...The restaurant Sister Moon is another story.

We’re often told, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” and the theory is proven somewhat true, given that the building's exterior doesn’t exactly stop you in your tracks. But step inside, and it's a different story – a whimsical one, at that. The building spans 14 floors, so there’s a fair amount of lift travel involved, but once you’re settled in, you’ll soon forget you’re staying in a building in the middle of the city.

Before we get into it, I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a place that boasts quite so much space and depth. The Treetop Suite goes against the status quo of city hotels and feels like stepping inside a children’s book – or very on brand with its name – a treehouse you once dreamt about having many moons back. 

It’s packed with personality without feeling like the designer’s tried to force a theme, with interiors that sit somewhere between an alpine retreat and a homage to iconic relics of the past. Think stripped-back wood, vintage cameras, antique radios, typewriters, and books dotted around the suite. You even get your own little pets for the weekend (well, sort of), in the form of two faux birds perched inside a red birdcage.

While it technically only sleeps three, the real appeal is its hosting space. With room for eight around the dining table and a living space overlooking the city, it’d be rude not to have friends over, open a bottle or two of something, and make a night of it.

There’s even a Victrola vinyl player (which I’ve subtly thrown into family group chats ahead of Christmas), with records ranging from ABBA to The Smiths and The Stone Roses. My favourite spot was the window seat, where we could watch the bustle of the city without having to be part of it.

For all its vintage charm, the suite doesn’t sacrifice modern comforts for the aesthetic. There are two huge TVs, electric blackout blinds, and an electric fireplace that brings a proper countryside-retreat feel to the space. There's even a separate kitchen, decked out with classic SMEG appliances. 

At one point, I spent a good few minutes wondering why a book cabinet leading into the bedroom had been installed at such a bizarre angle. So there I was, conducting my own little architectural investigation, wondering whether something was blocking it or the measurements were slightly off in the planning stages.

Well, it’s a great thing I never went into interior design; when closed, you’d never know there was another quarter of the living space hiding behind it, complete with a bedroom, dressing table (with excellent lighting, may I add), a second bathroom with a double sink, a massive tin bath, and a walk-in shower.

I can see it working throughout the year, but the prospect of a winter stay really brings it home for me. Spend the afternoon at Manchester’s Christmas markets, come back to the suite, put some records on, and gather everyone around the dining table with drinks and snacks.

Treehouse has four food and drink spots on site: Sister Moon, The Nest, The Hideout, and Pip. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to visit, either.

A friend and I opted for Sister Moon, the Southeast Asian restaurant from chef Sam Grainger, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the stay.

The restaurant has an open kitchen, which is always oddly satisfying. Food arrives as it’s ready rather than all at once, making the meal feel like one continuous feast. 

We worked our way through several dishes, including the fried chicken, served with white pepper, fish sauce caramel, and cucumber. I’m not sure I can adequately explain how good this was, but the combination of flavours was ridiculous in the best possible way.

The grilled prawns, served with calamansi, crispy chilli, and garlic alongside a prawn green sauce, were another standout, as was the heritage tomato som tam. A word of warning on that last one, though: the staff were kind enough to flag just how spicy it was before we tucked in, and I can confirm they weren’t exaggerating. I like to think I can handle my spice, but this dish massively humbled me. So, if you’re on a first date and they start requesting a glass of milk mid-meal, you might get the ick pretty quickly.

But if there’s one dish that has me plotting a return visit, it’s the slow-cooked lamb shoulder curry with fresh peppercorns.

At £32 without sides, it’s certainly on the pricier side, and I’d strongly recommend ordering the sticky rice alongside it. I don’t say this lightly: it’s up there with the top five dishes I’ve ever eaten, not just at the restaurant, but in Manchester as a whole. This is absolutely going on my list of payday treats and special-occasion dinners.

Absolutely. Treehouse Manchester is a genuinely different kind of city stay to anything ever experienced, and that’s what makes it memorable. It feels like a cosy lodge retreat in the Lakes while being right in the centre of Manchester, and the amount of space means you can make as much or as little of your stay as you like.

My one regret is not bringing my dog. As I soon discovered, the hotel is dog-friendly, which is a particularly welcome surprise for somewhere so central. Between the dog bed in reception and the general sense that four-legged guests are genuinely welcome, it’s a refreshing alternative to the city hotels where bringing your pet can feel like an afterthought or an inconvenience.