The best tattoo parlours in Toronto are where to go to get inked up, whether you’re already covered or getting your very first tattoo. These Toronto tattoo studios are recommended for their long held reputations or their quickly garnered respect, as well as their diverse array of artists and styles. Some of them are Toronto namesakes and some are hidden gems. With so many great tattoo shops in Toronto, this list should help you stay in the know when it comes to finding the best tattoo experiences.
Toronto Tattoohaus
Toronto Tattoohaus is a women-owned tattoo parlour on St. Clair West that offers a wide range of styles, from fine line, black and grey to bright bold colours. If you’re interested in a custom piece, the kind team of artists, Luce, Caroline, Jules, Carol, Karla and Kate, will work with you to ensure your vision is perfectly executed. The shop takes comfort seriously by providing clients with in-store slippers.
Eden Tattoo Studio
Eden Tattoo Studio is a co-operative tattooing space at Davenport and Ossington where you can expect an impressive variety of tattoo styles including script, flowy florals, detailed free hand pieces, anime and realism. The list of resident artists includes Anna, Azora, Karla, Rei Ren and Shan. The studio also hosts pop-up services on occasion, like tooth gems and nail sets.
TRU Tattoo Studio
TRU Tattoo is a BIPOC owned and operated studio on Dupont near Dufferin Street, founded by senior tattoo artists Vegas Dixon and Sam Daveena. The other artists on the team are Kal, Krys, Jasmine and Kim. The studio is intended to be a safe and accountable space for the Black community, women of colour and members of the LGBTQ community. It’s known for colour illustrative and American traditional designs.
Golden Iron Tattoo Studio
Golden Iron is an acclaimed tattoo studio with locations in North York and Chinatown. It has won over 103 awards. The shop’s impressive lineup of featured artists includes Cysen, Calvin, Stella, Lean, Nathalee, Dom, Dylan Liu, Egi, Ruo and Rainy. The shop is known for water colour, brush stroke, realism, line work, black and grey and portrait tattoos.
Always Tattoo Studio
Always is a tattoo studio nestled between the Junction Triangle and Bloordale VIllage. The shop is home to 12 resident artists with various creative disciplines outside of their tattoo work– Odette, Justine, Eunji, Hana, Lauren, June, Stéphanie, Sabrina, Adela, Elisa and owner Kate. Styles you can expect here include fineline, illustrative, floral, and professional handpokes like dot work. This tattoo studio has risen in popularity among Torontonians looking for tattoos that stray from more traditional styles — expect to receive plenty of compliments on your fresh ink after you visit here!
Chronic Ink
Chronic Ink is a reputable tattoo and piercing shop with multiple locations in Toronto, Mississauga and a flagship in Markham. The tattoo chain has over sixty artists that specialise in Asian, realism, fineline, blackwork, illustrative and other styles, and is a go-to spot for those trendy tiny tattoos. It’s won over 100 hundred industry awards. Fittingly Chronic Ink hosts international guests artists, which you can expect to hear about via their Instagram.
Pravda Tattoo Parlour
Pravda is private tattoo shop that packs a lot of talent into a small space. Located in Bloordale Village, right by Lansdowne station, the shop specialises in American traditional designs with unique form. There’s always an impressive display of flash pieces in the window. Artists here include Jude, Ariel, Peter, Staz, Carol and particularly raved about, Ru.
GlassBird Tattoo Collective
GlassBird is a tattoo studio in the Junction neighbourhood specialising in blackwork, realism, neo-traditional Asian and neo-Japanese, fine line illustrative florals and anime tattoos. The artist roster includes Yuen-Ting, Sebastian G, Zadia, Chloe, Yuka, Danny, and apprentice Fishbone Ink. Though each artist has a speciality, they also accommodate custom designs and can adapt to any style.
Tattoo People
Tattoo People is a parlour near Bathurst and Dupont owned by tattoo artist Khan J who started the business as an underground tattoo studio in Seoul, South Korea. Tattooing remains an illegal trade for non-medical professionals in the region to this day. Now Khan runs the popular Toronto studio with his wife Jaclyn and is known for styles like watercolour, fine line, flowers, Japanese traditional, realism and blackwork.
