I went here for my first two tattoos.. Billy the Gent lived up to his name! Â He was patient with my zillions of questions, and when I returned a few months later, he touched them up with no questions asked.
Whoever mans their email is a speed demon too, I had sent some questions in prior to my walk-in and they got back to me with all the pertinent details almost immediately.
Love this shop! Have only been in for piercings so far. This shop is very clean and professional and you can tell they go above and beyond to help you and make you happy. My mom got her rook pierced and she's happy with it, she said it didn't hurt at all except the clamp haha.
Anyways I bought a new eyebrow ring only $20 not bad for internally threaded. I wanted something shorter than what I had already had in so the piercer took my to the back and measured my eyebrow to find a good size for me. After he found one he thought would be a good size he wasn't pleased with it so he threw it out and started the process all over. I really liked this because it showed he wasn't just going to give me something that I wouldn't be happy with. We finally found a perfect fit and headed out. No extra charge for putting it on for me or the sizing! AWSOME! Anyways ill deff come back for more piercings. Btw the rook piercing was $50
Awesome experience! Â Was in DC for some rest and relaxation. Â Shop was strongly suggested to me. Â
Tattoo Paradise looks and feels like a traditional shop. Â Tattoo flash covers every inch of the walls. Â No attitude. Â Friendly staff. Â
Nikki is the bomb! Â Love it when an artist is really pumped to ink your design. Â Love my tattoo and the restaurant suggestions Nikki gave me. Â Will definitely get another tattoo here the next time I'm in DC.
*FINAL UPDATE (I finally have an amazing tat- that I hope to get darker lol). Â No but honestly, after finally getting in to see Scott, he was great. Â Called and straightened everything out, and everyone was nice this time around. Â The tat itself only took around an hr. Hurt like hell, but that was to be expected, and the the final product was so great, u were too proud to feel any pain lol. Â If you want a great artist, catch Scott before he leaves for Fla permanently! Â I'll post my pic in a few days...
I have a bit of an issue or hard decision to make because I have already done a down payment on a tattoo, but after the treatment that I experienced recently because of the person who answers the phones, Nick, I'm not exactly sure what I should do. Â I recently came in to the shop to have a tattoo designed and found who I was hoping to be an amazing tattoo artist to do the job, so I paid the $60 plus tip and made plans to come back in to look at the finished design the following week. Â His name is Scott, and he designed what I thought was a great piece of work, and all it really needed was a few tweaks here and there, so he informed me that he would work on those,and then send me the finished design by the next day. Â I was excited, but let him know that I would not know EXACTLY when I would be able to get the tat because life happened and I didn't have the funds at the moment, but I would be getting in touch w/him as soon as possible because I REALLY wanted this piece completed. Â He told me that was fine, and he would still send me the updated design. Â Fast forward two weeks and I never received the design, but no worries, because I was still working on my financial situation up until then, but since I had the the finances now, thought I would give a phone call into the shop to see if we could schedule getting the actual tattoo, pending him sending me the design so we could make sure everything was finalized first. Â Well this phone call is when things started to take a turn for the worst...
I spoke to whom I believe was Nick and he said that Scott was not in, so he would try to get in touch w/him for me, and see how we could go about things. Â He seemed a bit pushy, but I didn't let it bother me because he wouldn't be doing the work anyway. Â Nick called me back a few hours later and informed me that Scott would need me to come in again to complete the sketch, which I didn't understand because when we'd spoken last, and directly, he said he would keep the design for me and complete the sketch so that my next visit would be having the actual tattoo completed. Â I didn't see the point of wasting money on gas and parking just to have yet another consultation, when we'd already discussed everything, so I asked Nick when I would be able to speak to Scott in order to clear things up, and he basically told me that I couldn't talk to Scott on the phone because he was too busy. Â Excuse me, what?? Â So I'm paying $300+ for something and you don't have a couple of minutes to talk to me about what I'm paying that $300+ for?? Â W.O.W. Â what ever happened to customer service?? Â He THEN informed me that this was what it was, and suggested I tried reaching Scott at another shop. Â Which is crazy, because I'm wondering why, if Scott had my number, he could not reach out to me, but I guess I'm asking for too much.
After looking at the reviews here, I see I am not the only one who has had such issues here. Â I get that they may be artists and deal w/craziness from time to time, but we ALL do, however at my job if I treated ANY of my clients that way, I wouldn't have clients, nor a job anymore.
This leads me to my issue, since I've already put in the down payment, I'm out of just under $100, however I feel a bit uncomfy having someone put something permanent on my body in what might be a tense situation. Â I'm pretty sure the deposit is NON-refundable, and the design that exists thus far, I would not be able to take elsewhere, but do I really risk getting this tattoo when I'm not sure Scott would give me his best work given what has occurred?? Â I understand that this is just another tattoo to him, but this is MY body, and I only get the ONE. Â Scott has been very nice so far, but after everything w/Nick, will that change?? Â Who knows? Â As of right now, I can't even get in touch w/Scott to try and assess. Â Sigh...what to do? what to do? Â *update to follow*
I can only comment on my experience getting my nose pierced here. A friend and I went to get piercings on a Wednesday night about two months ago and were thrilled with our experience. It was a very clean and professional environment. The woman who did our piercings was friendly and did a great job. We thought the prices were reasonable and we were very satisfied with the experience.
About a month after I had gotten pierced, I went in to purchase a new stud- they charged $10 which I thought was fine and I went off on my merry way assuming I'd be able to change it easily at home. At the time of purchase no one offered to change it out for me or instruct me on how to do it. When I got home, I was unable to insert the new stud and so I headed back to the shop where they happily changed it out in under a minute and charged me an additional $10 even though I had gotten pierced there and purchased the new stud there just hours earlier from the same people. I just thought it was poor customer service to charge to put the new stud in when I had gotten pierced there and purchased the stud from them. From my friends' experience, shops in the area will charge for the stud (the same price that Tattoo Paradise charges) and change it out for free. It just really ticked me off to pay more- seemed like they were just trying to score an easy buck. It tainted my positive experience there and makes me reconsider recommending it to others.
OK OK, quite admittedly, the guy that tattooed me here is a friend of mine. BUT I will fully disclaim that I would definitely not leave a review if I did not have a good experience.
When this location opened, my buddy Matt Knopp said he'd often be tattooing here. I was in the market for a new tattoo and Matt told me to come into the shop. I entered the shop and was immediately greeted by the front desk as needles buzzed in the background. Unlike other reviews, I very honestly did not have any negative interaction with the front desk.
