I have spent far too many hours and far too much money here! Yet, I don't regret either. These are, without a doubt, some of the best tattooers in San Diego/So. California. Terry, the owner, should really be compared to national names, not just west coast names. He surrounds himself with artists that work to his standards and it shows. Â
I started withTerry 5 years ago at Avalon II and followed him to his own parlor, Remington Tattoo. He has tattooed my entire left torso, my upper back, and my 3/4 sleeve. I get compliments every where I go, even from the undecorated masses, and other tattooers frequently recognize the Remington name.
The hourly rates may seem high, but you get what you pay for. All of the artists here work fast and efficiently, and only charge for time spend receiving ink. No piece prices or charging for drawing or set-up. It sounds like I am gushing, but I swear we are not personal friends. I have paid for every hour of tattooing I have received and am very happy.
I had an amazing experience here. I walked in to schedule a consultation with Sarah  after falling in love with her profile. I came in on a Thursday and was able to make a meeting on that following Saturday. The consultation was brief but very reassuring, she was so friendly and knowledgeable.
On my appointment she had sketches and references that exceeded my expectations. I was very comfortable and relaxed the whole time (my first tattoo). The parlor was very homey and laid back. I listened to music most of the time but we did converse, she is incredibly kind and humorous! She charges $160 an hour which may be considered high for some- but you really do get what you pay for. I am so pleased with everything.
Amazing experience!
I've looked at a lot of portfolios over the past couple of years to decide on who I wanted to work with and the second I saw Terry's I was hooked, I had to get something by him.
Had a few friends complain about how long I waited to get to sit for the tattoo. Have to say it was well worth it and in the grad scheme of things, wasn't that long.
Everything was very professional from the consultation, to the shop and the other artists there. Terry was great about explaining what was going on and how to take care of my new tattoo. Definitely felt at ease through the whole process. Looking forward to finishing this half sleeve and the more pieces I'm sure are to come.
Thanks Terry!
Sarah is an incredible artist! All the artist at Remington are very talented and they provide a comfortable environment to get a tattoo. It was my first tattoo and I couldn't be happier with the results. I provided Sarah with an idea of what I wanted my tattoo to be and let her design the rest. Her creative design was better than what I had imagined. The line work and colors turned out AMAZING! I would recommend this shop to anyone. If you're looking for a shop in San Diego, you definitely should make an appointment with one of the artists at Remington. Thank you Sarah, everyone loves my tattoo and it is a piece of art I'll be proud to wear for the rest of my life. :)
Review Source:Nathaniel is a truly AMAZING artist. Not only does he do outstanding work but he has the passion for it .I came in with an idea of what I wanted and he sketched out something right away. I fell in love with it instantly. He is an extraordinary artist who loves what he does and it shows! I originally wanted it placed in a different spot and he explained reasons why it wouldn't flow with the natural curve of my body. I was grateful for that cause he is honest and not just doing it for the money he actually cares about the results (had bad experiences with that so that was huge for me)
The shop was super clean and all the tattoo artist were very friendly. Definitely good vibes!!!
Very happy :)
I am currently in the process of receiving a half sleeve from Terry Ribera. Just finished my second sitting out of 4 today! Â The shop is very cool, atmosphere is energetic and comfortable and all the artists are very friendly and outgoing. Â I had to wait 7 months before my first appointment but trust me!!!... Terry is probably the best tattoo artist in all of San Diego county and well worth the wait! Â I will definitely be using him for all my future work!
I couldn't be more stoked on Remington!!!
Pop-quiz: How much of your tattoo deposit should you get back if your artist calls you the day before to tell you he quit and you have to get the work done at a different shop? Well it happened to me, and I get nothing. That's not the shop's fault, and I am sure all the artists here are worth their weight in gold, but c'mon that's just fucked up to quit on the spot like that and leave your clients in a tough spot to decide whether the new shop they've never seen or heard anything about is "just as good" - meh. I didn't care for the unprofessionalism of the whole ordeal. Sucks for me cause I'm out $100 but I hope this review saves someone from having a similar less-than-awesome experience.
Review Source:Sarah did an AMAZING job on my dog paw... I couldn't have asked for more! Pics to come after healing.
And Terry helped my hubby draw up his dragon and koi back piece. Omg that was incredible to watch!
The staff here is nice, this is the cleanest place I have ever been to... Cleaner than any hospital too!
