Make your mark at these Vancouver tattoo shops
From American traditional to new school, black and grey portraits to watercolour abstracts, the wide world of tattoos covers a lot of artistic territory. And you'll find artists specializing in every style throughout the city. Whether you're a tattoo virgin or looking to fill that last patch of available skin, a consultation at one of these Vancouver tattoo shops will get you started on your personal masterpiece.
Funhouse Tatoo
3001 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4N2Providing Vancouver tattoo enthusiasts with quality custom work since opening in 1998, Funhouse delivers detailed work in a variety of genres. There's no style or tattoo they won't tackle at this Cambie shop, so book an in-person consultation to turn your graphic idea into a permanent work of art. Their hourly rate is $180, with a $100 minimum charge and you'll need to pay a deposit towards your tattoo upon booking.
Gastown Tattoo Parlour
105 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1E1This welcoming tattoo parlour prides itself on the quality of its art as well as the warmth of its customer service. Expect to get a really cool tattoo without having to deal with too-cool-for-school attitudes from the friendly and talented staff and artists. State-of-the-art sterilization practices allow you to get inked in confidence while you enjoy the funky decor of this historical Gastown building.
Adrenaline Professional Body Piercing & Tattoos
1014 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L5Billing themselves as “Vancouver’s premier body modification studio,” Adrenaline's two shops are home to some of the city's best tattoo artists and piercers. And they're just as serious about safety as they are about art, with sterilization and cross-contamination standards that exceed federal and provincial guidelines. Larger pieces will run you around $150 per hour and smaller tattoos are priced by the piece. Book a consultation online or visit the shop to discuss your custom creation with an artist.
Sacred Heart Tattoo
25 6th Ave W, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1K2With talented artists specializing in everything from Celtic to Japanese to American traditional styles, Sacred Heart caters to all tastes. Seven talented tattooers, including Dave Green, Kaija Heitland and Ron Smith are knocking out works of art that last a lifetime at this popular shop, which has been running in various locations since 1993. Open seven days a week, Sacred Heart takes appointments as well as walk-ins (if you're feeling spontaneous), with a minimum charge of $90.
Liquid Amber Tattoo
902 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W7The six amazing artists at Liquid Amber Tattoo specialize in creating one-of-a-kind works of art you'll be proud to wear for a lifetime. This "mostly" female-run shop is located in a charming building in historic Gastown and they focus on offering friendly service in a clean and safe environment. From pretty cupcakes to dramatic portraits, colour to black and grey, if you can dream it up they can ink it up.
Tattoo Union
206-175 Broadway E, Vancouver, BC V5T 1W2When you're looking for quality ink in Mt. Pleasant, head to the second floor of the Lee building to visit Jeremy at Tattoo Union. From pin-ups to portraits, small-scale art to full sleeves and back pieces, Jeremy, along with versatile tattoo artist, Logan, create custom work that will get you noticed. Book early to guarantee you have time with the artist of your choice; walk-in appointments are often available if you can't wait.
Rain City Tattoo
1077 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V6H 1E2From bold, colourful flowers to clean and simple lettering, the artists at Rain City are well-versed in every style of tattooing. If you've been dreaming up a major back piece, they're happy to make that dream come true. If you just want to pop in on a Friday to take advantage of their 25% off, traditional flash tattoos deal, you can do that, too!
Electro-Ladylux Co
4-810 Commercial Divers N, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y5Vancouver's first female-owned and operated tattoo shop, this Commercial Drive favourite has been putting out beautiful custom artwork since 1996. The friendly and inviting environment is a real plus for first-timers and the talented and professional artists make sure you leave with a custom piece you'll love. Tattoos are generally only available by appointment here, though walk-ins can take their chances. Better hit up the ATM first; this is a cash-only shop.