I had my initial consultation with Matt, during which I told him where I wanted my tattoo and exactly what I wanted, which was basically a copy of a small pendant I own, with some original characteristics. He made a blowup copy of the pendant on the copy machine, and I set an appointment for a week later to actually have the tattoo done.
When I came back, Matt had the outline ready for me, and I was pleased with the first thing he showed me. When I described to him the theme of my tattoo (a dove with some sort of Native Canadian influence) he got it instantly and so I didn't even need a second draft.
He set about with the tattoo in the actual tattooing room, where just one other person was being tattooed. I sort of liked the "community" atmosphere. While of course having a private room offers, well, privacy, in this case, where I was getting tattooed on my arm, I had no need for privacy. Matt, me, and the other tattoo artist and man getting tattooed spent the whole time socializing and chatting, which I found sort of unusual to my previous tattoo experiences, but in a great way. I loved having the distraction.
When Matt was finished with the outline (which is all I'd really asked for), he eyed it with concern and asked if I wanted any shading. I took a peek at his work and thought just the basic black outline a bit plain (which is just what Matt had seen) and so I basically told him to go nuts.
He did, and the tattoo turned out to be so much more than I had ever imagined. The shading, which he did entirely freehand, completely makes the tattoo. The end result was spectacular. The freehand shading is gorgeous, and I receive more compliments on this tattoo from strangers than nearly any other of the 7 tattoos I have. There's your objective review.
I highly recommend Matt at Tattoo Paradise. He did an amazing job, suggested an improvement to my design and implemented it beautifully, and best of all he did not charge me an arm and a leg.
I have had 5 of my 6 tattoos done here! Â They are amazing! Â They take appointments and walk-ins. Â I have never had to wait long. Â yesterday I had Scott Milyanovich and he did an amazing job. Â I am totally going to get all of my tattoos here. Â The nice thing is they aren't crazy expensive and they are nice. Â Goes A LONG WAY!!!
Review Source:I disagree with some of these other reviews. Â I had a great experience at the 18th street location. Â The front of shop staff were willing to listen, and made me feel very relaxed. Â They did not bs me about what the experience was going to be like... but they were accommodating and understanding. Â I would recommend this place, and I would recommend Dave as an artist.
When I went in, yesterday, the staff were really considerate and listened to my explanation. I was able to email the exact design to the shop where they printed it and showed me a range of sizes until I chose what I wanted.
THANK YOU, Dave! You placed the tattoo in such a way that the design compliments the shape of my chest, which was exactly what I had in mind. Â Yes getting a tattoo is uncomfortable, but Dave was quick, precise and detailed. Â He helped me to focus on small talk and work through the pain using my breath. Â It was a great experience. I can see why it could become addictive. Â I am really stoked with the tattoo. Â I have already had a lot of comments from people who have seen the pic on facebook.
I have wanted a tattoo for more than a decade. Recently I saw a design and immediately knew what I wanted. I chose Tattoo Paradise for the portfolios I saw online. I could see that much of the work was far more detailed and required a lot more skill than the design I wanted, and therefore felt confident that it would turn out how I wanted.
To all of the guys there, you all run a great place there. Fantastic service!
I wanted to get a very detailed but not expensive tattoo of Ganesh on my back in DC and after looking around I settled on Tattoo Paradise. I called and the phone was answered right away. Â They told me they had space and to come right away. Because of parking etc. I didn't get to the shop until an hour and a half later. I walked in and the guy at the front desk was more than accommodating. I showed them the design I wanted and they immediately got me started. I paid $280 for the most amazing tattoo ever!! I know there have been customer service problems in the past but I did not encounter any in the slightest. Everyone was super friendly with a smile on their face. Roger did my tattoo and it went by so quickly and painlessly. He was a pro! I would hands down recommend Tattoo Paradise with out a doubt. The experience was all around great. The shop was nice, artist was awesome and my tattoo is jaw dropping. The one downside was that I had two friends with me and they only allowed one in the back with me, I understand why; but I felt bad making her wait 2 hours.
GO HERE THEY ARE AMAZING.
Tattoo Paradise is by far one of the best shops in DC. Â Scott does incredible work, and I can say that the last three I got done by him were all walk-ins. Â I never had to wait, everyone at the shop was super helpful, and overall it has and will be the only place I will get work done in the district.
Review Source:You may be thinking '2 stars?' - this guy must be super disappointed with his tattoo. Womp-womp. Actually, I'm not. It looks great, and the artist who did it was polite and professional.
The counter service was beyond horrible. I came in with three friends, each (including me) wanting a custom but small tattoo. We were ignored, then treated indifferently by the front-desk guy. We also got a full blast of tattoo-artist snobbery from him, although we made no stupid tattoo comments, asked no stupid questions, could answer his single-syllable questions like "Size?" and "Where?", and politely waited an hour across the street. We didn't try to show off our tattoo knowledge or act like tools - we were just polite customers who knew the ropes. And we got treated like a-holes.
After the first two of us were finished, they jacked up the price for the second two of us. Take it or leave it. As we were all excited to get tattoos on the same night and wary of making the guy about to permanently draw on us angry, we took it. That price hike may not have been illegal, but it was unethical as hell. It wouldn't have mattered if the a-hole were mad at us though, because he had some other guy finish the tattoos. Again, that other guy - the artist - was fine, and he deserves 2 stars for literally saving my skin.
Whether you're almost-covered in ink or you're looking to get your first, stay away from this place. I have a feeling they're (at least the counter staff) the kind of people that only treat their customers well if they come in with an elaborate design they want to cover large swaths of their bodies (you wouldn't guess they're that discriminating from all the decoration of the lobby, which is all terrible flash tattoo menues). But even if that's you looking to get sleeved or Mike Tyson'd - get it done somewhere else.
"They call it 'paradise' - I don't know why; you call someplace 'paradise,' kiss it goodbye" - The Eagles
I'm used to having more conversations with my tattoo artist, that's the only thing that wasn't great about this place.
