Tattoo Shops in New York City

Website Address (845) 205-7709

East River Tattoo

Score: A+

East River Tattoo has been open in New York since 2000 and offers custom designs in a range of different styles. However, they are best known for designs based on folk art with a maritime theme and traditional styles from the 19th century. Their designs often utilise antique nautical charts, engravings, wood cuts and scrimshaw. The owner, Duke Riley, has been working as a tattoo artist for 23 years and many examples of his work have been exhibited around the world in museums, including the permanent collection at the Brooklyn Museum.

Website Address (929) 552-0230

Eight of Swords

Score: A+

Eight of Swords Tattoo is located in Brooklyn and is a tattoo shop and art gallery. The artists that work here use their many years of experience to produce tattoos both in their own styles and custom work of a more detailed nature. The shop sells works of art by various artists, as well as t-shirts. They hold regular launches of artwork along with charity events every year for non-profit organisations such as the ASPCA and The Warriors Fund.

Website Address (212) 673-5154

Fineline Tattoo

Score: A+

Fineline Tattoo NYC was opened in 1976 at a time when it was illegal to offer tattooing. Forty years on and they still have customers from that time who keep coming back because of the staff who are friendly and have the right attitude. The owner, Mehai Bakaty, worked alongside his father throughout the ban, right up until it was lifted in 1997 and the shop was allowed to open legally. He has exhibited his work in museums and galleries, and also via media outlets like The Learning Channel.

Website Address (646) 860-0313

First Class Tattoo

Score: A+

First Class Tattoo can be found on Canal Street in New York City and it specializes in custom pieces and particularly artistic designs. Its artists specialize in realistic styles in black-and-gray or full color, geometric designs, fine-line images, block work, script, and designs with neo-traditional elements. Clients can also undertake tattooing for cosmetic purposes, such as brow shading and lip tinting. Completed tattoos are wrapped in bandages for protection.

Website Address (516) 558-5764

Fun City Tattoo

Score: A+

Fun City Tattoo is a walk-in tattoo shop based in New York City. It was started by Jonathan Shaw in his own living room in Manhattan as a DIY shop, but is now owned by Steve Pedone, Shaw’s former apprentice, and Maxx Starr, Pedone’s partner, who are both artists with a great deal of experience and skill in all types of tattoo designs. This shop has featured in various publications like Paper, The New York Times and L’Officiel magazine, and has attracted a number of celebrity customers, such as Kate Moss, Miley Cyrus and The Cure.

Website Address (516) 586-0172

Inkstop Tattoo N.Y.C.

Score: A

Inkstop Tattoo has been open in New York for about 20 years and its very experienced artists are able to offer custom-made designs. It has featured in various media outlets, like Mad Magazine and MTV2, and it ensures that all its clients prove that they are over 18 years of age. It has Board of Health certification, a certified lab carries out weekly Autoclave tests, and new needles are used on every tattoo.

Website Address (212) 431-5464

Kings Avenue Tattoo – Manhattan

Score: A+

Kings Avenue Tattoo, the legendary studio located in New York, has a number of resident artists and guest artists who are well-known worldwide. The shop was founded by Mike Rubendall, who has been a tattoo artist for more than 20 years and has been awarded more than 50 international titles. His work has featured in both printed media as well as on TV, where he has been on Tattoo Wars and one of the judges on Ink Master. The shop also sells various items of clothing and accessories, and Mr. Rubendall has even designed his own line of hats.

Website Address (516) 794-5844

Lark Tattoo

Score: A+

Lark Tattoo is a tattoo studio located in Westbury. Their website features biographies of all their artists, along with instructions and creams for tattoo aftercare, and they also sell clothing and body jewelry. Another service offered is the removal of tattoos by laser. Bruce Kaplan, the owner, has been creating tattoos since 1989 and went to the Parsons School of Design where he earnt a BFA. No-one under the age of consent is allowed to get a tattoo and any minor wanting a piercing must have parental consent.

Website Address (212) 431-3323

Majestic Tattoo NYC

Score: A+

Majestic Tattoo NYC is a tattooing service in New York owned by Adal Ray. He has worked as both a painter and tattoo artist for more than two decades. Each tattoo is custom drawn by hand, and designs are carefully placed according to the unique bodily contours of each customer. Adal is well-known for his modern, very colorful designs, as well as fractal and psychedelic designs, which draw customers to the studio. The shop also has a gallery where many of his paintings are exhibited.

