Best of Toronto
The Best Tattoo Parlours in Toronto
The best tattoo parlours in Toronto are varied. Different clienteles, histories, techniques et al. But they all have one thing in common -- they're well revered by Toronto's tattooed community, which is to say, well, just about everyone, including the suits. I have tattoos, you have tattoos, we all have tattoos. And with a glut of shops popping up just about everywhere in the city -- every two steps along Queen St. for damned sure -- it's a good idea to make sure you're getting ink from a shop that has a bit of a reputation for, say, quality. Let's stay away from that guy's basement apartment (read: scratcher shop).
Like everyone says, it's going to be on you for a long time (read: life). And although sometimes it's fun to strike when the inspiration is hot, most people (read: those that aren't inebriated) like to put some thought into their pieces. Reasonable enough.
Here's a list of Toronto's best tattoo parlours in Toronto.
Pearl Harbor Gift Shop
These guys do it right. They hold onto the traditions of tattooing, are respectful, have a drop-dead gorgeous shop in Kensington, and, what do you know, do really freakin’ good tattoos. They take pride in working directly with the client on each piece. It also helps that Toronto’s legendary Bill Baker runs the place with Daniel Innes. In summation - it’s a solid shop. More »
Passage Tattoo Parlour
One of the city’s best (and most hidden) tattoo shops. Built over the years on a solid word-of-mouth reputation, Passage simply does brilliant custom work. As custom tattoos are beginning to become the norm for a lot of customers, these guys will take what you want and give you the best possible version. And they’re all nice as hell. More »
Archive Tattoo Studio
Having only officially been around since 2008, David Glantz’s shop has built up quite the hype. Doing 100% original tattoos, Archive strives to have a connection with the client. They want to feel you out and what you’re into before putting tattoo machine to skin. And for a lot of people, that’s good peace of mind. No matter, the tattoos that come out of this place are pretty damn impressive. More »
Imperial Tattoo
With a handful of artists, Imperial Tattoo has someone for just about every style – realism, illustration, Japanese, traditional, colour, Celtic. Holed up in a clean, open-concept loft space at Ossington and Queen, Imperial also houses Ronan Gibney, considered to be one of the city’s top tattoo artists. That never hurts your reputation. More »
Seven Crowns Tattoo
Most people, me included, just straight up like co-owners Matthew Ellis and George Brown. They’re nice dudes with antiquated style when it comes to decor. Carving out their own terrain all alone up at Yonge and Eg, Seven Crowns is known for their custom work. And like most of the city’s top tattoo shops, they are pretty much hidden. They are sought out because of their work, like a good shop should be. More »
Tat-A-Rama Tattoo Shop
Here’s Toronto’s classic street shop with all the history. Found in Etobicoke (yeah, seriously, far west end), this little shop in a mini-mall has had some of the city’s most acclaimed tattoo artist put in at least a stint at Tat-A-Rama. Most got their start here. That says a lot about the shop’s owner, Eugene, who has been at the helm for the past 18 years. More »
TCB Tattoos
Here’s a street shop that gets it right. With people constantly coming and going and an open atmosphere between tattoo stations, TCB is built on community. Splashed with art and colours everywhere you look, these guys service everyone from businessmen to college kids to day labourers. And with six artists and an apprentice, TCB has a lot of capacity. More »
Speakeasy Tattoo
Albeit a relatively new shop, Speakeasy is drenched in tradition. It’s a classic-styled tattoo shop that holds onto the respect that comes with tattoo culture. Lizzie Renaud, the shop’s owner, has tattooed around the world, which translates into bringing what she’s learned and seen overseas to the shop. They also have a fluffly Pomeranian named Wilma if that counts for anything. More »
New Tribe Tattoo
With a prime location downtown (across from MuchMusic), New Tribe has a steady passerby clientele always popping in. Doing it all – tattoos, piercings and even haircuts – New Tribe is known for always putting out a solid tattoo. This monster of a shop (it rings in at 4,000 sq. ft.) is built for the masses. You want to get a solid piercing or tat after seeing Katy Perry at Much? No problem. More »
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My #1 will always be Seven Crowns.
Ever since then I've found them pretty iffy.
