Tattoo Shops in East Williamsburg, NY

East Williamsburg is home to 41 tattoo shops and studios, all in Kings County, Brooklyn, and the local trade leans toward private, appointment-led rooms more than street-front flash walls. Collectives and resident-artist studios sit next to a handful of long-running shops that take walk-ins. The work runs from fine line and micro-realism to traditional, blackwork and cover-ups.

The appointment-only studios set the tone here. Glorious Tattoo NYC is rated 5.0 from 331 reviews and works in contemporary, micro-realism and fine-line tattoos with a sleek, minimalistic feel. Gnostic Tattoo moved from a long run in Bushwick into a private studio in East Williamsburg and has served clients since 2012. he's tattoo is a team of seven artists working inside a luxury building on a custom, appointment-only basis. Art Made Rich Studio is the exclusive private shop of Richard Parker, whose custom tattoos are concept driven and rooted in illustrative realism, black and gray work and portrait-inspired design.

Walk-ins are part of the picture too. Memorial Brooklyn Tattoo welcomes walk-ins every day, runs a team of 12 artists with a separate piercing studio, and also books appointments. It is rated 4.9 from 140 reviews and works in the Williamsburg and Bushwick area. Crooked Heart takes walk-ins and offers everything from flash to custom antiquated designs, and it does not do piercings. It is rated 4.7 from 79 reviews. 47 Tattoo Studio does flash and custom tattoos in all styles, and clients can book ahead or walk in. Subversive Tattoo Parlor also takes walk-ins and pairs flash and custom work with fine line and traditional styles.

Some of the older names in this part of Brooklyn are here as well. Armageddon Tattoo Studio has been open since 1997 at 100 Bushwick Ave. Independent artists each work in their own style and do custom tattooing, and a piercer is in Tuesday through Saturday. It is rated 4.8 from 254 reviews. Gristle Tattoo is a custom, vegan shop in business since 2011, with a global team of artists doing every style from super fine-line to traditional, illustrative and bold work, plus cosmetic tattooing. It is rated 4.8 from 164 reviews, and many of its artists release flash designs.