Below is a list of the top and leading Tattoo Shops in Chicago. To help you find the best Tattoo Shops located near you in Chicago, our team at Kev’s Best put together our own list based on this rating points list.
Chicago’s Best Tattoo Shops:
The top rated Tattoo Shops in Chicago are:
- Chicago Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing
- Insight Studios
- Speakeasy Custom Tattoo
- Tattoo Factory
- Taylor Street Tattoo
Chicago Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing
Chicago Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing is home to some of the greatest tattooers in the industry, Chicago Ink artists demonstrate only the highest level of expertise and display exceptional attention to detail in their work. Adopting inspiration from a wide range of homegrown artists and foreign influences, they are continuously experimenting with new tools and techniques to advance their skills, provide valuable insight to their clients and maintain innate curiosity. They understand body modification is a matter of personal taste and make a promise to guide you comfortably through your experience.
Products/Services:
Customized Art, Color or Black & Grey, Cover-Ups, Realism, Japanese, Tribal, Anime, Traditional, American, Lettering, Bio-Mechanical and Other Various Styles
LOCATION:
Address: 3200 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: +1 773-777-9663
Website: www.chicagoinktattoo.com
REVIEWS:
“I came in with my friend on a busy Friday night and they took us right away! Rosemary was absolutely perfect. I have a low pain tolerance but this was quick! I got my rook pierced and Rosemary was so accommodating. I kept trying to bail out, but she did everything to calm me down. I am so glad I got my piercing done by her! My friend also got another ear piercing and it took a second! Very quick, efficient, honest, and friendly staff. I love his place!” – Amanda Urdiales
Insight Studios
Insight Studios began to manifest conceptually in June of 2005. The vision was to build a creative facility that was home to talented artists. Housed in glass block and polished diamond plate, the overall feel of Insight Studios is clean, professional, creative and comfortable. Your safety and comfort are top priorities at Insight Studios and they do their best to make each and every tattoo/piercing/removal experience a special one.
The design of this shop is unique to the Chicagoland area and tattoo community. The waiting area houses a 24ft aluminum bench that sits under custom paintings made by the artists at Insight. The glass block dividing walls separate the work stations. Each tattoo and piercing station at Insight Studios offers 100% privacy, if needed. The entire piercing room is made up of glass block and a frosted glass door for privacy and ease of cleaning. All work surfaces are made of stainless steel which makes them easy to wipe down and disinfect.
Products/Services:
Tattooing Services, Tattoo Removal & Piercing
LOCATION:
Address: 1062 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: +1 773-342-4444
Website: www.insightstudiosonline.com
REVIEWS:
“I went here for my first tattoo and wasn’t too nervous going in, but once I was inside I soon felt incredibly at ease. The guy at the front immediately helped me out and was very attentive to my needs. I hadn’t booked an appointment but within 15 minutes I was ready to go with the tattoo artist. James did a fantastic job and I absolutely love the results. I got a Freddie Mercury tat and I felt even more at ease when I found out James is a fellow Queen fan. The process was quick, pain was minimal, and everyone there provided excellent service. After getting one tattoo I think I will be getting more down the road, and this is the place I’ll be going. 10/10 for service, quality, and cleanliness!” – Madeleine Marsh
Speakeasy Custom Tattoo
Speakeasy Custom Tattoo is owned by Patrick Cornolo and is the home to world renowned artists each dedicated to giving you the best service and tattoo available. They are not your average tattoo shop. Speakeasy is an Appointment Only custom tattoo shop, designed not only to be a highly functional, clean work environment, but also to have a very comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that puts both the Artists and Clients at ease. They want your experience to be as memorable as the piece of art you leave with. All of their artists do their own appointments and most have a wait to get in so please be patient with wait and response times. If you want to rush in to a tattoo, this may not be the shop for you. They do mainly larger custom tattoos at Speakeasy.
