Is Al Mar safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Al Mar as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Al Mar
“Go. Al Mar is a calm, low-key residential pocket in Northwest Tampa that offers a quiet suburban feel with low violent crime rates. Visitors will experience a peaceful neighborhood vibe, though standard precautions against car break-ins should be observed.”
About the area
Al Mar is an established, predominantly residential neighborhood in Northwest Tampa characterized by mid-century single-family homes and quiet residential streets. While it has few commercial attractions within its immediate boundaries, it offers swift access to Latin dining corridors and key Tampa transit arteries.
- Quiet Residential
- Suburban Pocket
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Oriented
Walking and biking in Al Mar
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There are no bike-share stations in Al Mar, and while local neighborhood roads have low traffic, accessing major regional trails like the Upper Tampa Bay Trail requires navigating busy arterials without dedicated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to central Tampa urban cores
- Stable residential fabric with high proportion of long-term single-family homeowners
- Convenient driving access to North Dale Mabry Highway, ZooTampa, and Tampa International Airport
Cons
- Sporadic opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins reported in the area
- Lack of continuous sidewalks and dedicated street lighting on several interior residential blocks
- Virtually no walkable commercial amenities or dining inside the neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically nonexistent on Al Mar's interior residential streets, though occasional panhandling occurs at major arterial intersections along nearby commercial strips.
What Al Mar is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents depart for work, with very safe conditions for a morning walk.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet suburban atmosphere with low vehicular traffic on interior residential roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued and family-oriented as households settle in, remaining safe for evening strolls.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and generally safe, though limited street lighting means staying alert against property theft is wise.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides local bus connections via routes along nearby Armenia Avenue and Hillsborough Avenue, though no light rail or BRT services are within walking distance.
Street parking along residential roads is free and unmetered, while commercial plazas along adjacent corridors offer extensive complimentary surface lots.
Things to do in Al Mar
- Sample authentic Cuban pastries and traditional dishes along nearby North Armenia Avenue
- Take a short drive to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for wildlife exhibits and family entertainment
- Spend an afternoon relaxing or fishing at nearby Egypt Lake and community green spaces
Local favorites
- El Gallo De Oro Restaurant · Cuban Restaurant · 4.4★ (480)Unassuming neighborhood counter serving traditional pressed Cuban sandwiches, yellow rice, and roast pork.
- Antojitos Latin Cafe · Latin American Restaurant · 4.6★ (320)Cozy, vibrant cafe known for homemade empanadas, hearty breakfast platters, and espresso.
- Mr. Empanada · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.3★ (650)Tampa-born favorite turning out a wide assortment of freshly fried savory empanadas and dips.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.