I will be coming back to have Sarah do all my other work. Thank you Remington Tattoo!
Saw them on YELP and we were in town.  My fiancé has a tat from another guy in Manhattan Beach that needed to be enhanced and somewhat redone.  Terry was absolutely awesome but was too tied up.  He graciously recommended Nathaniel, who also tats there.  My fiancé let him have freedom to do what he felt was good.  He did an amazing job.  We also got to talk to Sarah and she was awesome as well.  Terry was working on a guy while we were there and the tat was incredible. This place is by far the best of the best when it comes to artist and rep.  I highly recommend them to anyone who wants a true piece of art.  THIS PLACE IS FOR SERIOUS PEOPLE WHO WANT TRUE OUTSTANDING ARTWORK.
Review Source:Ok, this is my first yelp review, so that says a lot. I just spent 3 hrs in the chair with Nathaniel and I'm so happy I did. We are doing a half sleeve with two cover ups. I was nervous at first to do the cover up rather then add to the existing tattoos. Nathaniel explained what would take place and how he would do it, I said f it, let's do it. I'm so glad I did, it's awesome. I have two more sessions for color and can't wait to show this thing off. If your looking to get work, stop looking and go to Remington Tattoo, you will not be disappointed.
Review Source:Found Remington Tattoo on Yelp and checked out their artist's portfolio to schedule a cover up tattoo I've been wanted to have done.
Once I saw Sarah's work I knew she was the one. I saw her mermaid piece and loved her style and called her that day. Scheduling with Sarah was easy peasy and before I knew it, my appointment day was finally here.
I sat for 3+ hours and we engaged in friendly conversation with each other and with the other artists. Nate and Kurt were awesome guys that helped keep my mind off the pain of my giant tattoo. Nate even offered me a delicious cupcake when I first got there.
My appointment was on a Sunday and the studio was really busy that afternoon. Phone calls and drop ins carried on throughout the day.
I go in next month to have my tattoo colored in. I cannot wait to see the finished results. Even just as an outline it looks awesome.
Definitely my favorite tattoo parlor in SD.
I searched for years for someone to cover a tribal design that I regrettably had along my spine, for 10 years I searched until I met Terry. He is amazing! He knew exactly what would cover perfectly while taking into consideration elements that I was looking for. I ended up with a beautiful custom work of art that seamlessly covered the old tattoo. Â I appreciate his attention to details and his expert technique. I have had other tattoos and nothing compares to Terry's gentle speed and awareness of what I was feeling as a client. Thanks Terry, you are the best!!
Remington is a beautiful clean shop and all the artists there are exceptional!
A friend recommended this place to me, so i decided to check it out. Now most of my tattoos are words so I didn't get something intricate, just a quote. I got it in my right inner arm. I made a big deal about the pain but my artist, Nathaniel, put up with it. He was totally reassuring and when the time came, it was not at all painful. I don't know if it was him or if the location, but I am definitely saying he made my experience less painful.
On the other hand, my friend who came with me, got a knife. They close at 8:00pm on Fridays but he was still able to do his tattoo after closing hours. Nathaniel talked my friend out of what would've been a weird tattoo. He liked this place also.
Nathaniel was clean, accurate, and easy to work with. I'm definitely going back for my next tattoo!!!
Terry Ribera is a truly inspiring individual. His art is meticulously crafted through countless years of dedication spent honing his craft to a near perfection. His knowledge and intimacy with the art of tattooing gave me the confidence to go through this personal transformation and I'm incredibly proud to be sharing the process with you.
There is a good reason Terry is booked for over a year. He's the best, and as a fellow artist I was extremely thorough in my choice for an artist to deliver my unique vision and I was not disappointed. If you're willing to spend the time, patience, and money on a truly beautiful piece of artwork that will be with you the rest of your life look no further. Yes, there is a long wait list, but when it comes to dynamic art there is certainly no better choice. I would get another tattoo from Terry without hesitation. I traveled from Portland to San Diego 4 times to finish my piece, and I would happily travel much further knowing that Terry could deliver.
Remington Tattoo provides a very relaxed atmosphere adorned with artworks, sculptures, paintings and beautiful antiquities that enhance the work space with character and beauty. Rarely have I visited a place with such meticulous care taken to create a stunning and unique environment. The artists at Remington hold themselves to a high standard of artistic integrity and actively strive to improve their art through collaborative sessions and constant critique. You'll enjoy the playful banter between artists, and revel in their comradery.