Here's how it went down: Eating at The Diner on Saturday with one of my super close friends. I've had plans for a tattoo that I really wanted since June (honestly, I normally wait longer before I'll get a tattoo just so I'm 100% sure, but this was important to me) and I didn't get the chance to get it done while I was back in California for break, and since I'm living here I decided I should probably find a parlor I like so I decided that I should get a vague idea of how much it would end up costing me. My friend had gotten a rook piercing the night before at Tattoo Paradise and told me they were great, so I went in and began to talk to the guy at the front desk (didn't catch his name, he was super great though, and cute, really cute, but that's not the point). That was my plan, go in and see how much things would cost. Instead, I ended up laying down on the massage table and getting this taken care of. Â
I'm really confused by the people that reported bad service, either they caught them on a bad day or I caught them on a good one. They seemed a little overwhelmed up front but it was more chill in back (thank god). I have this rule when checking out a shop for me or for a friend, I check out their bathroom, if the shop's bathroom is clean, it's a good bet that everything else is clean too, so before I gave the design or filled out any paperwork I asked the front desk guy if I could check out the bathroom, he looked confused, but went along with it. They worked out the design and then front desk guy took me to the back to meet the artist, David, who didn't say all that much to me in the process, but made sure to check if I was comfortable and okay through the process, and didn't laugh at me when I almost fell twice. (The rest of the staff was making sure that the people they were working with were super comfortable as well)
I might come back, the only reason that the statement says "might" is because I currently don't have any ideas of what to go for next and I don't know how long I'll be living here, I asked for David's card either way.
I'm from Brooklyn and was visiting a friend in DC for the weekend. My friend had been wanting to get a tattoo on her ribs for a long while and, being in DC, had asked for a recommendation for a tattoo place. My New York people were all unanimous in recommending Tattoo Paradise, so she emailed them with the design of her tattoo and questions as to when she should come over.
The email clearly stated that friday nights were for walk-ins and that they were tattooing until 1am; that if we came around 8.30 - 9, she should find a spot without any problem, that two artists were in attendance to specifically cater for walk-ins, that they had inspected the design and were sure she could be accommodated. We were both psyched for her tattoo and arrived at Tattoo Paradise on a friday, around the time we had been told to come.
Let's be honest: it was my friend's second tattoo, but I, being heavily tattooed and working with international artists for years, wanted her to have a good experience. It wasn't. From the moment we pushed the door and walked in, it was the shittiest service and most disrespectful attitude I have ever seen in a tattoo shop on the East Coast. Maybe I have been spoiled in New York City. But I have never been that badly "greeted" in any sort of establishment, let alone a tattoo parlor.
We come in, we say hi, the guy at the counter barely looks up at us and stays mute. A couple is huddled in a corner, but overall the shop is empty. We can hear the sound of a needle gun at the back. We're pretty confident. My friend comes up and explains that she had been emailing someone at the shop and came at the agreed time and hour, and is told "no" upfront. Without even looking at her, the guy says they're "booked for the night". It was 9pm, there was only one person waiting in the shop, one artist was at the front obviously not working, and my friend hadn't even told what she wanted yet! I guess that regardless of our design and research, she was going to be turned down. My friend explains nicely that she had talked to someone before who recommended her to come during walk-in admissions, that we were happy to wait if needed be, but that she'd like to at least have a chance to explain what she wanted.
I was really put off by the whole situation and wanted to leave, but this was not my tattoo, it was hers. So I let her explain, and she is still being turned down.
The only reason I gave a second star is because the young lady that was at the front at least expressed some sort of remote interest in her design and tried to see it before saying no. She said it might be too big and needed an appointment. My friend replies that she had already talked with people at the shop who specifically said that it would be totally okay to come as a walk-in. The guy at the counter then proceeded to lose all interest in us.
I have been wondering since then if it was some sort of tattoo snobbery, because I have seen it before, and the fact that I am covered have sometimes earned me more respect in tattoo shops than my friends who were on their first or second pieces. This is absolutely unacceptable as far as services go, and I do hope this is not the case for Tattoo Paradise yesterday and the only reason we were so rudely pushed outside was because someone had a really crappy day and were looking forward to an entire weekend of horror. Even then this doesn't warrant the type of attitude with prospective clients. If you can't muster at least a hello when people come in, do not work in the service industry, period.
My friend was visibly upset and the lady at the counter tried to smile, but we eventually left and went out for dinner next door. When we passed by the shop later that night, it was completely empty and two people still sat out front. I have no idea why no one could accommodate us that night or at least try to discuss her design, explain their current booking issues, etc. I understand Tattoo Paradise is the only tattoo shop in downtown DC that is open that late and that it gets busier as the day goes on, but there are ways to express those concerns to your clients. Treating them like they're non-persons is NOT an option, ever.
I booked my friend for next weekend at my regular tattoo place in New Jersey, which only takes walk-ins on saturdays but tries to accommodate everyone and has the nicest artists I have ever met. There are lessons to be learnt here people. I am super happy of Tattoo Paradise is successful enough not to need to consolidate their business, but I don't want to ever be treated that way again, or be looked down upon, or denied a simple greeting simply because... because why, again? The shop was EMPTY.
It's sad, in the end, because the shop came recommended by other artists on the East Coast, but honestly, if the staff had been at least half as nice in person as they were by email, we could have worked this entire situation out. Guess you lost on potential regular clients here.
Good tattoo but shitty service. Compared to other tattoo experiences, the staff here was pretty lame - bare minimum in 2 words. The guy up front isn't very friendly or eager to help you when you walk in. The artists all sit in the back and chat to each other while you get your tattoo and don't really include you, which makes the whole experience pretty uneventful and boring
Review Source:Just got a tattoo with Nikki. A friend had recommended her and was lucky to be able to walk in and get it done today! Its my 4th tat but first time at Tattoo Paradise and would definitely go back. All the staff I encountered were friendly and the price was fair for the area (obviously gonna be more expensive in a city..) Nikki was friendly and i enjoyed chatting with her. Â The one comment is the work is done in a big open room which was a first for me but no big deal since i got it on my wrist but if you want it in a more "exposed" area just know that ahead of time.
Review Source:I've gotten two tattoos and my belly-button pierced here, all 3 experiences were great. Â This is a no-nonsense kinda place but the prices are on the higher end just like everything else in the city. So, if you're looking for a bargain go elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a professional artist that'll do a great job and don't want to go far, this is a very safe bet. My most recent experience was the best. I don't remember what the artist's name was but I remember that she had a neat dermal piercing on her arm and she was super! I tend to trust what I know so I'll definitely be back for my third...when I've made up my mind on exactly what it'll be.
