Fantastic location - great travel links. Hotel was full of charm and character, even the stair case ! Surrounding area superb, great shops and night life. Hotel bar nice place to start off the night. Paris isn't the cheapest place to eat eat and drink but Hotel Central is an ideal base to explore Paris from. Would stay again.

I've just reserved for September 2010. This will be the 4th time I stay at the Hotel Central Marais over a period of 8 years.
I had to laugh at the earlier reviewer who said he got a much better price and facilities a 15 minute subway ride out. I want to be able to step out the door and be in the heart of Paris. This location is perfect. The building is 17th century.....that means no elevator. That means character spiral staircase for you to drag your bag up. I could not stand to stay in the Holiday Inn Paris. This hotel gives you real ambiance.
You can stroll 10 minutes down a cobbled street to Notre Dam cathedral, a few blocks the other way is the historic Jewish quarter. Many gay places are also in easy walking distance, including my favourite the Bears Den.
The rooms are charming in a down market way. Last time I stayed there the floor in my room had a pronounced slant to it. But the widows are big, with charming views. If you are obsessed with cleanliness, high thread count lines, or private bathrooms, this will not be the hotel for you. Probably not a place for typical American travellers.
But if you like charming authenticity, a great location, and a moderate price, this would be right for you.

Stayed with friends in late September 2009. Rooms are spacious with lovely big windows in a wonderful area of Paris.

Le Central Marais is located on a corner of two streets that form a T. A gay bookstore is few doors down; two or three cafe are diagonally across from the hotel, a comedy club is down the block, an off-off Broadway-type little theatre is around the corner, and a killer magazin de glace is on the opposite corner. From your windows (I always ask for a corner room) are the rooftops of Paris--OLD Paris, the Paris most Americans come to Paris to find, ancient, lived-in, human Paris. Yes, it's a little seedy. Yes, it's a little unkempt (buy some ankle socks for walking about if the carpets scare you). Yes, the stairs are daunting (but most gym-bunnies can deal with it or ask for a room on a lower floor and deal with the sharing. And, as far as that goes, on each floor is a room with a shower, a sink and a toilet. Also on each room is just a toilet. So, you are never really interupted in your ablutions). BUT, Martin and Aylou are very helpful, even putting up with your bad French with a smile (though their English is impeccable). BUT, there is charm in the large French windows and drapes, the high ceilings, the bits of wooden beams around doorways and in ceilings. BUT, the Rivoli, the Hotel de Ville, the Pompidou Center, THE RIVER, the old Jewish Quarter are all within walking distance. For the sexual, so are Le MicMan with is cavernous dark basement, The Station (used to be L'Arene) with it's warren of possibilities for the price of a drink, Le Depot (combo sex-club and disco) for 7 euors (maybe 8 now), and all of the sex-shops, dirty bookstores with video cabines, and hustlers of the Rue St. Denis. St Paul and Hotel de Ville are where you'll find the #1 Mtro line that will take you to the rest of Paris. Stop quibbling, guys. It's the Old World. AND WE OUGHT TO TRY TO KEEP OUR MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY. After all, it is gay owned and operated with a bar tres petit et charmant on the premises. I have been coming to Le Central Marais for years and I will be there agin in 2010. Maybe I'll meet you there and we can have cafe cross the street at L'Etoile out on the sidewalk. It's on me.