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Emma Mannheimer
Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More
Favorite Portland Tattoo Shops
Here’s where to score a permanent Portland souvenir.
Emma Mannheimer
Emma Mannheimer is a Seattle-born, Portland-based writer and editor. Read More
One of America’s most inked cities, Portland boasts a deep well of tattoo shops and artists, primed to help craft your permanent Rose City memory. Our roundup of Portland tattoo shops offers a mix of walk-in and appointment-only inking sessions. Keep in mind, some artists have lengthy waitlists — so plan ahead. All that’s left to do is decide on some inspiration for your art, set a budget and provide your canvas.
Portland’s Top Tattoo Shops
Scapegoat Tattoo
Robustly staffed by full-time artists, Scapegoat Tattoo ensures that your skin is in good hands. Located in Southeast Portland’s famous vegan mini-mall, the vegan-friendly staff steers clear of any animal-based products.
An hourly artist rate of $180 (and a $100 shop minimum) might steer away impulsive customers.
Among Scapegoat’s talented inkers, Jesse Iris specializes in black and grey work, while Bree Napasawan inks new takes on American traditional tattoos.
Icon Tattoo Studio
Icon Tattoo Studio has held dominion over the North Portland tattoo scene since 1999. The inviting shop features a light-filled studio with large window and high ceilings.
Icon’s skillful cast of artists, including Alena Chun and Mckenna Carlisle, offers tats in diverse and distinct styles. Options range from black and white roses to colorful portraits of women and animals.
Sea Tramp Tattoo Company
Located in the Central Eastside, Sea Tramp is Oregon’s oldest tattoo shop, founded in 1978 by legendary artist Bert Grimm. (He’s rumored to have inked the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, and his historic flash sheets line the shop’s walls.)
Hourly rates vary, but the shop minimum is set at $80 (cash only). Walk-ins are welcome, 363 days of the year.
Sea Tramp’s artists — Patrick Murphy, Skot Ramsay and Mike Stevens — carry on Grimm’s tradition of offering old-school designs (though tattoos of all kinds are also offered at this street-style shop).
All that’s left to do is decide on some inspiration for your art, set a budget and provide your canvas.
Reliquary Tattoo
Located on bustling Broadway Street in Northeast Portland, Reliquary Tattoo is a cooperatively run, female-owned tattoo parlor, focusing on creating an inclusive environment for its clients.
Reliquary’s artists are available by appointment only. Price quotes can be discussed with the artists after booking an appointment, as each artist offers different policies and rates. Reliquary is cash-only, but there is an ATM within walking distance of the parlor. No walk-ins are available, but people are invited to visit and view the artists’ flash books and projects when the shop is open.
Reliquary’s artists include Allyson Bennett, Elli Adams and founder Meg Adamson. Peruse through samples of each tattoo artists’ work on their website.
Atlas Tattoo
Set inside a large blue house in North Portland, Atlas Tattoo features buzzworthy artists. By appointment only, with some same-day appointments available. The shop minimum is $100, with an hourly rate of $180.
Atlas’ roster includes some of Portland’s most popular tattoo artists, like Jerry Ware, Dan Gilsdorf and Gregory Whitehead. Ware works in clean lines and bright colors, and Gilsdorf and Whitehead follow American and Japanese traditions.
Tattoo 34 PDX
Located in the heart of the Hawthorne District, Portland’s only Indigenous and Black-owned tattoo shop, Tattoo 34 PDX, is run by a husband and wife team dedicated to community building and inclusion, where all clients feel welcomed and cared for.
Tattoo 34 has a $100 shop minimum, and the artists charge by the hour per session. Each artist sets their own session fees, so check the pricing on the artist’s page. The shop also offers Walk-In Wednesdays starting at noon, where you can get a ‘flash tattoo’ with appropriate walk-in tattoo concepts.
The artists at Tatoo 34 have varied and diverse specialties, which include surrealism, botanicals, bold colors tattoos and traditional tribal work. Check out their website for examples and how to book a sitting.
Grizzly Tattoo
Billed as one of the friendliest Portland tattoo shops, Grizzly Tattoo welcomes visitors beneath its glowing red neon sign. Operating on North Williams Avenue since 2011, the shop is known for talented artists who often book up months in advance. And depending on the artists, they charge $150-$200 an hour, with a shop minimum of $100.
Grizzly staff includes Laura Jean Graham, who inks bold, feminine Victorian designs, and Chris Valkov, specializing in geometric and cubist works.
Wonderland Tattoo
Since opening in 2014 in Southeast Portland, Wonderland Tattoo has become one of the city’s most popular ink parlors.
The artists’ extraordinary custom work means their appointment books only open about four times a year. If you score a session, these gorgeous tattoos come at $200 per hour, with a shop minimum of $100.
The resident artists include local legends Alice Kendall and Kirsten Holliday, who are known for intricate botanical pieces.
Ever True Tattoo
Visit the airy historic Old Town location of Ever True for a spur-of-the-moment Portland memento. Traditional pieces, botanical work and geometric patterning are the house specialties. Walk-ins are welcome. A shop minimum of $60 further encourages spontaneity, though hourly rates hover around $160, cash only.
Ever True’s personable artists include owner Drat Diestler and Jeff Tarinelli, who specializes in Polynesian black work.
First-Timer Tattoo Tips
How much does a tattoo typically cost?
How far in advance do I need to make an appointment?
Portland does have several shops that cater to walk-ins, noted here.
Where should I go for my first tattoo?
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