I really took my time researching for  a tattoo parlor, as well as for a tattoo. I picked Sarah at Remington Tattoo, as I had looked into her work online. I gave her a picture of what I wanted, but it needed some work. She transformed my picture into an amazing sketch.  She made it look just like I wanted when she tattooed me. And she was nice! I recommend this place to everyone that asks me where I got my beautiful Ganesha on the back of my neck :)
Review Source:I called to ask about their availability yesterday. A lady said that one of their tattoo artists will most likely have time for my husband and I to get small tattoos that day, and they'd take my name and number to call back either way. She was nice, but closing time came and they never called us to let us know they wouldn't have time or to set up an appointment. No call today, either.
Not sure if we'll call them back or not. I understand being busy, but we waited up all day at home and would have appreciated a 2 minute phone call saying they couldn't take us that day and to maybe set up an appointment. I'm bummed that a place with such great reviews ended up being sort of unprofessional and rude. We aren't from around here and were really pumped to find a new tattoo shop for all the bigger pieces we want to get started.
Edit: As a result of this poor review I got an email from one of the managers apologizing, which was nice, but after the longest back and forth he decided they would not be able to accommodate us. It took almost an entire week to figure that out for some reason, even though I'd been completely upfront in what we wanted from the very beginning. And by the end of the discussion the manager had gone from polite and apologetic to defensive and quite rude (even going as far to say something along the lines of, "I'm guessing you're upset because we're not the first to turn you down." when we hadn't been turned down ever before and I wasn't even "upset"). Maybe this tattoo shop does good work, but I'll never know because their customer service is crap.
Terry Ribera is an amazing artist! Â I flew down from San Francisco for my tattoos and I am so happy I did. Â
The shop is awesome!  Clean with a great vibe ... vintage décor with phenomenal pieces of art on the walls.  Everyone was super nice and made me feel welcome the minute I walked in the door.
Terry knows exactly what will and will not look good on your skin. Â He listened to what I wanted and drew something even better. Â I told him my color scheme and he picked the perfect colors. Â Based on what I saw in his portfolio I had high expectations and he exceeded them. Â Terry works very efficiently and his time estimate was spot on. Â My tattoos were on a smaller scale than a lot of his work so I was able to get them done at one appointment but will definitely be planning another trip to SD in the future for more.
Sarah was working the same time I was there and her work was high quality as well. Â It seems impossible to go wrong with anyone at Remington!
Getting inked is a decision that one doesn't take lightly and finding the right artist for me was critical in creating pieces of skin art that I could unconditionally admire and appreciate on a daily basis. Â As I reflect on the ink that Terry created on my arms over the last year, I can unequivocally claim that it will bring me that admiration.
Terry created a half sleeve on my left arm that seamlessly integrated a smaller piece that was executed by another artist. Â On my right arm, he inked a new three quarter sleeve that perfectly depicts the elements of wisdom, love and freedom that I envisioned. Â Terry created a beautiful design that meshed an owl, roses and a winged skull all intertwined in a beautiful mix of black and grey with super clean lines coupled with exquisite shading. Â I receive compliments frequently from strangers and friends alike.
Terry's shop is clean, filled with pieces of art that provide that feeling of comfort and confidence to customers by way of relating that they are in good hands with him or the other great artists that work at Remington. Â Arnie, Nathaniel and Sarah are all talented in their own unique way. Â I admire Terry's passion for the art, his integrity and I only wish I had more hands to display the great creations he always executes on!
I would highly recommend Remington as a place to get your body art!
After years of searching for the perfect artist to throw together my custom "fruits and vegetables with filigree" themed sleeve I found Terry, the owner and magical tattoo wizard at Remington who was about to make my dream vision a true reality.
Terry completed my amazing sleeve in just two short months and I'm extremely happy with the finished product, I really couldn't have envisioned it better! I get 100 compliments a day on how vivid, colorful and well-executed it was (not to mention the subject matter is fucking awesome, let's be real).
Terry is a *talented tattoo artist, so his wait is a little far out, but worth it. Not only is his work absolutely stunning, the shop is akin. I suggest if you are in the area to stop in and view all the antique furnishings and beautiful art on the walls.
SICK.
