review Source:Went in last night hoping to grab a beer. The beer selection wasn't huge, but everything on the menu looked good.
Unfortunately, the bartender chose to help everyone in the bar but my boyfriend and I. First he helped the other people that wandered in at the same time as us (understandable), then he made a round checking on everyone else, stopping at the end before he got to us. Finally, when there was no one left to help, he decided to dig through the record collection up front, avoiding eye contact with us.
There were less than twenty people there, I can't imagine he really forgot the only two people seated at the bar that didn't have a drink in front of them. I love craft beer, dug their selection, liked the vibe - but can't justify giving it any stars since I didn't actually get to partake in anything this place had to offer. Won't be back.
Such a super chill place! Great spot to meet up with a friend and catch up. Drinks (only beer and wine) were not overpriced, but next time we'd like to check out their snacks. They got tunes spinning on a record player, manned by the friendly bartenders (Yeah! "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack!). The simple decor felt like a contemporary, high-end cabin, while austere, still gave a warm mood to the place. Definitely a nice alternative to the more grungy surrounding spots in Echo Park.
Review Source:El Prado is a dark, tiny little niche bar that fits in perfectly with the newly gentrified face of Echo Park. Â You would definitely come to a place like this if you were going to be hanging out in Silverlake for the evening, so think young hipsters, craft beers, candlelight, and LP's grinding away on the record player on the bar. Â Though, once again, I ask a bit more from a bar than just a place to sit and drink beer (there is literally nothing else going for this bar than that), it is pleasant, upscale, and would probably be a good spot to bring someone for an after-date drink--definitely a romantic, intimate vibe. Â Or come here for a pre-concert drink like we did. Â
The menu of beverages is small. Â There's of course your obligatory glasses of wine (only about 5-6 kinds) and then several craft beers on tap and one or two hard ciders. Â You're going to pay between $6-$8 for a glass of something refreshing, but you're pretty much here to sip and mingle, not pound some Bud Light. Â There are some teeny little bar snacks you can get, but no noticeable kitchen for real food (boo). Â Choose from a cup of walnuts, sardines, a bread and cheese plate, cup of olives, or a charcuterie selection. Â Sardines are the cheapest (for obvious reasons) at $5 and then the snacks go all the way up to $12 for the charcuterie plate. Â No free popcorn here. Â I tried a crisp hard cider that was quite tasty, but I've unfortunately forgotten the name. Â Hubby had a really good pint from the new Lightning Brewery called "Elemental Pilsner". Â Even I liked this one...light, snappy, crisp. Â We've bought it since bottled at Total Wine and More and is always a good find. Â
The bar itself is in a really unique space--the room is long and incredibly narrow--there is room to sit at the bar, perch carefully on a bar stool along the back wall, or stand gingerly trying to get out of the walkway to the restrooms. Â Lighting is dim, there is wood paneling and mirrors, and the chatter is loud and eager and usually about someone's grad school thesis on music theory. Â I love how the mirrors above the bar are actually a board to write the menus on--plus, it helps make the room seem just a breath larger.
So, if you're trying to corner someone for a low-key evening of charming conversation over a hoppy libation, you've found your spot--squeeze in and relax!
I used to really dig this place a couple years ago. I went back recently, and it was hard to believe I was in the same place. I know that Echo Park is the latest to fall victim to the "trendster" conquest, but I had hoped that the small size of this joint would have at least staved off total lame-ification for at least a few years. Boy, was I wrong.
1. Overpriced
2. Ultra loud
3. Pretentious
4. Inconsiderate clientele
I suppose they can do nothing about number four, but the other three are factors that were absent when I first came here. Back then, there was a very nice bartender lady who would play The Queen Is Dead (before Moz became trendy) all the time. Now, they blast awful new music, which forces everyone to shouting volume the entire time. I ordered my usual Cava (Spanish champagne) despite the $2 price increase, and for my second, I asked for the cheapest wine they had, which incurred a frown and a snobby, wine-and-cheese "I'm-going-to-pretend-I-didn't-hear-that" comment. I couldn't really enjoy the wine after that. By the way, I agree with Jon G. Serve your beer in a pint glass, not in a fucking midget chalice.
Another one bites the dust...
