This New York Hotel is undoubtedly my favourite for a real slice of city life

If you're heading to New York you will likely have asked the question, 'Where's best to stay?' From the all-welcome West Village, or boujie shopping neighbourhood of Soho, to the upscale Grand Dame hotels close to Central Park - there’s no shortage of amazing spots to choose from. However my favourite place to stay in New York is none of these, instead it's downtown towards the southern tip of Manhattan, and specifically Warren Street in lower TriBeCa. A trendy local neighbourhood beloved by celebs and wealthy New Yorkers in the know, it also offers a window into NY history, with cobbled streets and restored red brick warehouses from the 19th Century.

So for full disclosure, I may be a little biased when it comes to my love of Warren Street as my bestie lived here for several years, but this also means I’ve spent quite a bit of time getting to know the neighbourhood. So on a recent trip, to work with Pamela Anderson for her global Glamour Women of The Year cover shoot, and with my bestie no longer there to room with, I jumped at the chance to check in at the Warren Street Hotel. We’d watched with interest from her apartment window as the hotel was built.

Warren Street Hotel is an outpost of the Firmdale hotel group known for their chichi London destination hotels, including the Ham Yard, Covent Garden, Soho and Haymarket hotels. The distinctive and eclectic design aesthetic with bold, plush interiors and art features, masterminded by founder Kit Kemp and her daughters, is recognisably familiar. Think quirky English personality mixed with a bold Manhattan spirit, it's both visually arresting and reassuringly comfortable.

The lobby sets the tone in bold yellow and green hues with a large abstract oil-on-canvas by Vanessa Jackson and striking sculpture by Wendell Castle. Next door, the hotel bar and all-day dining brasserie, is decorated in French tapestry-style wallpaper. It's the hub of the hotel with a steady daily flow, from serving English or American-style breakfast to hotel guests to locals popping in for a meeting or a bite to eat.

Also on the ground floor, there's an English-style drawing room decorated in berry tones, complete with antique furniture, it's the ideal place to pull up a chair and read (or let's be honest catch up on your social scroll). Rich textiles feature throughout the hotel, as homage to the area being the textile hub in the 19th Century.

I stayed in the Garden Suite and for my few days in town, I delighted at being a New Yorker, imagining myself living in my own luxe apartment (complete with Carrie Bradshaw wardrobe of course!) Nestled at the back of the hotel on one of the lower floors, the living area leads out onto a garden terrace with a sofa, dining table and lots of foliage lit with twinkling lights, it's a relaxing oasis of calm, perfect to chill or entertain in. No doubt eyed with envy by neighbours in the surrounding buildings, in a city where outside space comes at a premium.

I flung the doors open and turned up the vinyl tunes on the record player provided in the room, which included classics from the Beatles, Prince, The Doors to Taylor Swift, Oasis and Amy Winehouse. The rich warm terracotta and yellow tones in the living area and bedroom, plus the luxe layering of textures and colour in the furnishings, give a cocooning feel. A comfortable home away from home in the midst of one of the busiest cities on the planet. I could have stayed a whole while longer than my schedule allowed.

The hotel has 69 individually designed rooms, including 3 terrace suites decorated in soft pastel hues with ‘green terraces’, planted with ferns and birch trees that overlook Warren Street below. They offer a fascinating view over neighbouring roof top gardens and an insight into New York life above ground level. The hotel also has it's own roof terrace up on the top floor, with reclining beds, where you'll have an up close view of the One World Trade building that towers across the skyline.

Step outside the hotel and there's a so much to discover within easy walking distance - it's several blocks south to the financial district, the Ground Zero memorial and museum, the architecturally impressive Westfield Oculus shopping centre and the new Perelman Performing Arts Center next door. Head east up Warren Street to discover Brooklyn Bridge, it's just a 30 minute stroll over to discover the sights of DUMBO and Brooklyn beyond. Alternatively, walk a few blocks west to the Hudson River, chill here in the park in the evening sun with the locals or stroll up the river walkway to take in the views of the Statue of Liberty.

Some of my favourite local neighbourhood haunts to check out during your visit include Warren Peace a stroll across the road from the hotel, it's a prohibition-style cocktail bar and a good spot for an end of day or end of night cocktail! For swanky cocktails with a view back over the skyline had to Manhatta, and another must try is Smith and Mills a secret spot with room for just 25 people. Make like a local and buy a lunchtime bagel from Zucker's, get the best coffee from Hungry Ghost on Church and Reade, head to my favourite spot for brunch, Bubby's (although best on a weekday to avoid the crowds) or for a great burger try Au Cheval. I'd highly recommend booking an evening of jazz at Dejango's in the Roxy Hotel and if you want one more late night drink head to Weather Up on Duane Street.

As many of the subway lines enter Manhattan at the southern tip, there’s also a good choice of subway lines to whizz uptown. Head to Soho and visit the Warren's sister property The Crosby Street Hotel for dinner and great people watching, or take a cab to the Meat Packing District and walk the High Line. Then when tired feet call, head back to the comforts and peace of your room at The Warren Street Hotel. With all this on the doorstep, you get to enjoy a real slice of upmarket New York life but with a little less of the hustle and bustle of some areas, so you'll get a decent nights sleep too. And it's exactly why I plan to return to The Warren Street on my next trip.

Rooms start at The Warren Street Hotel from $895.

For more from GLAMOUR's Camilla Kay, follow her on Instagram @camilla.kay.