The New York tattoo scene is thriving, with several incredible tattoo parlors featuring some of the best resident and guest artists in America and worldwide.
This is our guide to the Best Tattoo Shops in New York has to offer anyone looking for their first piece of body art or some special NY ink as their new tattoo.
Fun City Tattoo
Manhattan's oldest tattoo shop is located in the East Village and is a real piece of NYC tattoo history. Established in the 1970s, Fun City is rare among NYC tattoo shops as it does accept walk-ins between midday and 10 pm daily.
This first-class tattoo studio has a place cemented in popular American culture with nine tattoo artists with who you can book appointments. Meanwhile, Lower East Side rap group Money Boyz stops by every weekend to freestyle in front of clients.
Other regulars to cement this studio's reputation as a hub for punk and hip-hop include Action Bronson, Miley Cyrus, and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne.
Kings Avenue Tattoo
Mike Rubendall established Kings Avenue in Long Island in 2005 to build a space allowing tattoo artists to collaborate and benefit his local community positively.
A second shop opened in 2011 in The Bowery, since then Kings Avenue has played host to more than a dozen resident artists and a regular rotation of famous guests.
From Japanese influenced sleeves that include koi fish and fu dogs to traditional tattoos, a furry friend for an avid animal lover, Rubendall and his team cater for tattoos of all types.
This studio prides itself on unique and original works of art that allow the wearer to express themselves fully.
Fine Line Tattoos
Established in the 1970s on the Lower East side as an underground tattoo parlor when tattooing was banned in New York, this studio emerged in 1997 after the ban was lifted. Since then, Fine Line Tattoos has become one of the best tattoo shops in NYC.
Founder Mike Bakaty quickly became known as one of the best artists in the New York scene, standing out from his peers with his Masters degree in fine arts.
His son Mehai took up the mantel from his father following Mike's untimely death. He continues to run his Dad's legacy shop and the tradition of outstanding draftsmanship begun by Mike.
Three Kings - Best Tattoo Shops in New York
Three Kings has three locations across New York with shops in NYC, Brooklyn, and Long Island, as well as across the USA and London.
Offering a range of services that includes cosmetic tattooing, each piece of art focuses on providing the wearer with a high level of craftsmanship, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Collaboration between client and artist is at the heart of each tattoo, making this one of America's most sought-after tattoo spots today.
East Side Ink
One of the oldest and best tattoo studios in New York City, East Side, was established in the early 1990s when the NYC city council banned tattooing.
The East Side Ink shop was established by Jo sh Lord, famous for his work on True Detective. Well-known customers at True Ink include Daniel Day-Lewis, Cate Blanchett, and Scarlett Johannson.
Yet, despite this roster of well-known famous, East Ink is well-renowned for being one of the least pretentious studios in New York.
As well as being at the cutting edge of tattoo design, they're experts at tattoo removals and covering up an old tattoo.
Grit N Glory
Home to Megan Massacre's tattoo machine, this rock n roll boutique offers an intriguing mix of tattoo studio and clothing boutique.
One of the industry's most popular and sought-after tattoo innovators, Megan has become an internationally recognized tattoo artist and TV personality. At Grit N Glory, she works alongside a strong, nearly all-female cast of talented artists.
Whether you're looking for unique sleeve tattoos, a daredevil tattoo, or even your first tattoo, you will exit this parlor much cooler than when you walked in.
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JonBoy Tattoo
Jonathan Valena, known in the industry as JonBoy, specializes in minimalist line tattoos and is one of the best tattoo artists in New York City.
His ability to merge art and fashion since setting out 18 years ago has seen him make his name as a pioneer of the "tiny tattoo" movement.
He produces the most intricate small tattoo imaginable and, over the years, has become a favorite artist of celebs such as Travis Scott, Post Malone, Kylie Jenner, and Justin Bieber.
First Class Tattoo
Located on Canal Street, this tattoo studio has become one of NYC's best micro tattoo shops.
Founded by Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy , one of the leading artists in New York's tattoo industry, his clientele includes Lebron James, Rihanna, and the star of American Football Odell Beckham Jr.
This leading parlor welcomes walk-ins. However, it is recommended to ring ahead before turning up.
If you're looking for more attractions to check out in NYC, be sure to check out the list below! These are some of the most popular spots in the city, so you won't want to miss them.
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