Website Address (212) 473-0007

New York Adorned

Score: A

New York Adorned is located in the New York area and performs both tattoo and piercing services. They also sell jewelry, items for the home and various other accessories through Love Adorned, the online shop. Customers have to show a government-issued form of identification to prove that they are over 18 years of age, no children are allowed in, and customers can only be accompanied by one other person during a procedure. They do not carry out procedures on anyone who is either pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Website Address (212) 979-0350

NYHC Tattoo

Score: A+

NYHC Tattoo was opened in New York by Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front and Jimmy Gestapo of Murphy’s Law over 15 years ago. Although it now has new owners, it has remained loyal to its hardcore origins. There are six artists present on site and customers are able to browse through examples of their different design styles. They are open all seven days of the week for appointments.

Website Address (212) 255-8288

Rising Dragon Tattoos

Score: A+

Rising Dragon has been open in New York for more than 31 years and was one of the first shops to open legally in lower Manhattan. It houses both local artists and guest artists from different countries, all offering custom designs in various styles like Japanese, black-and-gray, full color, portraits, or Polynesian Maori tribal. This studio has been listed in CBS Local’s Top 5 Tattoo Parlors in New York City.

Website Address (646) 370-6509

Studio 28

Score: A+

Studio 28 has been operating in New York since 2010. Its artists, who create custom designs, have won many awards and have many years of experience. Its customers like to come here because of its clean and inviting atmosphere. All tools are thoroughly sterilized, and all artists must adhere to strict guidelines, including bloodborne pathogen training. It has more than 5,000 satisfied customers and Citysearch.com voted it the best tattoo studio in New York City.

Website Address (929) 552-9389

Email Response

Hey Drew,

Thanks so much for contacting us about getting your tattoo done with us. We can help no problem at all and can help with something like this. The only thing is the water color part of the tattoo we would want to modify to do in a different style that will hold better over time. Unfortunately the water color style of tattoos does not typically hold up well through healing and after. We would want to make sure to do it in a way that will heal and hold well over time for you. With pricing you would be looking at $350 to $450 depending on the size and design that you approve.

I will answer your questions in order below.

Different colors will contain different ingredients but we only work with the highest quality and safest ink brands. When you are here you are more than welcome to look over the ingredient lists on the colors we will be using.
Any healing tattoo will ich to a degree but that goes away after it is fully healed. Itching from a specific ink would be related to an allergy to an ingredient in the ink.
For a patch test that is something that is done by a doctor and not tattoo professionals. We could always do a small section of your body with different color dots to see the reactions but that would be a permanent tattoo.
All of our artists are licensed by NY state and have current blood borne pathogen training.
To see examples of our work the best thing to do is visit our website at www.studio28tattoosnyc.com and you can see our artist portfolios for examples of the work they have done.

If you want to book an appointment I just need to get a $150 plus tax/fee deposit and it is applied toward the total cost of your tattoo. Would you like me to send you our booking information and invoice?

Triple Diamond Tattoo

Score: A+

Triple Diamond Tattoo is a custom tattoo studio located in Brooklyn. It has three resident artists and samples of their work, as well as their contact information, are listed on the studio’s website. There are also photographs of a selection of other items that the shop sells, such as jewelry, natural specimens and oddities, and antiques that include their own rings, The Human Molar Ring, The Skull Ring, and The Arrow Ring.

Website Address (212) 475-3708

Village Tattoo NYC

Score: A+

Village Tattoo NYC is a shop in New York renowned for attention to detail, precision, and an ability to create whatever the customer wants, regardless of expression or design. Appointments can be booked online and its website includes a complete gallery of tattoos and instructions for tattoo aftercare. The shop does piercings, too, and other items are available, such as gold and silver body jewelry, chains, pendants, rings, and bracelets.

Website Address (212) 228-1803

White Rabbit Tattoo Studio

Score: A+

White Rabbit Tattoo Studio is a popular tattoo studio in New York on account of its calming décor and the fact that all of its ink and other products are 100% vegan. Its website contains a biography and portfolio for each artist and there is a customer information sheet. The studio was named as one of New York City’s best tattoo shops by CBS New York, and in the Top 10 by The No Money New Yorker.