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The Top 6 Tattoo Studios in Toronto
Getting a tattoo is a personal and creative way to express one’s individuality, but it also means scouring the city to find a skilled artist who can bring your vision to life. It’s not so easy to find a shop that matches your style.
That’s where we come in! We wandered the streets of The 6ix to give you the top tattoo studios that offer a diverse range of styles and experienced artists who can permanently ink incredible art on your skin.
Check them out below because it’s time for some body art!
1. ICON Tattoo
Services: Custom Tattoo Services
Website: https://www.icontattoo.ca/
Address: 309 King St W Unit 200, Toronto, ON M5V 1J5, Canada
Contact Details: +1 437-604-6665
Office Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Google reviews score | 4.9/5 |
Total reviews | 4/5 |
Score consistency | 4/5 |
Expertise | 5/5 |
Experience | 4/5 |
Design range | 5/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 3/5 |
Pros
- Vibrant Atmosphere
- Top-Notch Facilities
- Easy Appointment Scheduling
- Talented Artists
Cons
- Limited Walk-In Availability
ICON Tattoo Studio offers a vibrant and creative environment for clients to immerse themselves in. The studio’s fusion of modern aesthetics and welcoming atmosphere creates an inviting space where clients can feel comfortable and inspired during their tattoo experience.
With a team of skilled and experienced tattoo artists, ICON Tattoo Studio ensures that clients receive top-notch service and exceptional tattoo artistry. Whether clients are seeking custom designs or choosing from a variety of styles, the studio’s artists bring creativity, skill, and professionalism to every tattoo session.
Furthermore, they are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including sterile and hygienic tattooing stations, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience for clients. The studio prioritizes cleanliness and adheres to strict health and safety protocols to maintain the highest standards of hygiene throughout the tattooing process.
Note though that while ICON Tattoo Studio welcomes walk-ins if time permits, clients may encounter challenges securing immediate appointments without prior scheduling. Due to the studio’s popularity and focus on appointments, walk-in availability may be limited, especially during peak times or with specific artists.
Overall, ICON Tattoo Studio offers a vibrant and professional environment for clients seeking exceptional tattoo experiences. With talented artists, top-notch facilities, and easy appointment scheduling, the studio delivers high-quality tattoo services tailored to each client’s preferences.
2. Little Pond Studio
Services: Machine tattoo, hand-poke tattoo
Website: https://www.littlepondstudio.com/
Address: 102 Adelaide St E 4th floor, Toronto, ON M5A 0B3
Contact Details: Via the artist’s Instagram page
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Google reviews score | 5/5 |
Total reviews | 3/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Expertise | 5/5 |
Experience | 5/5 |
Design range | 5/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 3/5 |
Pros
- A clean and well-designed place
- Shop is open daily
- Free touch-up within 6 months
- Has a hand-poke tattoo artist
Cons
- No walk-ins accepted
- Inconvenient booking process
Little Pond Studio is one of the most relaxing tattoo shops in Toronto, which we think shows their overall vibe. The shop is aesthetically pleasing and well-decorated to create a calming space, which is perfect for first-time clients.
Additionally, we love how clean their shop is—every tool and piece of equipment is in the proper place. We also like that Little Pond Studio is open every day as it makes them accessible!
On the downside, we noted that they don’t accept walk-ins, even for small and minimalist tattoos.
Another setback we found is they don’t have a receptionist, so booking is only done through their tattoo artists. It’s a hassle since you have to check every single artist’s Instagram page for their open bookings.
Media credit: littlepondstudio
On the bright side, we think the hassle of checking and messaging each artist is worth it because of their incredible styles. They’re all great at colours and blackworks, and their designs are beautiful on the skin.
Also, we appreciate that most of their artists offer flash designs, which tend to be cheaper than custom ones. If you’re itching for a new ink, this is an ideal option.
It’s worth mentioning that Little Pond Studio has a hand-poke artist who uses a stick-and-poke method instead of a machine. Most people have agreed that hand-poke tattoos hurt less, and the technique adds a more traditional feel to the experience.
Lastly, we commend Little Pond Studio for providing a free touch-up within six months of the tattoo. It’s a lot longer than other tattoo parlours in Toronto, so this earns them points in our book!
3. Golden Iron Tattoo Studio
Services: Machine tattoo
Website: https://goldenirontattoostudio.com/
Address: 401 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2G6, Canada
Contact Details: 647-347-9363
Office Hours: April – October, Monday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm; November – March, Monday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Google reviews score | 5/5 |
Yelp reviews score | 4.3/5 |
Total reviews | 5/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Expertise | 4.5/5 |
Experience | 5/5 |
Design range | 4/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Pros
- An award-winning shop
- Open daily
- Accepts walk-ins; small designs only
- Known for detailed works
Cons
- Not all artists do cover-ups
Golden Iron Tattoo Studio is an award-winning shop in Toronto, which is why it’s one of our top picks. It shows their talent, skills, and incredible designs.
Just some of the awards they won are the Toronto NIX 2022 Best Script and Best Small Colour and the 2020 2nd Place Chest Piece at the Winnipeg Tattoo Convention. There’s so much more we can’t list, as it’ll take up so much space!
Their shop is also very simple but still feels comfortable. It has a good vibe, which is helpful for tattoos that will take over several hours.
As for their designs, we were in awe at how they could make incredibly detailed tattoos. Even their movie character tattoos are so on point and really intricate.
Media credit: goldeniron_tattoos_toronto
Another aspect we like about Golden Iron Tattoo Studio is their accessibility. They’re open seven days a week and accept walk-ins for small pieces that don’t require too much prep work.