What a lovely place. Stopped in on accident and verrryyy happy I ended up here. Had one of the best pale ales ..thank you for the recommendation, you amazing chef/bartender! The cheese plate was fantastic..the velvety pork melted in my mouth.. it was the perfect contrast to the sharp cheeses'.
If you are ever catching a show at the Echo or Echoplex.. make sure to grab a drink here first. You'll be very thankful at the end of the night.
Two things need to happen for this place to be a spot I want to visit regularly:
1- Prices need to come down a tad, and
2- The noise level needs to come down as well.
Every time I come here I like the beer, and although they aren't exactly blasting music, it is loud enough where everyone is talking loud and talking over each other and the music. Soon enough everyone is yelling because no one can hear each other. This is a small place, so it really does not need to be a loud environment.
Another thing that bothers me about bars these days is that since they are often serving specialty beers, they often do not mention what kind of a glass you are getting it is, and hence what serving you are getting. If you are trying to save a little cash, and all the beers are in the $7-$9 each category except one at $6, you'll probably get the $6 one, but it will be in a tulip class, not a pint.
I think all beers should be served as a pint, and none of this tulip glass half sized trickery. At the very least, that is dishonest.
Other than that, this isnt a bad spot to drop in for a pint after gorging yourself at two boots, or vis-versa.
I love the atmosphere and ambiance at El Prado! Dim lighting, nice and simple selection of wine and beer, and all around chill people. Also, there's just something about music from a record player that I just love!
The hardest part is trying to find a place to sit if you're with a group of friends because the place is pretty small.
Do note that they only serve wine and beer!
So classy, I love it!
When I walked in, it reminded me of the Albatross Pub in Berkeley, but more clean. This place is small, crowded, loud, and definitely has a local vibe. If you love beards, this is a mecca. Good place for a drink and people watch, such as this guy writing notes in his binder whilst talking to his friends, eventually shouting "I have a lot going for me right now!"
I concurred with my friend that it was hipster wannabe-Hollywood nonsense. Go home to work on your screenplay, don't do it in a crowded bar.
Was checking out a band at The Echo but was a bit early, so ended up here as a close option to get a beverage. Tiny little place with a long bar and stools along the back wall. Dimly lit, romantic, dark feel. They only serve beer and wine so also has that mellow atmosphere at least for the Monday night that we were here. . .
Selection wasn't as big as I would've liked for the beer or wine, but settled on something new that ended up being enjoyable. The music is played by a record player, which in theory is cool . . . but the bartender would also get a bit behind which left us in silence for some bits of time.
If you're a local or going to the Echo it's worth checking out, but not sure if you'd need to seek out otherwise.
Amazing selection of rotating wines and beers, and they're priced really well, too. Â The bartenders are always so nice and so helpful.
But, this tiny little place gets packed at night. Â I mean, any night. Â It's super loud, so forget coming here on a date, or if you're with people you want to communicate with, unless you know sign language. Â If you come early enough (like, 7/8ish), you'll probably be able to score a barstool, but if you get there any later, you'll be lucky if you find a place to stand without having to lean on the person behind you. Â The bar is dim; lanterns and candles line the walls. Â That part is awesome.
Tuesday nights are Record Club nights, but don't expect to go and hear some good music. Â You won't hear anything over all the other sardines talking to their friends.
Every time I've been here, the bathrooms have been disgusting, and there's always a line. Â Parking isn't so bad though. Â There's usually street parking, and there's that lot behind The Echo, too.
El Prado,
I love your ambiance. You are definitely a true beer and wine spot. I recently quit drinking 6 months ago so it had been awhile since our last encounter but anyway I went to revisit a few weeks ago as I took a friend from out of town and I was happily surprised to see that you serve non alcoholic beer that I got to enjoy with the cheese platter. Well done el prado, well done!
El Prado is such a special place.
It's like stepping into a friend's home. Dim lighting and candles set the mood for a calm, yet cool environment to drink some of the finest beers anywhere in LA. The DJs keep the tunes fresh and the vibe going in this hipster paradise.
There's a smoking patio out back. The bathrooms are generally clean and stocked. There's usually plenty of street parking and there's never been a line to get in.