*not your run of the mill, I'm just like everybody else, I can trace flash really well type of artist
I went to Remington Tattoo a few months ago to get a tattoo on my leg - Nathanial Gann was my artist and he did a phenomenal job. Â In the initial consultation he was honest and listened to what I wanted which was great, and the work he did was nothing short of amazing. Â The shop itself is awesome, not pretentious which was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the majority of tattoo shops, there is vintage art and unique pieces on the walls and everything is clean and bright and professional. Â Definitely recommend the shop and Nathanial's one of a kind art.
Review Source:Sarah Genereaux is possibly one of the most talented tattoo artists out there. Â She did an amazing cover up for me, my standard issue late 90's butterflies needed to go! Â I could have covered them up with something about the same size...no, that's not how I roll. Â I have a very large ribcage/side piece that Sarah completed from a painting of a mermaid that I found and had been holding on to for a while...no one can tell it's a cover up, I get compliments on it ALL THE TIME. Â The coloring is amazing, the detail on the tail especially gets a lot of nice comments. Â Thanks Sarah! Â I have an idea, need to see you soon!
Review Source:Remington Tattoo is rather unique, in my opinion. You walk in and are surrounded by the most fantastic antique styled decor, Â magnificently framed artwork, and eclectic knick knacks (note the stuffed rabbit with antlers above the entry way). The music is always tasteful as well, and the staff is very friendly.
I had my work done by Terry Ribera, an incredibly artistic fellow who deserves massive recognition for his talent. He has fantastic lines, used bright colors that constantly are getting me stopped and complimented, and overall was pleasant to be around.
I am already signed up to have Terry work on my next tattoo....I couldn't imagine ever going anywhere else! This artist is worth the wait, and I am thrilled with his art work!
Oh, did I mention there are giant jars of chocolate sitting out as well!? Ha ha... amazing shop!
Remington Tattoo is clearly a cut above the rest. Â I first met Terry Ribera when we was working at Avalon II. Â I was getting a sleeve there, and from watching and observing how damn good Terry was, I knew that I wanted him to do my other sleeve. Â
His artwork is incredible. Â He is courteous and professional. Â Put it this way, the guy outgrew Avalon II. Â He got so popular and was so good, it just made sense to open his own shop!
Remington is a great place, with a cool atmosphere and and a great vibe. Â I finally just got the outline on my new sleeve by Terry, and I absolutely love it. Â I look forward to the next 6 months getting it filled in. Â I have no doubt it will put to shame most of the average art out there!
If you want the ABSOLUTE best in high end, highly custom tattoo's and sleeves, look nowhere else.
Hint: Do you know the easiest way to tell how good an artist is? Â How long is the wait to get your tattoo from said artist? Â The longer the wait, the better the artist!!!
Terry Ribera, the brains and talent behind Remington Tattoo was a joy to work with from the very beginning. Â Starting at my consultation where I told him my vision for the tattoo I wanted (where he artfully sketched out a rough draft) to him sending me the final artwork for my approval, to the next 6+ hours of work, he was AMAZING! Â The shop is CLEAN, stylish and comfortable; Everyone working there is polite and accomidating. Â He IS a busy artist and you may have to wait for an appointment, but believe me, he is WELL worth the wait for the piece of art you will receive. Terry is an amazing talent and I am continually blown away whenever I see his work. Â If you are lucky enough to get a tattoo by Terry, you will not be disappointed. Â Just sit back and wait for the compliments on your new ink. Â Thank you again Terry~!
Review Source:I got an amazing Tattoo by Nathaniel Gann about 8 months ago! He is new to this shop and I'm sure his presence is making it more awesome than it already was! Nathaniel is not only a great artist but he is professional, patient and fun to be around as well.. which is important when getting a large tattoo like I did. You are going to be spending many hours with them so personality goes a long way for me. I highly recommend making an appointment with Nathaniel at Remington Tattoo Parlor. Tell him Kat sent you :)
Review Source:Vintage shop decor with superb ambiance and a nice view if you're getting work done. Arnold is an extremely talented artist who's work pops out to life on your skin. I trust him completely with my skin.. I've always wanted a back piece but was contemplative until one day my gf said "let's get inked!!", I didn't think she was serious until she booked us an appt, so I started researching pieces that have always intrigued my eyes. Sent Arnold a few different ideas and he sketched me the most GORGEOUS thing I have yet to lay eyes on and that's what sold me. "Go big or go home!!!" - thats what Arnold & my gf said.... Sooo I went BIG!! My piece is also part of a cover up that is looking extraordinary so far. He is so down to earth and I am so glad I went to him for my piece. Â I'm thankful to be in such incredible skillful hands!
