The barbecue at Cages is legit. And if you haven’t been to or heard about Cages Bar & Sports, you’re missing out on the most epic sports bar in Shanghai.
It’s a cavernous space, home to all kinds of indoor sports from batting cages, to enclosed fields equipped for dodgeball, battle archery, and football. There are of course typical bar games like pool, foosball, and darts, but also a ridiculous number of arcade games.
Add to that massive screens on every possible wall, streaming live and recap sports.





Food is American fare on steroids. Huge portions and plenty of selection: wings that come in the full spectrum of mild to spicy, nachos, quesadillas, burgers, a dozen sandwiches, pizzas, tacos, large sharing meats, and more. It’s really endless.
Plus, there are so many taps, I lose count how many beers they have on draft. Add to that house spirits and a dozen solid cocktails.

Where to start? Thursdays, my friends.
Cages serves a special barbecue menu every Thursday from 5pm until it’s all sold out. Chef Jason Oakley has installed a mammoth piece of machinery in the kitchen—a Southern Pride smoker—to render the meats into submission.

Short of typing up the entire menu—the menu is pretty clear about what meats are available, what sides accompany, and list out each flavor profile of the sauces—there are quite a few highlights.
The 18-hour smoked beef brisket is tender, encircled with ringlets of melt-in-your-mouth fat. The Texas Red sauce is made for this glorious cut. The slightly sweet and peppery tomato based sauce cuts the heaviness with a nice vinegary, spicy kick.
Don’t miss the cornbread either. It’s made in a waffle iron, which gives the crumbly, mildly sweet bread extra crispy edges.









How To Order
Go big or go home—get a troupe and order everything. Or:
Pick a platter, which includes one choice of meat, two sides, freshly baked white bread, coleslaw, and pickles. One meat item for ¥128, two meats, ¥178, three for ¥228.

Reservations recommended. Go early to avoid disappointment. Starts every Thursday from 5pm, sells out around 10pm. Regular menu available.
Cages Bar & Sports
Address: 3/F, 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu 江宁路428号3楼, 近武定路
Tel: 52995273
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat-Sun 9am-2am