However, by American standards...the legal age to receive a piercing is in fact 16 (with the notable exceptions being surface, genital and female nipple piercings which are all 18). Please don't further the spread of incorrect facts about the body mod industry in Canada. While Health Educators Inc does a great job of managing the American standards, no such standards exist here and its important to fight for that to change.
If you aren't aware of what you are speaking about please don't pitch in your two cents. Everyone with a tattoo thinks they know the industry inside and out and most of them are completely wrong almost all of the time
Questions:
Why get tattooed? why permanent art on your body? whats the attraction? Make me understand. Is it a vanity thing like clothing, makeup and hair? Ive always found tattoos to be a sign of insecurity or a cry for attention. help me understand you people, are you all just victims of a hard night of drinking? bored? dumb? . whats wrong with you that you have such an intense passion to be written on? This is more than a preference thing, you tattooed people are the majority now and you scare me with your judgement of us non tattooed folk. Are you guys mad?
Why troll here? did you fail to impress your other 14 year old friends with your witty banter? Maybe you'd like to jeer at old people on a birthday. Either way, you could be doing much more important things. You could learn about punctuation and the fascinating world of capital letters. Or there is always your idyllic world of clothing, make-up and hair.
So, please, don't spread incorrect facts about the body mod industry in America.
The artists are all very talented and helpful and make you feel very at ease, for the newbies. (like me)
Also...I'm willing to bet that I have considerably more education than the person who wrote about getting an education instead of a tattoo. So maybe...just maybe you can go suck it.
You probably hate gay people for pushing the "homsexual agenda" against "dem regalar folks." Did your parents hit you as a kid or something?
How does having/liking tattoos make you somehow socially progressive?
http://chronicinktattoo.com/
one of their artists wins awards on a regular basis.
What the hell does "American standards" on age of consent regulations have anything to do with the Canadian "Body Mod" industry? This is about Toronto tattoo studio's and in absence of a regulatory or governing body, any reputable shop mentioned here, sets its own policy on piercing and "body mod" standards based on common sense and best interest of their clients. Otherwise they wouldn't be here.
And Ms. Lza, While you discourage anyone here trying to learn something from such self~important, know~it~all, industry aficionados like yourself with your condescending 2 cents worth of erroneous advice, at least try to be relevant.
~Anyway ~May I recommend the talented artists and professional “body~mod” services of the "Great Canadian Tattoo Company" on Lakeshore Rd. West, Etobicoke.
Four more piercings, and 5 tattoos later I've never been back!!
And to the person who suggested Lucky 13 be in the list... this is 'the best' list not 'completely mediocre, not very good at what they do' list.
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but what a difference, much brighter. Do you know anyone in Toronto or north
of Toronto that uses organic ink?
I have no problem with people trying to learn stuff about the industry. I do however have a problem with people assuming they know things about the industry and passing on incorrect information.
The person I originally replied to stated that New Tribe is sketchy because they pierced someone who was under the age of 18, making it illegal. This is incorrect and damages the name of a very reliable parlour in Toronto.
It is not illegal for someone who is under 18 to get pierced because there are no CANADIAN LEGAL STANDARDS. The shop in question has a 16+ piercing policy, not an 18+ one and even if they didn't it wouldn't be illegal because Canada chooses not to regulate the body modification industry.
At least bother to read what I wrote before offering up some mediocre rebuttal.
Most of the shops listed (even the ones with a couple of good artists) are wat we call in industry "tattoo factories" they hire newbies and borderline scratch-er's during the peek tourist season and then let them go in the off season. My shop gets to fix a lot of there scratcher work because the client doesn't want to go back for there "free" touch-up. They don't tell you this but charge you the same price as if it was a seasoned artist. There is way better pricing off the beaten path of Queen, Young, Bloor. The rent in these areas reflects in the price for sure.
I'm not here to blow my own horn. Just to say the downtown shops are for the tourist unless you have a seasoned artist that works in one of these shops. There are exceptions...I Love Mom Tattoo is one of them www.ilovemomtattoostudio.com
There is a wicked new artist in Toronto his name is Dom, just started up at Toronto Ink Tattoo at Queen and Peter. The shop is brand new, but he's been tattooing for years in Europe and Australia.
If anyones looking to get portraits, realism, colour he is your guy! I have 3 tattoos off him from OZ and am excited he's in town!
Cheers