Review Source:As far as tattoo artists in DC go, Nikki is where it's at if you want classic American style stuff. She's done my last six tattoos. I highly recommend her. The new(ish) space in Adams Morgan is everything I expect from a tattoo shop. Clean and professional. Whenever I get compliments on my work, I send them to Nikki at Paradise.
Review Source:It seems like your egos and your prices have grown a lot since you've moved out of a  basement near the end of AdMo....
I came to TP because it was the only one around me that was open past 8pm on a weekday and it turns out it I just should have waited until the next day.
very rude, short customer service. when i went in two people were sitting at the front and the first guy was on the phone and the second guy looked at me and looked straight back down at whatever he was doing instead. it seemed like he was a piercer/tattooer, but come on, you are selling a product at least say hi and say that the guy who handles the front will be with you in a second! it's basic customer service.
when i was attended the guy was very short and acted superior, i'm assuming cause to him i had no visible tattoos (when i have a large back piece that was done at the old TP 3 years ago), and told me that a simple line drawing was going to cost me 150 dollars, which is absurd. I paid 250 for an extremely detailed tree, and 60 for a small piece both done at their old shop (which I absolutely love), so i absolutely do not understand their new way of pricing.
when I asked questions about the price the guy couldn't care less about what i had to say, so i walked out and the next day went to DC Ink instead where I got the same tattoo for half the price, and great customer service.
Taking a quick stroll through Adams Morgan landed me here, guess you could say i had a "YOLO" moment (lol) , i decided to get my industrial since I've been wanting it for a while.....my review is on Brian....this guy is an ABSOLUTE gem..... he answered all my questions, took his time with my piercing and i never once felt rushed nor did i feel like he was annoyed with all my questions.....if you ever want a piercing, Brian is definitely your go to guy.....now the guy at the front desk....yeah, not so nice, felt like he just wanted to take my money and had a "get the eff out of my face" type of attitude.....nevertheless, Brian made up for it...i definitely got my money's worth and will definitely return :)
Review Source:Went here for my first piercings (simple earlobe piercings). Everything was extremely clean and absolutely painless (really. I've had shots at the doctor's office that have hurt more), and Brian was super helpful and easygoing, so I felt calm through the whole process. It's been over a week, and I've had absolutely no problems at all with the piercings. Great place! Pretty affordable to boot.
Plus, the lettering on the hand-painted signs out front are fantastic!
Had a tattoo done yesterday here; I am a visitor to the area but had a pretty simple script word that I've been wanting, so I wasn't too worried about finding the best artist around. The shop is nice & clean which is obviously the first thing you should look for.
However, one star is deducted for TERRIBLE service. The staff (and there were a lot of them) are extremely rude, & act irritated that you have come into the shop. Man do they have attitudes. I felt very rushed and uncomfortable, which isn't how you want to feel before being tattooed. But, because the design was simple and I've been tattooed before, I decided to go forth.
My artist was somewhat rude. Not outright, but when I went back (you don't get to meet your artist before), there was no introduction, no asking why I wanted the tat, just "Lie down here and we'll get started". It was kind of odd. That being said, it came out great, he had a light touch, and I really like the ink; it's a clean piece (see my profile for photo).
If you don't mind feeling like you're going through a mill and are just a source of income for artists that really aren't all that talented, but can pull off a simple script word nicely, then this is a decent place. I wish I could have given more stars because I really do like my ink, but I'd be wary of getting anything more complicated than a word or some letters that are simple to pull off. Sorry Tattoo Paradise, try being a bit kinder!
Had my belly button pierced by Brian. No complaints- other than the fact that the piercing room was "too small" for my friend to come with me while I got my piercing. Once I was in the piercing room, it was clear that there was more than enough room for me to have brought someone back with me.
I felt comfortable though with the knowledge and experience Brian had as an artist. Would definitely recommend it and may be back if I get another itch for another piercing.
I love Tattoo Paradise's work, but they are very pricey. So, if you're looking cheap, look elsewhere. You WILL get your money's worth though, so it's worth the investment. I've had my nose and belly pierced there (back when they were housed down in dungeon, across the street from new location). And then returned on several occasions for my 1st, 2nd and 3rd tattoos. I wouldn't trust any other shop to pierce or ink me. I will say, that the staff there can be VERY standoffish, icy and a bit rude. I've never interacted with one engaging employee enough to care to remember a name or face. If it weren't for the cleanliness and great work they do, I'd never give them my money nor recommend anyone. If you are a bit lost on what to get, but have an idea, you can always sit down with an artist who will gladly help you sketch something out until you're happy. My last tattoo I got there, was in a very "personal" area, and the back is very open. Not much privacy, but everyone remained professional. I would've awarded 5 stars but dude, someone has got to teach the staff some People/Social skills!
Review Source:My husband and I have been to Tattoo Paradise a few times. I went to Tomas Garcia and Greg Christian (visiting artist) and my husband saw Nikki Lugo. I'm hoping to one day get in with Chad when available.
As for the shop, the guys behind the front counter are helpful and friendly...unlike some places. The artist all work in a bull pen together kept away from prying eyes. It's a wonderful atmosphere as the artists working there have a great relationship. I highly recommend you have a consultation and/or make an appointment as they do get busy. Plus they get great visiting artists as well. A solid shop for the DC area.
This is such a late review, but I've just got to get this out there. I have gotten almost all of my piercings here and every single time I go, the piercer is always so great and usually really nice to people like me who are wimps about it.
The last time I went (which was about three months ago), Sarah re-pierced my triages for me (since I got it pierced somewhere else the first time and that went completely wrong) and was super friendly, quick, and gave me some helpful tips. As far as piercings go, Tattoo Paradise is definitely my number one.
Went to this place after I was refused by Embassy Tattoo, because the drawing that I had wasn't up to his standards. My brother passed away in 2009, I found one of his drawings and wanted to memorialize it as a tattoo. I went to Paradise and they immediately offered to help, they gave me what I wanted and I am pleased that I have one of my brothers drawings with me forever. Â I'm the customer, I'm paying, it's not about you! Give me what I came for....
Thanks Paradise!
I have had four tattoos done at this place, the last two of which were especially painful and time-consuming, but they look great and I take great pride in them.