My favorite menu item: The walnut platter. $3 for a bowl full of walnuts you have to crack yourself. It's a great conversation piece and a great way to get your protein and essential omega-3.
Favorite Beer? I haven't tried them all, but the Pilsner is fantastic, and at $6 a pint, it's not too hard on the wallet.
It's a pretty small, very warmly decorated little place with a decent selection of beer and wine that differs from standard bar fare. The bartenders are friendly and the crowd is the echo park cool kid set you'd have to expect.
This place is LOUD though, especially when packed with people and their music (all vinyl, nice touch) playing full volume.
It's a nice place, and walking distance for me, but i'm not exactly counting down the days until I go back. Good for a beer after dinner with someone special or a good friend if nothing else.
All the talk in the news these days seems to be about "downgrading." I'm sorry to say that I too am downgrading my yelp review from 5 stars (my original post) to 3.
My past few experiences at El Prado have been more and more disheartening. Some of my favorite drink selections are no longer offered. The cheese plate has sadly become just a few thin slices of cured meat and small portions of cheese that are easily finished before the crackers run out.
However, what really convinced me to rethink my rating was the last time i ordered a cheese plate the bartender told me they were "a little too busy to make it for me" If that's the case I'd rather it not be offered on the menu. It came off offensive and made me feel like i was less important of a patron than someone there for a drink. Â Now I'm not blaming this on the bartender because he was very busy at the time and the bar was pretty crowded. I feel this is more a problem with management. They obviously do not hire enough staff to serve the large crowds they receive. At some points we even witnessed the door man collecting empty glasses and helping bar back due to the lack of staff.
All I ask as a loyal patron is to respect your customers by showing they are valued and hire enough staff to support us.
This has to be my favorite bar, weird how I ended up in this place, ready okay.
So it was Diana and I on a mission to go out on a Wednesday, thirsty right? We decided to go to dub club. Some of my friends decided to come last minute so they met us there . Of course one 3 stooges didn't have his id, well he did but it was expired. IDIOT, so we left and walked back to the car. It was only 11:00 pm and not ready to go back to the valley so we came across this bar. OHMYGAWWWD I just fell in love it was so cute and precious. Of course the idiot friend bought me drinks and let me tell you they have some of the best beer there. Its like a fruity beer I just love it. And for some odd reason it gets me really drunk like more than usual. so that's a plus.
The bar is really nice, cute decor inside, super clean and always good vibes. Its super dark sooooo get your drink on and get in the mood for that young intimate night, its perfect .
I met my date here last night. Even though I knew it's a beer and wine bar, I still wanted to check it out.
Walking up to it, I noticed it's in the same building as my old dentist (actually, he's still my dentist, but I go to his other office now). Parting the curtain, you almost immediately run into the one long bar. It was packed which seemed unusual for a Monday night.
I ordered the Stone Smoked Porter which was easy drinking. A pint was $6. I didn't bother looking through the wines. Bar snacks like olives and nuts were fairly reasonable but I had already grabbed a slice of pizza from across the street.
We sat in a tiny booth. You would never even notice the two small booths on either side of the door unless you knew they were there. There were some additional seats against the wall but no ledges so it'd be awkward to sit there with your glasses.
After a bit, the whole place cleared out. Very mysterious how the Echo Park denizens move.
I miss my 20's occasionally. I miss having the patience to put up with music that's trendy but not actually good. I miss thinking a place is cool just because it's got good lighting and interesting beer. I miss not caring so much when things are crowded and people are stepping in my dance space.
El Prado is not mellow or chill or cool. It is packed to the gills with the hoodie brigade and their urban outfitted lady friends. It's fine if you get there early, but if you don't, beware the crowd. You'll be pushed up against the wall more times than a baby-faced prisoner.
If that still sounds appealing to you, order the beer because by god the wine is the worst swill I've ever forced down my throat. Impressed by the prices of $5 a glass? Mais non, mon ami. This wine is worse than boxed. It's worse than vinegar. It's worse than Two Buck Chuck. Run away, run away. And when you run, run down the street to City Sip. They serve real wine. And have more space. And they have real food, too. And people there actually dress themselves like they've graduated from Kindergarten. Your lunchbox purse makes you look like an overgrown baby and you're not kind of a big deal.
The defense rests.
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