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Finding a hairdresser who really gets you is hard enough, but locking down a tattoo artist who can turn your dream of a thigh-spanning tribute to your childhood pet guinea pig into reality? That's a relationship that requires trust. So, to simplify the process, we've rounded up the best tattoo shops in Brooklyn and Manhattan—from traditional parlors that traffic in sailor tats, to the spot where you're most likely to see Rihanna getting inked.
Simple, solid, reliable and classic — that’s the setting for one of the East Village’s realest real-deal tattoo shops. The no-frills space and unpretentious attitude make you feel instantly confident in the caliber of the artists here,which range from Eric Rignall’s mesmerizing grand-scale scenes (think war battles and ships at sea) and Eddie Carrero’s pin-ups to Jose Soto’s Japanese pieces and Ronen Bichacho’s dreamscapes and iconography. The shop has a minimum of $70, and charges $180 per hour for larger works.
Keep it simple at this shop that's become an East Village fixture. Not one to bend to trends, the parlor keeps things classic and true to the original edgy spirit of tattooing with a bare-bones interior, modest prices, and an emphasis on quality work. This is your go-to if you’re seeking something traditional: Anna Melo is your girl for flowers, animals, and global prints like Sanskrit; Rodrigo Melo does portraits and Japanese artwork; Dana Helmuth does incredible detailed, large-scale scenes; and Leandro Nascimbene shows an imaginative side with colorful characters and pin-ups.
Lori Leven also opened her shop before tattooing was legal, and New York Adorned has been on the rise ever since with a consistent cast of incredibly talented artists. Yoni Zilber’s unbelievably detailed exotic tattoos, Jase’s bold black art pieces, Kris Magnotti’s vibrant traditional works, and Dan Bythewood’s classic, colorful stunners are among the ink attracting the downtown set and earning the allegiance of fashion industry folks, all at a shop minimum of $100 and an hourly rate of $200. Bonus: you’ll be under the same roof as the shop’s popular piercing operation helmed by J. Colby Smith, as well as the jewelry line Love, Adorned.
Kings Avenue Tattoo is noted for is incredibly clean presentation and patient, attentive staff. Previous patrons assure that after an extensive consultation, it's impossible to walk away with anything less than perfection. Brian Paul is recommended for tattoos that require small detail, and Kat Von D does stints a guest artist.
Hypnotizing black and white landscapes, dreamy mythical motifs, stupefyingly realistic portraits, innovative fine art pieces. Whatever kind of tattoo you want, you can get it done (and amazingly so) at Three Kings. Since its 2008 opening, the shop has been a go-to for everyone from rockers to fashion VIPs, and its artists are often called upon to work at events and openings. Between its two locations, the shop has an impressive stable of 15 artists in addition to a rotation of the some of the world’s most respected tattooers. They take walk-ins seven days a week, but you might have to wait for star artists like Matt Marcus, Matt Bivetto, Myles Karr, Adam Machin, or Amy Shapiro. Rates are between $80 and $175 per hour.
Tattoo Culture is where to go to get the kinds of things you never dreamed could be permanently inked onto your skin. Joining resident artists Gene Coffey, Brian Wren, and George Bardadim is a constant rotation of visiting artists from around the world. Insanely detailed geometric motifs, museum-worthy watercolors, surrealist portraits — whether color or black-and-white, this shop serves up pieces that turn your body into a walking gallery. Keep an eye on the website to see who’s tattooing there at any given time and go from there with a consultation. Hourly rates range from $150 to $300.
You'll find Scott Campbell at Saved, who's responsible for some of Marc Jacobs' ink. Among the rest of its talented artists are Chris O'Donnell, who's mastered vibrant color, and Seth Wood, who's your go-to-guy for a killer animal tat.
This newcomer helmed by BAZ opened in August after his successful run things at New York Hardcore. BAZ has tattooed everyone from tourists to Tyson Beckford and is known for pitch-perfect work on traditional tats like pin-ups, skulls, and Americana (not to mention an Elvis specialty). Until a permanent team is established, the 16-year ink vet is keeping a rotation of standout guest artists, so it’s worth stopping in to see who’s there at the moment.