The staff here was never overly friendly, as they probably sized me up as some poser looking to get all inked and "rebellious" in my yuppie lifestyle, but they were never rude or condescending. Â They were not really enthusiastic, and they were a bit brusque and unwelcoming, and I am beginning to think that's a good thing. Â They are not trying to sell you a used car, and they are not flirting for tips; they are serious people doing hard, precision work, so they probably want to make sure that you're serious as well. Â You shouldn't mill around the counter and asked to be helped; you should walk up to the artist and talk about what you want, because you should walk in there knowing what you want! Â I read negative reviews of places like Tattoo Paradise, and mostly people complain that the artists and staff are rude, snobby and condescending, but it sounds like those customers wandered in on a whim without really knowing what they were doing in there. Â It's not like ordering from a menu or shopping at a bookstore. Â That being said...
I think the guy who tattooed me the third and fourth time was named Chris (?) and though he was badly hungover the one time it seemed, his work was excellent, and after he put the hurt to me for several hours he seemed to warm up a bit, and we had pleasant conversation. Â
So, in summation, Tattoo Paradise is my recommendation for tattoos in the D.C. area, and that gruff demeanor so many Yelpers bemoan might just be necessary to scare away pretenders...
I can't say enough good things about Tattoo Paradise. My first tattoo (ever) was done in Vegas in the haze of a week long bender last September. Not surprisingly, with a combination of a not-so-great artist and my poor job in aftercare I found myself needing some guidance on what to do next...
So, in early January I went into Tattoo Paradise to get their thoughts on the Vegas work. In the front Keith walked me through what I did wrong with aftercare on the first tattoo and also worked with me on some ideas for what a new tattoo might look like. Then he introduced me to Scott who ultimately did a really awesome large tribal piece on my forearm. He just drew on my arm until we got something I really liked. After all that Scott also helped clean up the fading ink from the original (vegas) tattoo. I can't say enough how great Scott and Keith were. The whole experience, from the time I first walked into the door and left, really turned around my whole previous Vegas experience. The concern and interest in making sure I felt better about work that they had no obligation to really shows incredible commitment to the art and good customer service. I'm already planning to head back to Tattoo Paradise in the next couple of weeks to build on more -- I won't ever consider going anywhere else.
Nikki Balls ftw. This gal is awesome. I walked in on a week night needing a simple tattoo (my second at TP) and although she was apprehensive about the color I wanted, when I explained that I already had one in that color and was happy with it, she was good to go. Her only initial worry was my overall satisfaction. She worked cleanly, quickly, and with great attention to detail.  She made conversation to keep my mind off the pain, and  was very genuine and nice.
It was the total opposite experience I had at TP years previously with a traveling tattoo artist. He was pretentious and brusque. I'm glad I gave them a second chance. Nicki gave me her card and let me know she'd be happy to do a touch-up if I wasn't 100% satisfied. But it wasn't needed. I am extremely happy with my experience.
The only reason i am giving this place 2 stars instead of one is because i got my first tattoo here and honestly it looks good, these people know what they're  doing, as a matter of fact i actually got my tragus pierced here too, the girl who did it did a wonderful job, almost painless.
but the experience itself wasn't all that pleasing, i was nervous and tried to get the artist opinion in what i was getting done and he just wanted to get my work done and out! i think the guy that actually did my tattoo was the owner or something, to be honest he didn't even bother telling me his name (thats how rude these people are!).
secondly nothing and nobody is allowed to be in the back where all the work it done, i mean if your not gonna make me feel comfortable at least let me take my iPod to distract me! overall i recommended this place for piercings but i don't think i'll be going back for my next tattoos, which by the way are addictive!
btw if the people and/or owners bother reading this i really hope they change their staffs attitude towards their customers!!
If you ever want to have any work done, then this is the place to go. Â I had my piercings done by Sarah Ellen who was FANTASTIC. Â She was knowledgable, personable and she takes her time. Â She made me feel like I was her one and only customer. Â I'm definitely getting MORE work done and Tattoo Paradise is the only place I will trust. Â Check em out... you won't be disappointed.
Review Source:THE place to go get your work done in DC. Â First off, the shop storefront is very cool and the entryway/art display area is welcoming and warm. While the staff can seem a bit like, "Who the hell are you?" (not mean like, but this is subculture people, so we have trust issues) when you first walk in, they are actually quite friendly and professional after the ice gets broken, and a great group of folks. Â For the work area, that was a little more Spartan than I would have liked, given you are getting something for life on your body, but it is certainly very pleasant. Plus, and folks know this, your body is in overdrive and ready to get tattooed, so it moves pretty fast. The artists and staff are, as I said, very friendly after the first greeting, and they are good to talk you through it if this is your first tattoo (its my second). Â Now, my work was done by Billy Bennett, a young artist, who just knocked my ink out of the ballpark. Â I got the symbol of chaos on my inner left arm, which is not easy, and getting solid lines are very tough in such an area to keep them clean and straight, and I was worried this might not turn out okay just due to the angle, but Billy nailed it cold. Â The final work is stunning and crisp, a black outline of a great symbol. Â Its healing fine too (so far). Â One curious thing is that parlors have stopped handing out antibotic lotion for post-work recovery, which I found curious, but we will see what happens. Â What I do like is that your ink, such as mine on an arm, is wrapped in a pretty bad ass black covering for the first few hours you have your new body art - always a plus to have afterwards, as the ladies dig it as you go have a drink after a half hour of intense needle pain! Â I highly recommend this parlor for newbies and vets, it is definitely the place to go in DC - and heck, you can stumble into a bar afterwards (remember, they will not ink you if drunk or otherwise wasted beforehand) and celebrate. Â I also would recommend Billy for line work - really people, he killed it, and I am grateful for that. Â Oh, the whole parlor set up only warrants four stars, but the whole deal is a solid five stars for sure -- just the back/work area, again, a bit more spice and comfort would be cool, but that's me being kinda an ***hole, but, if you want ink, this place will do it right at the right price. The artists, staff and price warrant five stars for sure - no doubt these guys are the top of the ink game. Â My ink was 205, and I tipped Billy 25 for a job well done in appreciation. Â So, go check it out for sure, its super cool, and you will love your work once its done.
Review Source:I am new to DC and wanted to get a simple tattoo (my third), some lettering. I live close to Adam's Morgan and the previous reviews were okay so I went.
After getting my tattoo I can echo exactly what some of the other not so great reviews said: the customer service was poor, they were not friendly, it was overpriced, and I felt like I was being rushed through a turnstile.
I was there for all of 20 minutes (from in to out the door) and the tattoo was $150. No one asked me my name, said hello, or showed any interest to work with me on the tattoo. It was simply: "that's what you want, okay, lay down."
