Best Tattoo Shops In San Diego

“Damon was AMAZING!!! Absolutely thrilled with how my tattoo came out. He has incredible attention to detail and got the design exactly right. He was very friendly and professional. We walked right into the shop with no appointment, got our tattoos done at super high quality and a fair price, and walked out in under an hour. 10/10 stars ❤️“

“Alex was fantastic. My best friend and I were visiting San Diego for a girls weekend and we decided to get tattoos to commemorate the trip. There was a theme we kept coming across in our adventures there, which was carousels. We walked in and asked for him to draw up a design of a carousel horse and he happily took to the challenge. It was exactly what we were envisioning. We didn’t have a lot of time so we kept it basic, but we may or may not have plans to go back in the future to add a little color and bring them more to life. 10/10 recommend visiting Alex and having him bring your vision to life.“

“Worked with Ben to get my arm done! He made the process fun and painless. I enjoyed the result and highly recommend him especially if you like the traditional Japanese style. Will definitely go back again for my next piece.“

“Stephanie is awesome. I had a very specific idea in mind for a tattoo on my shoulder and she took all of my crazy ideas and turned it into a beautiful design. So happy with the work she did, she was great to work and fun to talk too which made the time go by fast getting the work done.

Requested style: Abstract landscape line work“

“10/10 amazing people here and their work is fucking amazing recommend going to this place you'll love the vibes and the people“

“These guys are awesome! Great and quick service and super friendly folks. All I needed was a quick jewelry removal and I was seen right away with no appointment. Meanwhile, a very nearby competitor couldn't fit me in for 3 hours! I will definitely be visiting again for new piercings/jewelry in the future.“

“Remington has an amazing set of artists working here! The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and the shop is always clean. You’ll be happy you got a tattoo here!“

“Everything about this tattoo experience was top notch. Julie captured our bestie tattoo from our favorite movie perfectly, even letting us watch said movie while she worked! I also got one of her flash tattoos while there because one is never enough, and it's fantastic! 10/10 recommend and I'll definitely be back'“

“I had my first session with JC. He was very professional and knowledgeable about everything. He even had an extra draw up ready and it was exactly what I was going to ask for(mind reader). The shop is super clean and the chairs are comfortable. I’m looking forward to coming back to finish everything up. I will highly recommend this shop to everyone“

“This was such a great experience. Araceli was professional and my brows look amazing. I highly recommend this service. I was nervous too have this done but Araceli made me feel comfortable and confident. Thrilled with the outcome.. only wish I would have done sooner!“

“I love Jenna! She is my go to girl for any tattoo. Her creativity and work is some of the best. I recommend her to all my friends, and I get so many compliments on all my pieces. I probably have 10 or more tattoos done by her. Her line work is amazing and her light hand makes the experience WAY less painful
Than other artists. The best“

“Chuck was very professional during the entire ear piercing process and explained everything (including aftercare). I highly recommend him! The whole tattoo parlor was extremely clean. My ears are healing perfectly and the earrings look awesome.

Cleanliness: This parlor was extremely clean and everything was sterilized.“

“I worked with Erick to add to an existing tattoo. He was so easy to work with and did a great job of making sure I got what I wanted. Erick is a great artist, I’m really happy with how his work looks!

Requested style: I asked Erick to mimic a dot work tattoo on my upper arm and shoulder. He made sure to look over my previous work before getting started.

Cleanliness: Erick was super clean and prepared. A very professional experience“

“Went to Guru for my very first tattoo. The place overall is very welcoming and everyone makes you feel at ease. From the front desk to all the other artist working on other clients. They have great senses of humor and made the experience memorable.

Requested style: Realism.

Cleanliness: Well kept, clean, sanitary and put together.

Stylist: My artist, Lina, is Amazing. She was patient with me. Listened to my ideas and gave great feedback, ultimately coming up with a fantastic piece. I couldn't be happier with the final result. I'll definitely go back for more work with her.“

“Great experience with Kurt and Maria! They are both really friendly and professional.

