Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

10 Best Tattoo Shops in Boston


 

Are you thinking of getting inked? Is it your first time or adding to what you already have? Be it a full sleeve, a tiny one on your foot, back, you want it to be the best.

Several tattoo shops in Boston, Massachusetts offer sublime artistry. They offer professional consultation and give their best when it comes to giving you permanent ink.

Whether you are looking to get a tribal tat, modern, 3D, traditional or Japanese, you can best believe that you will find them in Boston.

With hundreds of tattoo shops in Boston, you are probably uncertain on which one to go to. This blog will break it down for you on the tattoo shop and their speciality.

At the end of your reading, you will have an in-depth understanding of the tattoo community in Boston. Furthermore, you will be able to choose your favourite tattoo in Boston.

Here is our pick on the 10 best tattoo shops in Boston.

1. Boston Barber & Tattoo Co. for traditional tattoos

Photo Sourced from Boston Barber & Tattoo Website

Boston Barbers & tattoo shop is one of the oldest shops in the city. It was established in Boston for more than 5 decades. The shop is located in downtown Boston.

The artists in this shop take their time to make sure you get exactly what you ordered.

They offer custom tattoo arts, barber services as well as an espresso bar. You can get your tattoo while sipping your coffee.

This tattoo shop was named the Best Tattoo Shop in Boston in 2016 by expertise.com. they have two locations in the North End & Beacon Hill of Boston.

Check out more information below.

Practical Information:
Appointment type: Booking is highly recommended  
Age: be 18 years or older. Parent/guardian will not be able to sign off for minors.
Address: 113 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Website: www.bostonbarber.com

3. Chameleon Tattoo & Body Piercing – Modern & Traditional Tattoos

Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

If you are looking into getting a traditional or modern tattoo, then Chameleon Tattoo & Body Piercing is the place to go. Located in Cambridge Harvard Square, this tattoo shop has been operating since 1995.

The artists here have more than 40 years of experience. Additionally, this tattoo shop is best known for its old school, realistic black and grey, traditional Japanese, and classic American art styles.

Other services that you will get here include custom lettering, botanical, and neo-traditional tattoos.

Most of their frequent and repeat customers are young people and occasional older people. None of them can resist their impressive styles.

Here is more information for your next booking.

Practical Information:
Tattoo styles: full custom tattoos, custom designs
Telephone: (617) 876-0412
Appointment-only bookings
Address: 36 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Website: www.chameleonbodyarts.com

3. Good Faith Tattoo Studio – traditional tattoos, portraits, and complex body art

Good Faith Tattoo is another best shop to visit in Boston. The shop was established in 2007.

When you visit Good Faith, you will get to choose your design or choose one already designed by the artist.

They take their time to understand their customers’ needs and styles before getting to work. Some of their resident artists are Chris Barnett and Nicholas Mcevoy.

These two talented artists draw large tattoos with colourful designs and with the most complex details.

Their portfolio includes skulls, flowers, kinetic, and realism. Other than getting inked, you can also get a t-shirt or pins as a souvenir.

Practical Information:
Tattoo Style: full custom tattoos, custom designs
Appointment-only bookings
Location: 1018 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215
Website: https://goodfaithtattoos.com/home.html

4. Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo – Fine Line, Portraiture, and Realism

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Well, the name is catchy enough to make you want to know more about their services. Located in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, the store is run by talented artists.

While the shop may appear modest, the artwork is exquisite and intricate. They offer abstract tattoos and have a wide range of art on their portfolio.

Their expertise is in American Traditional, Japanese, Fine Line, Portraiture, and Realism. Worry not because they also can give you your custom design or style.

They are also committed to using single-use needles and steam autoclave sterilization for their equipment.

This shop environment is sterile and safe for tattooing. Furthermore, the artists here are trained in CPR and other first-aid procedures.

Practical Information:
Address: 374 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Website: https://fatramspumpkintattoo.com/home.html
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 12pm-10pm; Sundays 12pm-8pm

5. Redemption Tattoo – high quality tribal & traditional Japanese art

Redemption Tattoo was opened in 2002 by tattooists, Mike Shea and Erick Lynch. They have been featured in the local newsmagazine television program, Chronicle.