Being a custom tattoo shop, they prefer to work with their clients to come up with an original piece of art that you will not find on any wall. Each artist at Speakeasy works directly with their own clients, creating artwork with your input and their vision. They believe you should pick an artist based on how their style fits what you want.
Products/Services:
Custom Tattoo Services
LOCATION:
Address: 1935 1/2 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: +1 773-645-1703
Website: www.speakeasycustomtattoo.com
REVIEWS:
“First off I’d like to thank Brigitta Mathe for my awesome tattoo. Also, Speakeasy Custom Tattoo for hiring Ms. Mathe. She was professional and down to earth. Her work is phenomenal . This girl is going to be going places. Speakeasy Custom tattoo staff was great. It was well lit and clean. I liked that the owner came around and looked at everyone getting tattoos. I enjoyed communicating through email to setup my consultation, give ideas and set appointments.” – Douglas Brunner
Tattoo Factory
Tattoo Factory – Established in 1976 by Pete Collurafici, the Tattoo Factory, located at 4441 N. Broadway in Chicago’s notorious Uptown, is Chicagoland’s oldest continually run tattoo studio. They have been doing it longer than anyone, because they do it better than everyone.
At a Tattoo Factory, there are no boring waits because they have the Drink N’ Ink right next door. Your friends can grab a drink while watching you get tattooed on one screen, and the game on the other.
Products/Services:
Japan Style, Traditional, Wildlife, Water Color, Tribal, Portrait, Cover Up, New School & Custom Tattoos, Piercings
LOCATION:
Address: 4441 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: +1 773-989-4077
Website: www.tattoofactory.com
REVIEWS:
“Awesome experience yesterday at Tattoo Factory! The entire team was great and very professional. Thanks Matt for the terrific art and for making me feel very comfortable. And a special thanks to Paul. I’ll be back and highly recommend!” – Leslie Maj
Taylor Street Tattoo
Taylor Street Tattoo Company was founded in 2004 by Keith Underwood and Mike “Rollo Banks” Malone (R.I.P.)
It was a rough road in the beginning. After purchasing the building in 2002, Underwood entered a tumultuous two-year legal and court battle. He fought local businesses, schools, and residential associations who claimed having a tattoo shop in Little Italy would bring a “bad element” to the neighborhood and subsequently drive property values down. Underwood won his court case and opened the doors to Taylor Street Tattoo. He has owned the business ever since.
Since opening, the shop and owner Underwood have proved everyone that opposed him wrong. Property values have increased, while the shop has become a vibrant and integral mainstay in Little Italy, continuously brings tourism and community ethics to the historic Chicagoland neighborhood.
Taylor Street Tattoo has been the focus of many films and articles over the years because its direct lineage to Norman Keith Collins (the original Sailor Jerry). Collins mentored Mike Malone and Don Ed Hardy in Hawaii before Malone relocated to Chicago. Malone took Underwood under his wing, which eventually culminated into opening Taylor Street Tattoo.
The “no nonsense” and “our-work-speaks-for-itself” attitude that Jerry instilled in Malone was passed to Underwood and is still very much present at the shop today.
Taylor St. Tattoo prides itself on keeping the classic tattoo motifs alive today; bright, bold, affordable modern electric tattooing.
Products/Services:
Traditional & Custom Tattoo Designs
LOCATION:
Address: 1150 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: +1 312-455-8288
Website: www.taylorsttattoo.com
REVIEWS:
“I went in there, not understanding the “Get what you get” was not a flash sheet. I feel like a total dummy but anyhow. It’s basically like a gumball machine and whatever comes out is what you have tattooed on you. I don’t have the courage to do something like that, but it is a really fun, creative concept. It was a really clean shop, and conveniently located near all the great lil shops and dining on Taylor St. After I complained about my own misunderstanding, they wrote me right back and I really appreciate that. Great customer service.” – Amanda Martin
Becky Collins has lived in South Dakota her whole life. Becky has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications including the Yahoo News and True Dakotan. As a journalist for Kev’s Best, Becky covers national and international developments.