Sky-Ride Tap

Chicago, Illinois

Field Note

Dive bars benefit from feeling a bit hidden or off the beaten path in some way and downtown Chicago’s Sky-Ride Tap has managed that difficult feat in densely packed part of the city thanks to its hideout status under the city’s elevated train system. Named after a famous aerial gondola-like attraction at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, the similarities between the glitz and glamor of an international gathering end at the bar’s name, the interior a classic, no-frills dive bar space.

The Yukon Bock Building that houses Sky-Ride Tap was erected in 1897 and is one of the oldest taxpayer-funded buildings in the downtown Loop district. The area was once referred to as Old Chinatown and Sky-Ride Tap’s parent building is one of the last remaining structure from that era. Owner Kyriakos “Carl” Deamianides served in the Greek military before emigrating to Chicago where he was introduced to the owner of the bar that owned what is now Sky-Ride Tap. Shortly after, Damianides purchased the space in 1972 and has maintained ownership ever since.

Business at Sky-Ride Tap has long been strong thanks to its proximity to the nearby train system. Though COVID-19 hampered revenue significantly, the business has endured the many waves of change that have rippled through the nearby area, always making ends meet thanks to its convenient location and affordable pricing. The space caters to train patrons so heavily that the clocks are set 10 minutes fast to ensure that everyone gets out and to their platform on time.

Sky-Ride Tap is home to one of the best dive bar signs in a city with no shortage of great examples. Massive block lettering spells out the name of the bar as well as two important additions, “Sandwiches” and “Package Goods,” referring to the ability to grab a six-pack to go on the way out. Neon dedicated to a handful of Chicago sports team can be found in the bar’s window. The Sky-Ride Tap sign is paired with an equally impressive installation next door, the towering sign above BoniVino Pizza next door.

The layout inside Sky-Ride Tap is about as straightforward as it gets, a long room populated by a curved bar counter on one side and a handful of tables & chairs along the opposite wall. Tile flooring, a drop ceiling and full-length wood paneling create a classic dive bar appearance, padded black stools lining the bar. Signage here is minimal, the walls largely left to their wood grain glory aside from a beer mirror or sports schedule here and there.

The bar itself is probably the star of the Sky-Ride Tap show thanks to a half moon-style bend in the center of the structure. The bend coincides with a break in the counter behind the bar and an oval-shaped, illuminated ridge that juts out from the wall and covers this Sky-Ride Tap centerpiece. A handful of framed photos, sports pennants and bar snacks can be found behind the bar, but the ambiance here is minimalist by dive bar standards.

Though a digital jukebox and a small set of TVs can be found inside Sky-Ride Tap, this is a Chicago dive bar made for grabbing a quick beer on the way home from work, exchanging a few words with a friend and moving on. The hours of the space match the transitory clientele, Sky-Ride Tap open between 7 AM and 9 PM each weekday and closed on weekends.