This shop has 7 experienced tattoo artists who have specialized in different tattoo styles. They also work on the customers’ desired design by booking an appointment with them.

Get your high quality black and white tattoos, colourful, realistic portraits done at Redemption Tattoo.

Additionally, you can buy gift certificates from the shop for your loved ones.

Practical Information:
Appointment-Only Bookings
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 am -8 pm. Sunday 12 pm – 8 pm
Address: 2090 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
Website: https://redemptiontattoo.com

6. Stingray Body Art – illustrative, neo-traditional art

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

Stingray Body Art is made up of a team of professional tattoo artists. Their location in Allston, Boston is said to be a hipster neighbourhood.

They specialize in different styles such as illustrative, neo-traditional, realism and art nouveau.

Additionally, they do small tattoos too. You can book your appointment via phone while for larger tattoos one can do a walk-in booking. This is to allow the artist that will work on you to understand it better and give advice if needed.

All their sessions are by appointment. Other than inking, they also offer laser tattoo removal services.   

Most of their customers are college students and young professionals.

Practical Information:
By Appointment Only. Open Every Day
Website: https://bostontattoos.com/
Address: 384 Cambridge St, Allston, MA
Telephone: 617-254-0666

7. Visible Ink Tattoo

Visual Ink is located in Malden, Boston. They specialize in a wide range of tattoo designs from black and white to full-coloured traditional art.

They also do other unique styles such as scripts, floral, geometric, Japanese, and Americana.

With more than eight years in business and seven tattooists, the staff here are friendly, professional and take their time understanding custom designs.

They operate in cash only and have an ATM in case you are short of cash.

Practical Information:
Appointment-Only Booking
18 and older with a valid photo ID
Address: 689 Broadway Rt. 99, Malden, MA 02148
Website: http://visibleinktattoo.com/
Opening Hours: Monday through Saturday from 12 Pm -10 PM|Sundays from noon -6PM

8. Pino Bros Ink – Single sitting tattoos

Photo by thamara Prada on Unsplash

If you are in the Boston area and are looking to get a tattoo in a single sitting, then Pino Bros Ink is your go-to shop.

They offer different tattoos based on detail, colour, size, and complexity. You can also share your design such as sketches, drawings, photos and so much more.

The shop has 10 ink artists ready to make your tattoo dreams come to reality. They are professional, experienced, talented and considerate creatives.

Walk into friendly staff that is always ready to listen to your ideas no matter how complex they seem to be. All the room they have is for creativity and art.  

You can walk in for same-day consultation and appointments or book online.    

Practical Information:
Address: 1132 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Website: http://pinobrosink.com/

9. Empire Tattoo Boston – Portrait, Cover-Up and New School

Tattoo by Artist Nelson Cabrera. Photo sourced from Empire Tattoo Website

Empire Tattoo was founded in Clementon, New Jersey in 2008. They later opened a second branch in Somerville, Massachusetts.

They offer award-winning styles and designs. Their artists have had their works published and are continuously making themselves the best tattooists and piercings for each client they get.

Some of their popular styles are Portrait, Black and Grey, New School, Cover-Up, and Colour, Empire Tattoo Boston.

They have both male and female tattoo artists to accommodate every customers’ need.

Practical Information:
Address: 151 Washington St. Somerville, Ma 02143 | 222 W Squantum St Quincy, Ma 02171
Website: https://empiretattooinc.com/

10. Dia Moeller – Tradition tattoos

Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

Dia Moeller tattoo shop specializes in colour, black and grey realism, with a darker, Victorian, painterly look.

Owned by Dia, she combines her creativity to bring out exquisite portraits, botanicals, animals, and the macabre and occult into a truly unique style.

She also specializes in dark and macabre subjects that combine with organic, ornate elements.

Her artistic skills speak for themselves and to top it up is her friendly charm.

Practical Information:
Address: Brilliance Tattoo, 3399 Washington St., Boston, Ma 02130
Website: http://www.brilliancetattoo.com/
Appointment-Only