If you're near the Prado, try Estado Puro

If you're planning a morning at the Prado Museum, Estado Puro is a good bet for tapas and drinks.  We've also heard that it's a nice place for dinner, but you probably should call ahead for reservations.

The restaurant is located across the street from the main entrance of the Prado on Plaza Cánovas del Castillo. Some of our friends raved about it for innovative, exciting tapas, so we ducked in on a rainy afternoon to give it a try.

Presa iberica con chimichuri

Arroz negro

21st century tortilla

We'll admit that this place isn't a hidden gem, and Estado Puro certainly caters to a touristy crowd.  But the beef dish we tried was nice, and the rice dish, "arroz negro," which took 20 minutes, didn't disappoint.  And the frothy cup that looks like a latte is actually the restaurant's signature take on a tortilla espanola.  It was interesting and worth splitting between two people.

The waitstaff was helpful in offering suggestions for wine pairings, although they had limited English.  As we recall, the price tag for lunch with wine was about 35 euro.  The ambiance was pretty cool too, with lacy decorative filigree mantilla combs on the walls and ceiling.  Keep in mind, though, that that Estado Puro bills themselves as a "new concept of tapas bar," so big entrees are not on this menu.

Estado Puro, Hotel NH
Paseo del Prado
Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, 4
Madrid
(34-91) 330-2400