The tattoo turned out fine and the place was clean but it was over priced and the customer service was poor.
I won't be going back for my next.
Update: Matt, thanks for the followup, I appreciate it. I am very happy with the tattoo. I think it came out great. I would definitely recommend Billy (the artist).
Most professional tattoo studio in DC! They actually care about the work they do, which is refreshing.
If you're looking for an amazing piece of custom-drawn work, Nikki Lugo is your lady - I came in with my poorly-articulated idea for a half sleeve, and she had a gorgeous design for me ready to go the next day. Couldn't be happier.
I've heard some people say that Tattoo Paradise is on the expensive side, but when it comes to tattoos you really get what you pay for. You'll be wearing them forever so it's not the time to be cheap!
I had been thinking and dreaming up a tattoo for awhile, and decided on a whim to finally get it. Â I walked in on a Sunday-- everyone was really kind at the desk. Â I was in and out of there in an hour. Â Scott Milyanovich was the artist that tattooed my little fox. Â He did a great job teasing/reassuring me about the whole process. He was spot on with the healing time, and I couldn't be happier.
Review Source:I had my work done by Dave at Tattoo Paradise. I've had my fair share of experiences at great and not-so-great shops, and I really enjoyed my experience at Tattoo Paradise. The clerk was attentive, calmed down rowdy patrons, and was extremely helpful in getting my tattoo idea drawn up and getting me in quick. They treated me well, especially for a walk-in customer. Dave is an amazing artist, very skilled and also very fast. I honestly don't see why someone would complain about a quick artist, especially when the work is top notch. It just means less pain and less time wasted. He was very professional and demonstrated a vested interested in art in general.
The shop was clean, the wall between the front and back is an excellent idea, the location is perfect, friendly staff, and to top it off, great prices, especially for a shop right in the city. If you're looking for any drawbacks, I'd say that their flash selection is a bit skewed to Sailor Jerry/traditional type style, not a big deal at all. I clearly had a great experience there, and I am definitely looking forward to going back.
Had my first tattoo and a deith pierced here, and while I am happy with the quality of the work and the prices (some might say it's overpriced, but hey it's clean and you feel like you're not going to get tetanus), but I have to agree that the people that work there are not nice at all. And when I went in a week ago to have the ball caps put back on two of my piercings, including the deith, because they'd been removed at the dentist's office, they said they would only do that for $10! I thought that was ridiculous, and doubt I'll go back for any work. Â They need to warm up A LOT, and provide small services like that to their customers even if after the initial tattoo/piercing work is finished.
Review Source:Treats people who come in less like customers and more like unwanted intruders. The staff and artists are haughty, rude, contemptuous douchebags. Avoid unless you don't mind being treated like shit!
I have a lot of patience for poor service and I certainly don't expect to be best friends with my artist (although after 10+ hours of work and $1,000+ of fees you would hope...), but I DO expect to be treated with a minimum level of respect and dignity. I put up with a lot of shit from the staff at Tattoo Paradise from the second I walked in, through 2 expensive sessions, and all the way up to the point that I walked out and decided to never come back again. I maintained a respectful, professional, and positive attitude the whole time I was in their shop, which is more than I can say for the artists there.
I won't go into the details of all the particular rudeness of this place, but please do yourself a favor and go to one of the many other quality shops in DC that will treat you as a paying customer with some respect and kindness and avoid these ill-mannered, arrogant pricks.
I recommend Embassy tattoo which is nearby and whose staff is totally friendly and laid back.
I'll admit I was a bit sketched out by going to a tattoo/piercing place in admo that is open till 1am. The lobby was filled with drunk guys picking out tacky naked lady tattoos to adorn their arms and take attention away from their guts (these same dudes were kicked to the curb and refused service, thank god).
BUT then... in walked Erika. She treated my friends and I with complete professionalism and was extremely friendly. We got a nose, cartilage, and a tragus pierced in a matter of minutes! Relatively painless and smooth process, and trust me, I have had my fair share of piercings and tattoos and this experience rates up at the top! The only damper on the situation is that Erkia is moving to SF in two weeks. So if you are thinking of getting a piercing, GET IT NOW! You can thank me (and Erika) later.
One day, when I'm 40, I'm sure I'll appreciate the great genes that allow me to age like Joan Rivers - which is to say, not at all. But for now, all I get with this baby face is attitude & callousness from establishments like Tattoo Paradise.
To be fair, other, older reviewers have commented on the icy attitude of TP's piercer (a women in early 30s; don't know her name). So maybe TP's malaise is not entirely rooted in the get-the-%#$@-out-of-here-kids-before-I-lose-my-Âlicense mindset.
The Great Julian of NoKaOi in Philly pierced a double daith in my left ear two summers ago. He is pretty much the only person I allow to poke holes in my body. But I didn't have the time or the funds to pay Philly a visit: about a month before my visit to TP I had to remove the rings for a job interview, and despite this great personal sacrifice (kidding), I did not get the job. So I went to Tattoo Paradise to see if the rings could be reinserted.
Without even looking at my ear, the piercer snotily asserted that my piercings had absolutely closed up, and they would have to be repierced, goodbyeendofstory (she was not only arrogant but wrong; Hannah Cherry over at Fatty's Tattooz inserted new jewelry without repiercing). It was certainly goodbyeendofstory for me--I left.
I've had two piercings (nose and cartilage) at Tattoo Paradise, and I love it. The studio is very clean and open, and the people who work there are really laid back. George, the piercer, is awesome. He was friendly and professional, and though obviously the piercings hurt, he was quick and he talked me through the process and tried to make me feel as comfortable with it as possible. He's been doing piercings for years and knows what he's doing. He has a good sense of humor, too! All of the equipment they use there is sterilized and they use surgical steel jewelry/wear gloves, etc. He also explained to me the best way to care for my piercings and gave me printed instructions. Both of the piercings were a reasonable price ($40), and if you're thinking of getting a piercing, it's definitely worth dropping a few extra bucks on having it done professionally. I'm planning on getting a tragus piercing soon, and I will definitely go back to George.
My only complaint is that they have a very minimal selection of jewelry compared to other tattoo shops I've been to. I have gauged ears, and they barely have any stretched-piercing jewelry, and most of what they do have is pretty standard. I have to go up to tattoo shops in Frederick to get unique ones, and it's a lot farther for me than Tattoo Paradise.
I can't attest to their tattoo artists' work, but if you're considering getting a piercing in the DC area, this is most definitely the place to go!
