Tattoos are the perfect way to express yourself and show off artwork that has meaning to you. Whether it’s a simple butterfly on your arm or a meaningful date on your torso, tattoos have a certain power that few other art forms have. Now, as many places of work are loosening their restrictions on body art, and tattoos are becoming more mainstream, what better way to celebrate and partake in this art than at a local shop?
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Here, we’ve gathered a list of nine of some of the best tattoo shops in the city. From places that have been around for decades even before tattoos were legal to tattoo shops that double as art galleries, New York City offers some of the best artists and shops in the world.
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Various Locations / Website
Founded by famed tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy who has tattooed everyone from Katy Perry and Cara Delevigne to Justin Bieber and Rihanna, this tattoo shop features a team of expert artists set in a modern and chic space. With locations in Soho and the Lower East Side, this shop is a must-try for tattoo lovers or people curious about the art alike.
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88 Rivington St. / 212.477.2060 / Website
One of the oldest tattoo shops in the city, this spot first opened in 1992 when tattoos were still illegal. Now, thirty years later, what started as a hidden place for bikers has grown into a shop that attracts regular folk and celebrities as well. Over their decades in business they have acquired quite a reputation for producing some of the best custom tattoos in the city, and today they even offer tattoo removal and micro-blading.
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95 St Marks Pl. / 212.353.8282 / Website
The first tattoo shop to open in the city, this spot is a relic in the middle of the East Village. Over the years, the famous shop has attracted bikers, gang members and a whole trove of celebrities from Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to Jean-Michel Basquiat and Iggy Pop. Entering this space is akin to stepping foot into old New York: You become a part of the long history.
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177 Grand St., Brooklyn / 646.883.6417 / Website
A one-room studio in Carroll Gardens houses this shop decorated with eclectic, colorful artwork and furniture set up against the mostly white flooring and walls. After some bad experiences at other parlors, the owners strived to create a shop where kindness was key, and Nice Tattoo came about. The company, which has only been around since 2017, has already amassed a global clientele and continues to grow, spreading art and niceness with it.
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51 W. 14th St. / 212.255.8288 / Website
Another one of the oldest shops in Manhattan, this local favorite features artists specializing in all types of tattoos from cover-up tattoos and portraits to Japanese and Polynesia Maori Tribal styles. There’s something here for everyone, and the prime Union Square location allows for easy access to this shop and the top-notch quality and artistry it offers.
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229 Centre St. / 212.966.5151 / Website
An art gallery and tattoo shop in one, this spot allows patrons to admire the paintings on the wall by renowned artists while being a canvas for someone else's work. The shop has a team of experts and artists that focus on Japanese, Traditional and Realism tattoo art to create unique works of art for their customers.
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108 W. 28th St. / 646.370.6509 / Website
This Chelsea shop hosts a team of expert tattoo artists and body piercers to ensure that their large clientele is taken care of in a clean and safe environment. Operating since 2010, this neighborhood favorite is known for world-class care and unique custom designs.
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Various Locations / Website
Founded in Brooklyn in 2008, this tattoo shop has grown to have locations across the country in New York, Denver and North Carolina, and even a shop across the pond in London. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail are unmatched, and they pride themselves on the collaboration between artist and client to create tattoos that everyone is happy with.
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Multiple locations / Website
With both a Greenwich Village and a Brooklyn location, this shop offers tattoos as well as piercings and body jewelry. Clients are able to choose from an array of designs or work with the artist to create something of their own. After getting inked, take a look at their wide selection of jewelry and piercings for sale to further add to your look.
Photography by: Maria Oswalt/Unsplash