This is the real, gritty deal. It opened here in the 1980s — before tattooing was even legalized in New York — and the outlaw spirit has continued on even in its current, perfectly legal, squeaky-clean state. Its rebellious roots attracts some of the tattoo scene’s best artists — newbies and inked-up pros alike seek out Big Steve for his chameleon-like ability to tattoo flawlessly in any style, and Mina Aoki for her striking traditional pieces. The shop’s minimum is $100 and from there, tattoos will cost you a $200 hourly rate.
Emily Conley and Veronica Cano’s Orchard Street shop was already serving as a rock-and-roll headquarters when it opened in 2011 with clothes, accessories, and home decor for the fashion-forward headbanger. But Grit N Glory stepped up its one-stop-shopping for rocker girls when tattoo artist Megan Massacre set up in the back in 2014. The celebrity artist holds down the fort with incredibly detailed tattoos in technicolored hues (her animal portraits are especially jaw-dropping) for a shop minimum of $200, and she's often joined by guest artists doing short-term stints.
A departure from your typical tattoo shop — fluorescent lighting, lack of decor — White Rabbit is a stylish and well-appointed space with a taxidermy-and-chandelier theme that fits perfectly into its Lower East Side setting. The shop uses 100% vegan ink and products, and keeps it classy with tea and espresso on hand for clients. For a $150 shop minimum, you can get a crazy-detailed mandala or geometric design from Bradley, a boldly colored traditional piece from Cole, an incredibly realistic portrait from June, or an old-school flower or skull from Miles. You can even pick up vegan lotion on your way out to care for your ink.
You might recognize Sacred Tattoo’s space first: the huge loft has been the setting for tons of ink-related shows, like the cover-up magic of “America’s Worst Tattoos.” Owner Wes Wood is an NYC tattoo scene veteran who also owns a tattoo and piercing supply company, so you know your artists are working with the best stuff. Speaking of artists, you’ll have to join a wait list to get a slot with sought-after Rods Jimenez, who creates black monochrome masterpieces that look like they might come to life. There’s also Andy B., the go-to for pet portrait and Jon Mesa for colorful flora and fauna among the other talented staffers and guest tattooers, whose hourly rates falling between $200 and $250.
The Gowanus shop's niche is its traditional work. Artists Steve Boltz, Bert Krak, Daniel Santoro, and Eli Quinters create such flawless pieces that are so vibrantly colored and perfectly detailed that now the entire city and beyond knows where to go for tattoos in their most timeless sense. But don’t confuse classic with simple — these are works of art you’ll be glad you get to look at forever. And bonus: The team of artists is also loved for being nice, calm, and patient.
Having tattooed around the world, Josh Egnew developed a cult following in New York at Three Kings Tattoo before opening up his own shop earlier this year. The Crown Heights spot has already been getting rave reviews for its impeccably clean interior, chill vibes, and )most importantly) its artwork. Egnew brought on the equally talented and experienced artist Jeremy Sutton, and later Craig “Boxcar” Chazen joined the team. Together, the trio offer a range of black and white realism, color-saturated Japanese artwork, lively animal motifs, and trippy surrealist pieces that all start at a $100 shop minimum.
Anton Zolotov set out to create an art project, not just a tattoo shop, when he opened Black Square in 2013. The space is meant to be a place to chill even if you’re not getting inked, with a selection of cool, under-the-radar zines (including a shop zine) and books. Zolotov recruited his tattooers based on their non-body art: Beyond permanently marking skin, each team member also creates fine art, from Louis Brengard and his traditional-yet-quirky black drawings like that much-Instagrammed Joan Didion tat and Noel Chanyungco and his haunting color pieces. All artists have a starting shop minimum of $80.
You may have heard talk about Magic Cobra Tattoo Society around any Friday the 13th, as the shop is usually one of the best places offering $13 flash sheets (the lines on these days are understandably never-ending). If you’ve got something specific in mind and a little more cash to spend, Adam Korothy does everything from pin-ups to trippy realist-meets-surrealist pieces, Kati Vaughn does vivid flowers and insects, and Woodz does grandiose scenes and intricate portraits. For these and other artists, the shop minimum is $80.
Tongue-in-cheek quirk, girl power, and incredibly unique ink is all at new kid on the block Meattt, Inc. Marina Heintze built her shop around the lighthearted view of the body as a “piece of meat,” styling its interior with an artsy Brooklyn take on a butcher shop and adding a gallery twist by making all the artwork on the walls for sale. For wearable art, Heintze serve up truly inspired tattoos that often capture a cheerful sense of humor —think bright palm trees, skeletons with pool toys and cartoon ghosts — for a shop minimum of $100.