Went yesterday to get my second tattoo. Â At first, I wasn't so impressed because the guy working the front desk was on the phone for a long time and didnt really acknowledge us. Â The woman who was there before I was clearly got fed up and left because it definitely sounded like he was on the phone with a friend. Â However, once he got off the phone, he got right to business. Â I showed him the picture I drew of what I wanted and I showed him where I wanted it. Â I got a small tattoo on my ankle (it is in the pictures...the small plan) and it was $85. Â A little high, but not ridiculous..jinx proof wanted to charge 110+. Â
The only thing I didnt like, was that the guy who did the tattoo just went straight to business and didnt talk to me at all. Â When I got my first tattoo at jinx proof the guy was really cool and we chatted. Â
Anyways, my tattoo was done in like 30 seconds, and it hurt a lot less than i remembered. Â I would definitely consider going back again.
Granted the work I have seen come out of this place has been great but I tried going in 2 separate times and just could not get passed the grotesque attitude of the "owner" I put quotes because I find it hard to believe that a business owner would treat potential customers that poorly.
Review Source:Just got back from my first inking at Tattoo Paradise.
I was floored by how friendly the staff were. Many other shops I've been to in DC are fully of surly employees who act like they're doing you a favor.
Everyone was super cool, the place was clean, and they were able to give me exactly what I wanted. I'm thinking this is my new tattoo joint.
My favorite tattoo/ piercing parlor in DC.
Very talented Artists. Very Nice and Accomadating Staff
Reasonable pricing for tatts and piercings
I've been going to Grant since his days at Jinx Proof but he is now residing in CA, However he does come back every so often and has openings...
So over the past year.5, I've sat at Tattoo Paradise as Teddy worked on a sleeve on my right arm. Simply put - if you can find a shop and a set of artists/staff you can connect with, there's zero reason to go anywhere else. Everyone I've interacted with at Tattoo Paradise has been fantastic (except one slightly surly boss?), and I'm proud to call many of them friends.
New location is bigger and more open - an improvement over the prior location across the street. Everything's clean, the prices are more than fair, and you'll absolutely have fun if you set out to. Teddy and Nikki are the two I've gotten work from, and both are fun and talented.
Bottom line: best shop in DC that's actually in DC. (ZING)
I got a tattoo (my third) here about a year ago. I'd give 3.5 stars if that was an option - the work was good and the price was right (I had been to three other places for quotes for this one-color script tattoo and Tattoo Paradise definitely gave me the most fair price).
The downside of this place is definitely the customer service. I went with a friend (a guy) who got his tattoo first. The tattoo artist, Shawn, was chatting him up the whole time. Again, the work was good. While my friend was in the chair, I asked the receptionist (a young vibrant guy, very nice) if I could have mine done in the back room instead of in the front, since I might have to take my bra off to get the whole tattoo. He said it wouldn't be a problem at all. I was happy to hear this, and I knew it might be a possibility as the tattoo placement was down my side, and I already had one on my other side - and that one I did have to take my bra off to have it completed (at another parlor). I then spent some time with the receptionist picking out the font I wanted.
When my friend was finished, Shawn came over as I was still discussing the font with the receptionist. I wasn't totally sold on the one that was picked out at the time and I wanted to keep looking but Shawn said "No, that one's fine, we're doing that." I was a little taken aback, but the receptionist said "Come on man, she is going to have this on her for the rest of her life, let her get what she wants." I really appreciated this.
So when it was my turn to be inked, I explained to Shawn that the receptionist said I could go into the back room since I didn't want to take my bra off for any spectators. The receptionist was busy with other customers at this point, and Shawn just said to me "You're getting a tattoo, people are going to see it, you'll be fine right here." I was really annoyed by this, but I figured I didn't want to annoy the guy who was going to tattoo me, so I set up camp where he said. (And ultimately, he did the tattoo without removing my bra). As he started, I began talking to him and he immediately said to me "Don't talk while I'm giving you a tattoo.I need to concentrate so I can't talk." I was very taken aback by this, because he had just spent a half hour tattooing my friend and he hadn't stopped talking to him. Then not five minutes later, he spent the rest of the time tattooing me talking to another artist who sat down next to us to watch.
Like I said, the work was good, and the price was right. But if I ever go back, I will NOT be using Shawn because I found him incredibly rude. I do want to thank the receptionist for attempting to give me what I'd asked for!
I got a tattoo done by Nikki at Tattoo Paradise, and I looooove it. I had previously gotten a tattoo by Seven at Pop's Tattoo that was horrible, and Nikki re-did it for me. She was very clear about what we were going to do, and made me feel extremely comfortable. The tattoo is amazing and I am so happy I went to her to get it fixed. Thank you so much Nikki and everyone at Tattoo Paradise.
Review Source:I got my second tattoo in DC today, and Tattoo Paradise is absolutely my new shop in town.
I walked in with a design of what I wanted and got to see an artist within about 15 minutes. They quoted me before I sat down and I payed what I think was a very fair price for the quality of work that I got.
Scott did my tattoo, and he did a great job. The lines are clean and he was pretty quick. Also a friendly dude, which never hurts.
What really sold me on this place was the experience I had attending my girlfriend's first tattooing (also today). Billy was her artist and had a design worked out about an hour after we got there - she had less of an idea of what she wanted or where she would get it, so that's no big deal. I saw the second half of her session but she spent most of it with my hands in a white-knuckle death grip, eyes squeezed shut and ready to cry. Apparently she almost passed out near the beginning of the session, but the staff brought her a soda and she ended up being just fine. I can't doubt that she was wiggling around quite a bit, and Billy was composed and steady throughout the whole thing. Her tattoo was very intricate and he did a truly fantastic job with it. The whole staff was very nice and understanding about the whole experience, which I can't appreciate enough.
So yeah, based on the quality of work, the friendliness of the staff, and the price - I'll be back before too long.
4.5 stars
Came here to get my belly pierced about a week ago. $40 total for the piercing and the cheapest navel barbell, best price in DC! The woman who did my piercing wasn't super friendly, but she wasn't mean either. She was very straight to the point and answered all my questions. In addition to orally explaining how to care for my piercing, she also gave me a handout which thoroughly explained all I needed to know. She was quick, professional, and clean. I walked out very happy with my experience at Tattoo Paradise!
So excited to see Tattoo Paradise mentioned in this weeks Yelp. I absolutely love this place. I've gotten two tattoos and two piercings and the work has all been beautiful. I get compliments regularly and recommend this spot to all prospective inkers I meet.