He has done work for one of my gfs which is who referred me, you won't leave disappointed!!
If you're wondering what my piece is it's this magnificently gorgeous peacock with tremendous amount of detail put into it, you might catch a few photos of it on his website... Arnold exceeds all my expectations of professional, clean, &considerate tattoo artist. He inks with love I tell ya!!!
I don't have work done by Terry but I have seen the work he has done while I've been in the shop getting inked and it is pretty damn breath taking as well.
Terry & Arnold are both AMAZING :)
PS- yes this shop is in San Diego and yes I live in the city of Highland, 6 fwys, 117 miles, over 2 hours away (one way), and I will gladly drive the distance to get tattooed by Arnold. Well worth the drive!!!
Amazing professional work, in a clean comfortable setting. This isn't your average hole in the wall tattoo shop. I will not be going anywhere else after getting my last tattoo here by the awesome Arnold Santos. He has done other work for me before he came to Remington and I have always been happy with the results. This is definitely the only shop I will be visiting!
Review Source:I've known Terry for a few years now and he has always gone above and beyond when it comes to art/tattoos and most importantly, professionalism and friendliness. Â Anytime I personally have had even a small question i get more than i ever would have dreamed of information, thoughts and incite. Â There are few shops in SD that i would personally recommend and Terry's shop, Remington Tattoo is the First on the list. Â Â Anyone in the San Diego Area or traveling to, will be far from disappointed if they decide to stop in for a tattoo(Fine art on Skin) or even spending several min. looking at his amazing paintings. Â
-Taren, L&T Tattoo
Terry's work is my favorite in San Diego. I first saw his work when he was at another shop and I was getting a tattoo on my right arm. Once the right arm was finished, I knew I wanted to get Terry's artwork on my left arm. He had quite a waiting list, but his work is so good that I didn't mind waiting. I've been going there this summer to do my left sleeve and am really happy with my tattoo. Terry is really amazing.
Review Source:Terry is by far "The Man" behind the gun.  Being a college grad from The Art Institute, I've encountered many talented artists. But I got to admit, Terry's artistic skill can't be taught..he is just a natural when it comes to art. That's pretty much what u look for when choosing a tattoo artist, isn't it? His own shop is in a great location in N. Park w/ plenty of parking! Inside the shop, you'll meet two very awesome artists (Terry & Arnold) who make visiting that more fun! In which, now I will only  do business w/ this shop!
Review Source:I'm not sure that I can even give justice describing how awesome Terry Ribera is!... simply put, A true old school artist who's quality and integrity far surpasses your average shop. Terry gives heart and soul into each piece and he's got the midas touch when it comes to skin. Â Terry's use of color is exquisite... if you get the chance to be a canvas for his rare talent you'll see for yourself why Terry Ribera and his Team at Remington Tattoo Parlor are the Best of the Best!!
Review Source:If you watch LA, NY or Miami ink and think all tattoo shops house world class artists capable of inscribing their clients with art that blows minds you'd be sorely mistaken. Â These artists are few and far between truth be told. Â Terry Ribera is one such artist, a diamond in the rough as it were.
     He recently completed my wife's left arm sleeve, and the final result is simply gorgeous.  Its obnoxious, the amount of people that favorably comment on it.  Even conservative family members have admitted to its quality.
     Canned flash designs or terrible/unrealistic ideas need not apply.  This is not the shop to get a unicorn or cherry on your ankle.  This shop here is the real deal. Â
     Stunning artwork from an amiable Tahitian master is what you can expect here, nothing less.
Terry epitomizes the true definition of talent and professionalism. He is a great down to earth guy, who really wants to get to know you, not only as a client but as a friend. If I had his kind of talent, I would be a total pretentious dickhead. Straight. UP.
Over the course of 8 months Terry took my frail, under-developed left arm and transformed it into a beautiful work of art which will inevitably be skinned and put on display akin to Terminator, in the event of my demise.
I know for some the pricing per hour might be a little steep but you will definitely get what you pay for. People don't think twice about purchasing expensive sunglasses or shoes, but look for a "bargain" tattoo that's going to be there forever. That shit needs to stop.
Terry, thank you for an amazing tattoo! I can't even begin to tell you how much cooler I am now because of it. OH, and the extra shading you added to give my arm the definition that it never had, is perfect! Now I just have to find another way of paying you to hang out with me..
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