Simple, solid, reliable and classic — that’s the setting for one of the East Village’s realest real-deal tattoo shops. The no-frills space and unpretentious attitude make you feel instantly confident in the caliber of the artists here,which range from Eric Rignall’s mesmerizing grand-scale scenes (think war battles and ships at sea) and Eddie Carrero’s pin-ups to Jose Soto’s Japanese pieces and Ronen Bichacho’s dreamscapes and iconography. The shop has a minimum of $70, and charges $180 per hour for larger works.
Keep it simple at this shop that's become an East Village fixture. Not one to bend to trends, the parlor keeps things classic and true to the original edgy spirit of tattooing with a bare-bones interior, modest prices, and an emphasis on quality work. This is your go-to if you’re seeking something traditional: Anna Melo is your girl for flowers, animals, and global prints like Sanskrit; Rodrigo Melo does portraits and Japanese artwork; Dana Helmuth does incredible detailed, large-scale scenes; and Leandro Nascimbene shows an imaginative side with colorful characters and pin-ups.
Lori Leven also opened her shop before tattooing was legal, and New York Adorned has been on the rise ever since with a consistent cast of incredibly talented artists. Yoni Zilber’s unbelievably detailed exotic tattoos, Jase’s bold black art pieces, Kris Magnotti’s vibrant traditional works, and Dan Bythewood’s classic, colorful stunners are among the ink attracting the downtown set and earning the allegiance of fashion industry folks, all at a shop minimum of $100 and an hourly rate of $200. Bonus: you’ll be under the same roof as the shop’s popular piercing operation helmed by J. Colby Smith, as well as the jewelry line Love, Adorned.
Kings Avenue Tattoo is noted for is incredibly clean presentation and patient, attentive staff. Previous patrons assure that after an extensive consultation, it's impossible to walk away with anything less than perfection. Brian Paul is recommended for tattoos that require small detail, and Kat Von D does stints a guest artist.
Hypnotizing black and white landscapes, dreamy mythical motifs, stupefyingly realistic portraits, innovative fine art pieces. Whatever kind of tattoo you want, you can get it done (and amazingly so) at Three Kings. Since its 2008 opening, the shop has been a go-to for everyone from rockers to fashion VIPs, and its artists are often called upon to work at events and openings. Between its two locations, the shop has an impressive stable of 15 artists in addition to a rotation of the some of the world’s most respected tattooers. They take walk-ins seven days a week, but you might have to wait for star artists like Matt Marcus, Matt Bivetto, Myles Karr, Adam Machin, or Amy Shapiro. Rates are between $80 and $175 per hour.
Tattoo Culture is where to go to get the kinds of things you never dreamed could be permanently inked onto your skin. Joining resident artists Gene Coffey, Brian Wren, and George Bardadim is a constant rotation of visiting artists from around the world. Insanely detailed geometric motifs, museum-worthy watercolors, surrealist portraits — whether color or black-and-white, this shop serves up pieces that turn your body into a walking gallery. Keep an eye on the website to see who’s tattooing there at any given time and go from there with a consultation. Hourly rates range from $150 to $300.
You'll find Scott Campbell at Saved, who's responsible for some of Marc Jacobs' ink. Among the rest of its talented artists are Chris O'Donnell, who's mastered vibrant color, and Seth Wood, who's your go-to-guy for a killer animal tat.
This newcomer helmed by BAZ opened in August after his successful run things at New York Hardcore. BAZ has tattooed everyone from tourists to Tyson Beckford and is known for pitch-perfect work on traditional tats like pin-ups, skulls, and Americana (not to mention an Elvis specialty). Until a permanent team is established, the 16-year ink vet is keeping a rotation of standout guest artists, so it’s worth stopping in to see who’s there at the moment.
This is the real, gritty deal. It opened here in the 1980s — before tattooing was even legalized in New York — and the outlaw spirit has continued on even in its current, perfectly legal, squeaky-clean state. Its rebellious roots attracts some of the tattoo scene’s best artists — newbies and inked-up pros alike seek out Big Steve for his chameleon-like ability to tattoo flawlessly in any style, and Mina Aoki for her striking traditional pieces. The shop’s minimum is $100 and from there, tattoos will cost you a $200 hourly rate.
Emily Conley and Veronica Cano’s Orchard Street shop was already serving as a rock-and-roll headquarters when it opened in 2011 with clothes, accessories, and home decor for the fashion-forward headbanger. But Grit N Glory stepped up its one-stop-shopping for rocker girls when tattoo artist Megan Massacre set up in the back in 2014. The celebrity artist holds down the fort with incredibly detailed tattoos in technicolored hues (her animal portraits are especially jaw-dropping) for a shop minimum of $200, and she's often joined by guest artists doing short-term stints.
A departure from your typical tattoo shop — fluorescent lighting, lack of decor — White Rabbit is a stylish and well-appointed space with a taxidermy-and-chandelier theme that fits perfectly into its Lower East Side setting. The shop uses 100% vegan ink and products, and keeps it classy with tea and espresso on hand for clients. For a $150 shop minimum, you can get a crazy-detailed mandala or geometric design from Bradley, a boldly colored traditional piece from Cole, an incredibly realistic portrait from June, or an old-school flower or skull from Miles. You can even pick up vegan lotion on your way out to care for your ink.
You might recognize Sacred Tattoo’s space first: the huge loft has been the setting for tons of ink-related shows, like the cover-up magic of “America’s Worst Tattoos.” Owner Wes Wood is an NYC tattoo scene veteran who also owns a tattoo and piercing supply company, so you know your artists are working with the best stuff. Speaking of artists, you’ll have to join a wait list to get a slot with sought-after Rods Jimenez, who creates black monochrome masterpieces that look like they might come to life. There’s also Andy B., the go-to for pet portrait and Jon Mesa for colorful flora and fauna among the other talented staffers and guest tattooers, whose hourly rates falling between $200 and $250.
The Gowanus shop's niche is its traditional work. Artists Steve Boltz, Bert Krak, Daniel Santoro, and Eli Quinters create such flawless pieces that are so vibrantly colored and perfectly detailed that now the entire city and beyond knows where to go for tattoos in their most timeless sense. But don’t confuse classic with simple — these are works of art you’ll be glad you get to look at forever. And bonus: The team of artists is also loved for being nice, calm, and patient.
Having tattooed around the world, Josh Egnew developed a cult following in New York at Three Kings Tattoo before opening up his own shop earlier this year. The Crown Heights spot has already been getting rave reviews for its impeccably clean interior, chill vibes, and )most importantly) its artwork. Egnew brought on the equally talented and experienced artist Jeremy Sutton, and later Craig “Boxcar” Chazen joined the team. Together, the trio offer a range of black and white realism, color-saturated Japanese artwork, lively animal motifs, and trippy surrealist pieces that all start at a $100 shop minimum.
Anton Zolotov set out to create an art project, not just a tattoo shop, when he opened Black Square in 2013. The space is meant to be a place to chill even if you’re not getting inked, with a selection of cool, under-the-radar zines (including a shop zine) and books. Zolotov recruited his tattooers based on their non-body art: Beyond permanently marking skin, each team member also creates fine art, from Louis Brengard and his traditional-yet-quirky black drawings like that much-Instagrammed Joan Didion tat and Noel Chanyungco and his haunting color pieces. All artists have a starting shop minimum of $80.
You may have heard talk about Magic Cobra Tattoo Society around any Friday the 13th, as the shop is usually one of the best places offering $13 flash sheets (the lines on these days are understandably never-ending). If you’ve got something specific in mind and a little more cash to spend, Adam Korothy does everything from pin-ups to trippy realist-meets-surrealist pieces, Kati Vaughn does vivid flowers and insects, and Woodz does grandiose scenes and intricate portraits. For these and other artists, the shop minimum is $80.
Tongue-in-cheek quirk, girl power, and incredibly unique ink is all at new kid on the block Meattt, Inc. Marina Heintze built her shop around the lighthearted view of the body as a “piece of meat,” styling its interior with an artsy Brooklyn take on a butcher shop and adding a gallery twist by making all the artwork on the walls for sale. For wearable art, Heintze serve up truly inspired tattoos that often capture a cheerful sense of humor —think bright palm trees, skeletons with pool toys and cartoon ghosts — for a shop minimum of $100.
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