Is Cullaro safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Cullaro as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Cullaro
“Go with care. Cullaro is a quiet, working-class residential enclave in West Tampa that rarely sees serious violent crime against visitors, but property crime and petty theft can occur along its outer commercial corridors. There is little reason for tourists to visit the interior residential streets, but the surrounding Latin dining and proximity to major Tampa attractions make it an easy pass-through.”
About the area
Cullaro is a modest, primarily residential neighborhood nestled in northwest Tampa near the Egypt Lake-Leto border. It consists of established mid-century single-family homes, mature trees, and nearby bustling commercial strips offering authentic Caribbean and Latin cuisine.
- Quiet Residential
- Suburban Pocket
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse Community
Walking and biking in Cullaro
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 46/100
There is no local bike-share hub in Cullaro, and dedicated bike lanes are scarce on interior roads, though connections to the broader Hillsborough County trail system exist several miles away.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied and stable residential streets with minimal violent crime
- Close proximity to family attractions like ZooTampa at Lowry Park and West Tampa dining
- Short drive to Raymond James Stadium, Midtown Tampa, and Tampa International Airport
Cons
- Incidents of vehicle burglary and petty property crime along adjacent arterial corridors
- Car-dependent layout with inconsistent sidewalk coverage inside the neighborhood
- Limited tourist infrastructure or dedicated pedestrian zones within neighborhood bounds
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal inside the residential pocket of Cullaro, though individuals and panhandling can occasionally be observed along the major retail intersections of Hillsborough Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway.
What Cullaro is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute, with light local traffic and high visibility.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and safe within the subdivision, while nearby major avenues become active and busy.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Residential streets wind down into quiet evenings with minimal foot traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet, though poorly lit interior side streets mean caution and standard awareness are advised.
Transit, parking and getting around
HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) operates bus Route 34 along Hillsborough Avenue and Route 36 along Dale Mabry Highway; there is no light rail or passenger train station in the immediate area.
Free and ample private driveway parking throughout the residential blocks; commercial plazas along the perimeter offer free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Cullaro
- Sample traditional Cuban sandwiches and pastries along the nearby West Hillsborough Avenue corridor
- Visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park located just a short five-minute drive east
- Enjoy outdoor recreation and sports fields at nearby Egypt Lake Park
Local favorites
- El Mofongo Restaurant · Puerto Rican Restaurant · 4.3★ (1120)Casual, beloved eatery serving hearty portions of classic plantain mofongo and roast pork.
- Tacos Las Californias · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1450)Popular roadside spot celebrated for authentic birria tacos and flavorful consommé.
- Mr. Empanada · Empanada Shop · 4.4★ (580)Local counter-service chain known for freshly fried gourmet empanadas and Cuban snacks.
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.