All my work has been done by different people and the quality has not wavered. The shop is always clean and the staff has been so friendly every time. I stopped in a few weeks ago on a whim, they took my idea, made a beautiful design and tattooed me all in about an hour on a late Saturday afternoon. Love them, will be back.
Lastly, I love their new location. Its so much more open and bright. Hope it bring them a lot of new traffic.
I went to tattoo paradise about a year ago and was extremely disappointed. I got two tattoos on my forearm in one sitting. Both of these took up the whole of my forearm. The artist who tattooed me took less than an hour and a half to complete these tattoos. I didn't know any better then, but at this point experience has taught me that this was definitely not enough time to complete these tattoos. Both tattoos scarred horribly. These were not my first tattoos and I healed perfectly with my existing tattoos. So, I knew that it was highly unlikely that I just naturally healed badly. My current tattoo artist, who is awesome and is NOT at Tattoo Paradise, was shocked to know that it took less than an hour and a half to do these two tattoos. She said it should have taken at least twice that amount of time. The scarring was just ridiculous. I recently had my current artist go back over the scars and now it looks so much better (though the skin is still raised and always will be)... and I healed perfectly. I have heard good things about some of the artists at Tattoo Paradise, but my experience was so horrible that I would not recommend them.
Review Source:Had some good work done by Shawn, and some very trippy conversation! He's a chatterbox, but a really nice guy. Talks ya through the pain! I'd def go back to him for more ink just based on his technical skills, but I'd have to make the design myself first. I brought in a picture and asked him to get creative with it, and he just copied the picture....which luckily I really liked anyway and it wasn't commonly boring, so it was totally fine...but I was looking forward to different ideas, some brainstorming, etc. Didn't get any of that.
Price was GREAT, receptionist was dope, the work looks TOTALLY RAD-ICULOUS, I get compliments on it daily. But if you're looking for something super duper crazy fresh and one of a kind...like....couture tattoo....I would try somewhere else.
So I got a nose ring from here a few weeks ago. Everyone was really really friendly, not caring about my mainstream I-just-got-off-work appearance one bit. Even the guy who had answered the phone when I called to tell me "We do piercings all day!" was really enthusiastic. The piercing was done really well. The guy explained to me that I shouldn't get a gold ring for the first piercing because gold is a softer metal that has to be combined with other metals for a ring, like nickel, which can cause allergic reactions. I'm glad he knew that, because I was talking to my mom later, and she told me she was allergic to nickel, and I probably was too. They didn't have 20 gauge rings, so I got an 18 - a little bigger than I'd planned, but now I have more choices. Follow the instructions they give you for post-piercing, and you'll be fine. I recommend this place.
Review Source:I recently went here to get a fairly simple, small/medium-sized tattoo on my leg. It was a very enjoyable experience (minus the whole needle jabbing in and out of my leg rapidly part). The staff at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. The artist (his name escapes me... I want to say Eric?) was appropriately conversational and polite. I brought in my own design and they were able to give me exactly what I wanted.
The place was also very clean and comfortable. The only drawback was that the price was a little higher than what I expected/hoped. But I hear that's generally to be expected in DC. So, not really their fault.
Oh, and my boyfriend, his roommate, and another random acquaintance have all gotten tattoos here and were similarly satisfied. Consider it recommended!
Got my first tattoo here a week ago. I went in on Thursday night at about 9PM, having finally convinced myself that I should just get the damn thing and stop talking about it. There were two other guys getting their tats - one guy was having some serious custom work done and the other was getting something basic - like mine.
The place is spotless - nice wood floors with plenty of tat graphics on the walls. Cost a bit, but it IS on your body, well, forever so I doubt I'll be talking about how much I spent twenty years from now. The gal and guy at the front were pretty friendly. I was undoubtedly nervous but once I put the cash down (actually credit card (which they do take)), chilled out and waited.
Teddy, the artist, did a great job. He made sure I was comfortable with the placement and asked about the tats detail. It was all over within 20 minutes. He was a bit preoccupied when I left and the guy at the front just handed me a post-care treatment sheet of paper. The quality of the tat is great though, and I'm very happy I finally went through with it.
I'd likely go back to Tattoo Paradise for my next tattoo - it's clean, relatively friendly, and the work is quality.
Got my first tattoo here on a Sunday afternoon in August. Â The place is clean, the front desk girl was nice, and the quality of the tat is amazing. Â That being said, I was essentially ignored, besides the work going on on my skin, by the artist and he was very cursory in his instruction on aftercare. Â When I'm your only customer, telling my friends they can't come back with me for moral support and then only talking to your friend, without even making sure I'm ok, is really inappropriate. Â If you want clean, safe, and high quality, this place rocks and if I lived in DC, I'd probably come here for my next one. Â Just don't expect the friendliest artist.
Review Source:Yo check it: my gurl hit up this joint for a teenie weenie tattoo she wanted to put in her special place and she had the worst tattoo idea EVER. So she brought it into this Tattoo Paradise and this artist named Billy made that junk into a work of art! It was like he was Michaelangelo or some sheeet. Genius WTF. It was a miracle. I think if I saw that little tattoo on her every time we got down, i would not want to get down no mo. But that guy did her right and it was not even expensive! I go back and forth lately talking to Tattoo Paradise trying to get a good tattoo for me. I'm gonna get a hotdog on my full back going up my neck so his head peeks out of my t-shirt coller. It will be Mr. Halfsmoke typing on a laptop! Quit frontin. I do wut I want! Wut Wut! !!
Review Source:I went here to get my nostril pierced. The place is nice and clean; however my experience was everything but nice. The first time the guy pierced my nose, it came off 30 minutes after I got home. So I went back again the same day to get it done right except it came out again after 2 days.
I dont know if this place has ever successfully pierced a nose, but based on my experience, I would not recommend this place for nose piercing. Everything else may still be ok. They were very nice about giving me a refund when I asked for it though.
Ok, so I'm the last person any of my friends and family would expect to get a tattoo. Â Most of the internet world doesn't know me though, so that first statement means nothing to you. But I trusted Tattoo Paradise to fulfill some inner passions, which has always included getting a tattoo.
I'm a thinker, an overanalyzer though so its taken me the better part of the last 6 years trying to figure out what to get. Â I'm one of those "only want a tattoo that has some deep meaning to me" kinda person. