The art of tattooing goes back to the Bronze Age, as proven by Otzi the Iceman, a frozen man with 57 tattoos found in an Alpine glacier. Despite their long history, tattoos were illegal in some parts of the United States in the 20th century. In New York City, they weren’t legalized until 1997.
Luckily for anyone who loves ink, tattoos are no longer illegal or taboo in most places in the country, so going underground for one and then having to hide it is a thing of the past.
These are the best tattoo shops in the U.S.
35. Art Collector
Location: Los Angeles, California
While small, Art Collector is quickly gaining attention in the L.A. tattoo scene. The shop has four artists. Nik Lucas is the founder and main artist, with the other three bringing their own styles to the shop. All of them are experts at lack and gray design.
With more than 10 years of experience, Lucas has a defined and unique style that has landed his shop on this list. Realistic portraits are turned surreal with splashes of color and interventions of lines and geometric shapes. This is the kind of shop where you trust the artists to do their thing rather than give them specific designs.
34. Ultra Violence
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Commemorate your time in Alaska with an appointment at Ultra Violence, the state’s best tattoo shop.
The artists are skilled in a variety of styles, but we particularly like Jake Scrivner’s unique white tattoos, which almost look like they’re rising from the body in lighter skin and which create a lovely contrast with darker skin.
33. Trader Bob’s Tattoo Shop
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
One of the oldest tattoo parlors in the entire country, Trader Bob’s has been inking people since the 1930s. This shop has survived numerous wars, cultural revolutions, the Great Depression, the Great Recession and a debilitating pandemic.
They really don’t make them like they used to.
32. Black Heart Tattoo
Location: San Francisco, California
Black Heart Tattoo has been operating since 2004 and claims that its artists collectively have over 150 years of tattooing experience.
Even while tattooing was illegal in other parts of the country, San Francisco was a safe haven for fans of the art. In a city where getting inked is basically a rite of passage, any shop that can last more than 15 years has more than proven its worth.
31. Hot Stuff Tattoo
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Hot Stuff Tattoo has been voted the best shop in western North Carolina every year since 2009 when it opened. Its five resident artists are incredibly talented, making this spot a favorite with Asheville locals and UNC students.
Founder Danny Reed specializes in outdoor images, especially of aquatic creatures. If you want to get a tattoo to remember your time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a natural image at this shop would be fitting.
30. Lost Art Tattoo
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
In a state where many people consider even drinking coffee a faux pas, it’s impressive that Lost Art Tattoo has managed to stand its ground and become one of the best studios in the West.
In fact, you can credit this shop for spearheading the cultural shift in Utah in regard to tattoos, as its owner began the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention in 2004.
The artists that work in the studio are talented and can work in many styles with precision and skill.
29. Certified Tattoo Studios
Location: Denver, Colorado
With three locations in Denver, two in Colorado Springs, and one in Wahiawa, Hawaii, Certified Tattoo Studios is one of the most successful industry franchises.
At any shop, you can expect professional artists specializing in different styles, including geometric and ornamental, black and gray, fine line and color.
28. Urban Art Tattoo
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Urban Art Tattoo’s motto is “you think it, we ink it!” The group of 8 features artists can bring to life your idea. This is considered the best tattoo parlor in the entire state of Arizona.
Customers agree, with one Yelp reviewer, Heidi C. stating “The shop was clean and super friendly. Very organized and professional. If you’re thinking about a tattoo in Arizona, don’t hesitate — Uncle Rob was amazing!”
27. One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlour
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville’s creative energy isn’t limited to music. The city also helps push the boundaries of tattooing. At One Drop Ink, artists are encouraged to explore this creativity, with unique designs that use traditional styles with motifs that are far from cliché.
If you decide to get a tattoo while on a wild night in Nashville, don’t trust anyone else with it.
26. Till the End Tattoo
Location: Miami, Florida
Till the End Tattoo’s very own Tatu Baby gained recognition after being featured on “Ink Master.” As one of the most famous women in the industry, her work is highly on demand.
There is no guarantee that you can get an appointment with her, but we assure you every other artist in the shop is equally qualified.
25. Boston Tattoo Company
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Fun fact: Until 2001, it was illegal in Massachusetts for anyone other than a licensed health care professional to do tattoos.
After the law was overturned, many shops popped up, including Boston Tattoo Company, perhaps the city’s best-known spot. Operating since 2004, this is where you want to go in Boston for guaranteed quality.
24. Have Fun Be Lucky
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
One of the things that sets this studio apart — besides its inventive name — is that every single one of its artists has vegan ink to accommodate customers who don’t want to use animal-based products.
That goes to show the level of attention that Have Fun Be Lucky has with its customers, always trying to provide exactly what they need.
23. Mission Ink
Location: San Francisco, California
With nine resident artists and two guest artists at Mission Ink, you’ll have your pick of the style that best suits your tastes. The artists come from all over the world, bringing different techniques to the shop.
Prices are reasonable and the quality is great — a combination that is hard to find in the Bay Area.
22. Enigma Tattoo
Location: Beverly Hills, California
When Katrina Jackson opened Enigma Tattoo she became the first black woman to own her own shop in Beverly Hills. Known as Kat Tat, she’s been part of “Black Ink Crew” and has reached celebrity status in the industry — while working with celebrities like Idris Elba and Young MA.
Other artists in the shop include Kevin Laroy and Nelly2.0.
21. Regeneration Tattoo
Location: Boston, Massachussetts
Tattoo artists are not the most conventional group of people, which usually means they work best when given liberty and independence.
This may explain the consistently high quality of the independent artists that work at Regeneration Tattoo. Rather than providing schedules, the studio gives artists a space to create their magic at the times that they deem best.
The freedom certainly pays off.
20. Black Anchor Collective
Location: Los Angeles, California
Popular tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado opened Black Anchor Collective in Hesperia, a desert suburb of San Bernadino. But it didn’t take him long to find enough success to open another shop in Los Angeles.
Hurtado specializes in realistic color portraits, a style that is prevalent in his shop. The other artists also focus on portraits, so if you need a face tattooed on your chest, you know where to go.
19. Twenty Five Twelve Collective
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Every single piece at Twenty Five Twelve Collective is custom-made and customized, so you can be sure that no one else has a tattoo exactly like yours.
The studio has several award-winning artists, including Anthony Michaels, who won the “Ink Master” Spike tattoo competition in 2016, becoming the first black artist to do so.
18. Flyrite Tattoo
Location: New York City, New York
Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Flyrite Tattoo describes itself as “a no-nonsense tattoo studio specializing in all styles.” As general as that may seem, it describes the shop pretty well.
The spot has enough of a cult following to have its own merchandise shop, featuring original prints and apparel.
17. Embassy Tattoo
Location: Washington, D.C.
D.C. isn’t all suits and politicians. There are also people who haven’t yet sold their soul, and many of them happen to love tattoos.
If you want to get a piece of ink while in the nation’s capital, head to Embassy Tattoo, a parlor whose slogan is as clean and precise as its designs: “We let our work speak for itself.”
Specializing in Japanese, tribal, realistic and traditional, the impeccable work the artists at this shop put out really does speak for itself.
16. Kings Avenue Tattoo
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Japanese tattoo techniques and themes heavily inform the art of Mike Rubendall, owner of Kings Avenue Tattoo. The shop’s original locations are in Manhattan and Long Island, but if you can’t fly all the way to New York for a tattoo, you can head to the new location in Durham.
You’ll see a lot of samurai and koi fish being drawn at the shop, but the highly trained artists that work at Kings Avenue can also do a variety of styles, from realistic portraits to Western-style tattoos.
15. Elms Street Tattoo
Location: Dallas, Texas
Owned and operated by several artists, Elm Street Tattoo is highly respected in the Texas scene. The shop’s most famous artist is perhaps Oliver Peck, known for classic tattoos he has practiced since he was 19.
Elm Street Tattoo takes the inked lifestyle seriously, claiming that “We don’t do fashion statements and we don’t cash in on the latest trends.” They’re also known for inviting customers to get a tattoo of the number 13 on Friday the 13th.
14. All or Nothing Tattoo
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
All or Nothing Tattoo is one of Brandon Bond’s two shops in the Georgian capital. The place has proven so popular, that it is not uncommon for people to travel to Atlanta just to get tattooed here.
Each artist in the shop has their own style, but brightly colored portraits and hyperrealistic tattoos are the shop’s specialty.
13. Fortune Tattoo
Location: Portland, Oregon
Fortune Tattoo opened in 2010 and has become one of Portland’s most famous and respected shops. Ms. Mikki, the owner, has been featured in numerous magazines, including Northwest Tattoo.
She claims the shop can do different styles, be it “surrealism, realism, abstract, impressionism, traditional Americana, Japanese influenced compositions, reproductions of the great masters, and even dream interpretation.”
12. Black and Blue Tattoo
Location: San Francisco, California
The tattoo industry is still heavily dominated by men. This is one of the reasons that female-owned Black and Blue Tattoo has thrived, welcoming people of all genders into a world whose macho attitude can sometimes create barriers.
