Sapphire Dragon at Cinnamon Life serves up authentic Cantonese cuisine

THERE'S something quietly poetic about dining above a city. From the 23rd floor of Cinnamon Life’s City of Dreams, Sapphire Dragon watches Colombo unfold beneath a haze of tropical sunlight, its glass walls framing a skyline that seems to hum in rhythm with the kitchen’s own gentle choreography. Here, Cantonese cuisine has found not just a home, but a stage.

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Steered by Chef Maxwell Deng, a native of Zhanjiang—the beating heart of Cantonese tradition, the restaurant tells its story through balance. Every dish, every plated gesture, seems to weigh the nostalgia of old Guangzhou with the sleek precision of modern fine dining.

The meal begins with a whisper rather than a shout. Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Plum and Wine Jelly arrive glistening like small jewels, their sweetness sharp yet melodic, a duet of ripeness and restraint. The Chilled Okra with Wasabi, Thai Chilli, and Black Vinegar follows, crisp and defiant, its spice cutting through with an almost electric clarity. And then, calm again: Sweetcorn Soup with Crab, Scallops, and Egg - golden, velvety, and deeply comforting, the kind of dish that makes conversation pause for a quiet sigh.