Cleanliness: Really clean shop.“

“I got my biggest tattoo done at Port Side Tattoo, and I couldn't be happier with the results. After spending a LOT of time researching different shops and artists around San Diego, I landed on Tim, the owner of Port Side, to take on this project--and I'm so glad I did. I travel an hour just to see him, and it's worth every minute. I came in with a few individual tattoos on my arm but wanted to take it to the next level by filling in the background to create a cohesive sleeve. Tim did all of the background you see on my arm, and he did an incredible job. He was able to seamlessly tie my existing tattoos together with his signature background and shading. One thing I really appreciated about working with Tim is how flexible and accommodating he is. I could only commit to shorter, two-hour sessions at a time due to my pain tolerance and he made that work! The shop itself has an inviting, clean, and professional atmosphere. You can tell that cleanliness and safety are top priorities, which made the whole experience more comfortable. I also have to shout out the other artists at the shop--they're all incredibly talented and create such a positive vibe in the space. Watching them work, it's clear this is a place full of amazing people. I'm beyond stoked with my sleeve, and I'm already itching to get more work done by Tim. If you're looking for a skilled, dedicated artist who really listens to what you want and brings it to life better than you imagined, Tim at Port Side Tattoo is the one to see!“

“I have been getting tattooed by Erik Guy for about 10 years and have received nothing but high quality and precise work! Anyone I can tell I send his way. Erik is extremely detail oriented and cares greatly about giving you what you want while using his experience to give recommendations for best placement/style choices/etc. This shop is clean, professional, and friendly. I will continue giving my business to Erik Guy at Even Keel!“

“I’m not really one to leave a review but the service and my tattoo artist EDDIE R. were amazing ! The environment is very clean and welcoming. Eddie was Super nice and attentive, making sure everything is exactly the way it needed to be before starting, making sure your also doing fine through the process. He made it so easy to communicate I have gone back to him for another tattoo and definitely going back for more. Here’s the piece he started for me can’t wait till out next session to finish up this bad boy !“

“I found Yvonne on Instagram and just knew I had to work with her based on her incredible artistry. She is in high-demand (as she should be) so I patiently waited for my appointment and wow was it worth it. She completely transformed a terrible decade-old tattoo into a brilliant work of art I’m incredibly proud to show off. Shes also a great person, who checks in frequently, is very attentive and is the ultimate hype woman throughout the appointment with no judgment. She is very communicative about your vision and makes sure you love it before the appointment even starts. 300/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Ben and the Holy Cobra crew run the most legit shop in SD in my opinion. Worked with Morgan on a small piece and then was referred to Ben for a big Dragon piece and he absolutely killed it! He brought my vision to life and made it better than I could have ever imagined. Great music, welcoming vibes and all around amazing experience. Absolute 10/10 operation. If you're looking for a quick walk-in or bigger piece, Holy Cobra is the place to go. Thanks guys!

Requested style: Ben took my request for an American-Traditional style dragon and added his own style to it and it came out perfect.

Cleanliness: Shop was crystal clean and overall a great experience.

Stylist: Ben is a master at his craft. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking to get some work done in the SD area.“

“Lani Nicole is an absolutely amazing artist! ? She will take your idea and run with it and make 100 times more amazing. She always puts your comfort first and makes sure you have enough brakes and you are doing good. I have been going to Lani for a year now, I'm going to continue going to her. I get so excited when I have an appointment because I know I'm going to have a great time and have an amazing conversation and an amazing tattoo on top of it.“

“Jame was amazing as always. thank you for the work I’m be coming back soon

Cleanliness: Gave my a good lesson and the history for tattooing and how it’s evolved to be safer.“

“The owners are truly fantastic. They make you feel like part of the family. I've been there three times, and each visit has felt so comfortable, as if I've known them for years. They extend this warm, welcoming vibe to everyone, creating a great atmosphere filled with positivity and laughter. I had my sleeve blacked out, and the entire process was incredibly smooth and comfortable. I'll definitely be returning.“

“Walked in with a group of friends and Nick was able to accommodate all of us. He was personable and kind — a few gals were getting their first tattoos and he eased all their nerves. I love my new tattoo and would happily get tattooed by Nick again!“

“I have been going to Clis for years now after two bad experiences with other San Diego artist & I will not be going anywhere else!

Every project I give him, no matter how complicated, he completes it exactly how I want it.

I get so many compliments on my tattoos, two of which are cover ups (no one ever notices).

He is the best!“