But besides its inclusivity, the tattoo shop has set itself apart by employing very talented artists who don’t necessarily go for the cliché styles. Want a watercolor tattoo of your favorite cartoon? We think it’s a terrible idea, but Black and Blue will definitely do it for you.
11. Electric Ladyland Tattoo
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
When visiting the Big Easy, you may find yourself sitting on a chair at Electric Ladyland Tattoo after a wild night on Bourbon Street. As New Orleans’ most famous and most popular studio, tourists pour in, looking to get a unique souvenir of the city.
Of course, locals also love the store, which does a bit of everything you could want. They are particularly skilled in whimsical and colorful designs.
10. Love Hate Tattoo Studio
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
As the set of the reality show, “Miami Ink,” Love Hate Tattoo Studio is one of the city’s most famous shops. Still, fame hasn’t changed the high quality that got the studio to the top of the game.
Love Hate is owned by Ami James, one of the show’s stars. A session with him will set you back over $500 per hour. But for something that will be on your body forever, that price seems worth it.
9. Rock of Ages
Location: Austin, Texas
You know you’re doing something right when a local brewery names a beer after you. That’s how much Rock of Ages has won the heart of Austin. Doing both custom and walk-in work, the shop’s eight resident artists combine a plethora of styles and a heck of a lot of talent.
Japanese style and cartoons are customer favorites, but whatever you have in mind will be done in the highest quality.
8. Skin Deep Tattoos and Piercing
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Open since 1979, Skin Deep Tattoos and Piercing is the oldest tattoo studio in Oahu. Prestige follows this family-owned shop, which has operated in Waikiki since before it was the most touristy place in Hawaii.
The studio is known for its black and grey linework, though it’s also famous for its colorful Kewpie doll tats.
7. Elysium Studios
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Co-owned by celebrity tattoo artist Arlo Dicristina and Ryan Ashley DiCristina, Elysium Studios has people coming to Grand Junction just to get some work done. Many people come for Dicristina’s signature style, which often features hyperreal surrealist portraits that seem straight out of a steampunk dream.
Every other artist in the shop — resident or guest — is just as talented.
6. North Main Tattoo Studio
Location: Detroit, Michigan
For decades, Detroit has been the epicenter of grungy cool, which has made it into one of the best tattoo cities in the United States.
North Main Tattoo Studio embodies the city’s penchant for being much more than meets the eye. Jay Wheeler and Aaron Ruby opened the shop, which employs some of the city’s best artists, such as Barbara Jones. Each artist has their own room, so you won’t have to deal with distractions or worry about privacy.
But what really makes this studio special is that it doubles as an art gallery, displaying works by local and international artists in continually rotating exhibitions.
5. Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company has locations in three U.S. states and Australia, but by far the best one to go to (unless you can afford a trip Down Under) is the one in Las Vegas.
Located inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the shop has been featured on “Inked” and was founded by Carey Hart. The artists here can do practically anything you ask them, but the studio’s specialty is hyperrealist portraits.
4. Tattoo Factory
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s oldest tattoo shop has been operating since 1976 and is a veritable institution in the city. Tattoo Factory’s motto is “We’ve been doing it longer than anyone else, because we do it better than everyone.”
The studio’s track record speaks for itself. Appointments are hard to come by, but if you’re in Chicago and want the very best, this is the place to go.
3. Fun City
Location: New York City, New York
Jonathan Shaw began tattooing illegally from his living room back in the 1970s, when the art was still banned in New York. With connections in the punk and rock scene, his style has been described as neo-tribalist and he is seen as a pioneer of modern tattoo.
Though it’s low-key in its ambience, Fun City has been a favorite spot for celebrities since its start, with people like Miley Cyrus and Action Bronson getting tatted here.
2. Tattoo City
Location: San Francisco, California
Few artists could hope to reach a level of fame close to that of Don Ed Hardy, the highest-paid tattoo artist in the world. Even people who’ve never gotten inked know him because of his eponymous clothing brand, which closely reflects his tattooing style and incorporates Japanese styles.
You won’t be able to book Ed Hardy himself for a tattoo since he’s retired. But you can still get one at his shop, Tattoo City, which he oversees and which employs people who are masters of their craft.
The shop has been operating since 1992 and has never wavered in quality or originality.
1. Bang Bang
Location: New York City, New York
Artist Bang Bang named his New York City shop after his artistic name — a move that could have been perceived as arrogant if he weren’t actually a big freaking deal.
A self-taught artist who started out in his mom’s kitchen in Delaware, Bang Bang has now tattooed some of the world’s most famous musicians, actors and athletes. His past clients include Selena Gomez, Rhianna, LeBron James and Justin Bieber.
The studio is gigantic, with over 32 artists (including Bang Bang himself) widely respected in the industry.