However, we want to note that while most tattoo artists accept cover-ups, not all do. It’s a bit of a bummer since clients will have their preferred artists to cover old tattoos.
The last thing we like is Golden Iron Tattoo Studio frequently offers flash designs, some available in colour. With their wide array of original designs, we believe everything is worth checking out.
4. 905 INK Tattoo
Services: Machine tattoo, piercings
Website: https://905ink.ca/
Address: 1386 Gerrard St E Unit 2, Toronto, ON M4L 1Z2
Contact Details: 416-546-3373; [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Google reviews score | 5/5 |
Facebook reviews score | 4.6/5 |
Total reviews | 3/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Expertise | 5/5 |
Experience | 4.5/5 |
Design range | 4/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Pros
- Wide range of designs and styles
- Accepts walk-ins
- Has two locations in the GTA
- Offers free consultations at the shop
Cons
- Not all artists do coverups and re-works
One of the best tattoo shops in Toronto is 905 INK Tattoo because of their wide range of styles. It’s almost like there’s an artist for everyone, which is a big deal to say.
We noticed that their portfolio mostly shows blackwork tattoos, but they’re also experienced in colours. We really like their range, including linework, portraits, dotwork, minimalism, and watercolour.
Also, when their tattoo artists say they can bring your ideas to life, it means they can actually do it. It’s really impressive that their works are intricate, especially their big tattoos.
But a minor setback is not all artists do coverups and re-works, especially if it’s not within their usual designs. We’re not too disappointed, though, since they have many artists available, so it’s likely you’ll find one to do it.
Media credit: 905inktattoo
Conveniently, they have two locations that are open daily: in Toronto and Brampton. Even if you live far from the city but in the GTA, we appreciate that you can book their services.
Plus, they accept walk-ins for small tattoos. You can also book a free consultation at their studio for a one-on-one conversation with your preferred artist, which really helps with the creative process, in our opinion.
Finally, we like that 905 INK Tattoo’s shop is also clean and organized. They have plenty of seats for multiple bookings, and the place is well-lit.
5. Toronto Tattoohaus
Services: Machine tattoo
Website: https://www.torontotattoohaus.com/
Address: 873 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 1C4
Contact Details: 647-345-3549
Office Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Google reviews score | 4.9/5 |
Facebook reviews score | 4.6/5 |
Total reviews | 4/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Expertise | 5/5 |
Experience | 5/5 |
Design range | 5/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 5/5 |
Accessibility | 4/5 |
Pros
- An inclusive tattoo shop
- Walk-ins are welcome
- Has a wide variety of styles
- Has a good pricing system
Cons
- Not open daily
Something we like about Toronto Tattoohaus is they’re an inclusive space for everyone. It’s incredible that they provide a safe space for Toronto residents, which earns massive points from us.
They also earn points for their space, which has a relaxing and chill atmosphere. Even though their shop is along a busy road, the vibe inside makes the experience comfortable—and it’s a safe space because it’s not messy at all!
It’s a plus they accept walk-ins at any time, which is a nice option for spontaneous tattoos. Clients can call or send them a direct message on Instagram to make sure there are artists available.
Media credit: torontotattoohaus
Regarding their style, we were impressed at the diversity. From what we’ve seen, their blackwork and coloured tattoos and also the variety of creative designs they offer is incredible.
Furthermore, we think it’s nice that clients get a cute little cat tattoo or a realistic photo of their pets. They have experienced tattoo artists as well for those intricate designs.
Toronto Tattoohaus has a good pricing system, too, which starts at $100. They also offer full-day rates starting at $700 to $950 for larger tattoos, which is the most recommended option for large pieces—it’s cost-effective, no?
Overall, we believe Toronto Tattoohaus is an excellent place for tattoos. But unlike other tattoo parlours in Toronto, they’re only open six days a week.
6. Flow Tattoo
Services: Machine tattoo
Website: https://www.flowtattoo.com/
Address: 685 Queen St W Second Floor, Toronto, ON M6J 1E6
Contact Details: 647-352-0878
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Google reviews score | 4.8/5 |
Total reviews | 4/5 |
Score consistency | 5/5 |
Expertise | 5/5 |
Experience | 5/5 |
Design range | 5/5 |
Studio | 5/5 |
Cleanliness | 5/5 |
Safety protocols | 5/5 |
Professionalism | 4/5 |
Accessibility | 5/5 |
Pros
- Has three locations
- Well-lit space
- Open daily
- Diverse range of styles
- Accepts walk-ins
Cons
- Some appointment issues
Having three locations in Toronto makes Flow Tattoo one of the most accessible tattoo shops. They’re also commuter-friendly because they’re near bus stops if you want to avoid rush hour traffic.
It also helps that their shop is well-maintained, clean, not messy, and well-lit, especially on Queen Street, because of the huge windows. We appreciate this, especially for female clients, because it feels like a safe space.
Another plus is they’re open seven days a week, which is convenient and allows for a better scheduling system. Also, we like how they can serve many clients because of their diverse range of styles.
Furthermore, we really like that they’re incredible at doing portraits, anime, watercolours, and minimalist designs. It really shows their expertise, don’t you think?
Media credit: flow_tattoo_toronto
Flow Tattoo also provides free consultations and accepts walk-ins for small pieces. Plus, with their flash designs, you can get a beautiful, spontaneous tattoo on a special occasion.
Sadly, we did hear a minor hiccup from our client surveys regarding appointment issues. Some clients were disappointed to receive cancelled bookings, which resulted in wasted time as they weren’t mentioned beforehand.
Because of this, we recommend contacting the shop to confirm before travelling to their shop. On a good note, this doesn’t seem to happen often, so maybe these incidents were just bad days.