Is Downtown Hollywood safe?
Hollywood, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Downtown Hollywood as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Downtown Hollywood
“Go. Downtown Hollywood is a vibrant, arts-forward commercial district that is generally safe for dining, strolls, and entertainment. Visitors should exercise standard urban precautions late at night near bars and along the quieter side streets off the main commercial strip.”
Ongoing downtown redevelopment and CRA investments continue to add high-density mixed-use towers and increase private security and police patrols along the commercial spine.
About the area
Downtown Hollywood is a historic urban core centered on Hollywood Boulevard and the ten-acre ArtsPark at Young Circle. It features an eclectic mix of international restaurants, independent cafes, colorful street murals, and growing high-density residential towers.
- Walkable Dining Hub
- Arts & Murals
- Nightlife Heavy
- Urban Core
Walking and biking in Downtown Hollywood
Walk score: 88/100 · Bike score: 72/100
The neighborhood features bike racks and marked lanes leading east toward the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, though heavy traffic on multi-lane thoroughfares requires caution.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Consistent foot traffic and dedicated police and CRA ambassador presence along primary retail corridors.
- Significant capital investment and new residential high-rise development around Young Circle.
- Well-illuminated, pedestrian-scaled layout along Hollywood Boulevard and Harrison Street.
Cons
- Higher rates of property crime and vehicle break-ins relative to Broward County suburban averages.
- Noticeable panhandling and loitering concentrated around Young Circle and the Dixie Highway rail corridor.
- Occasional late-night disputes or disturbances linked to bars and nightlife venues.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately prevalent in Downtown Hollywood, particularly along benches in ArtsPark at Young Circle and near the Dixie Highway corridor. Panhandling occurs near busy intersections, but individuals are generally non-aggressive.
What Downtown Hollywood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and safe, with morning joggers, dog walkers, and commuters patronizing local coffee shops around the circle.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and generally secure as shoppers, business workers, and diners fill the sidewalks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively and welcoming along the illuminated main restaurant corridors with a steady crowd.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Noticeably rowdier around bars and clubs; visitors should stick to well-traveled avenues and avoid deserted side alleys or the railroad tracks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides regular bus service along major corridors via Routes 1 and 7, complemented by the local Hollywood Trolley linking downtown to the beach. The Hollywood Tri-Rail / Amtrak commuter station is located approximately 1.5 miles west.
Metered street parking is available along Hollywood Boulevard and Harrison Street via mobile apps. Multiple public garages, including the Van Buren and Radius garages, offer affordable parking at roughly $1.50 per hour.
Things to do in Downtown Hollywood
- Follow the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project to view dozens of large-scale outdoor contemporary murals.
- Enjoy outdoor concerts, food truck rallies, or the glassblowing studio at ArtsPark at Young Circle.
- Sample international cuisine and craft drinks along the shaded pedestrian sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.
Local favorites
- The Tipsy Boar · Gastropub · 4.5★ (2600)Lively neighborhood spot offering an expansive craft beer draft list, wood-fired pizzas, and classic gastropub bites.
- Runas Peruvian Cuisine · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.7★ (2100)Upscale eatery featuring fresh ceviches, lomo saltado, and signature pisco sours in a modern dining room.
- Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub & Restaurant · Irish Pub · 4.5★ (2200)Casual community gathering hub known for traditional pub fare, televised sports, and regular live music.
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.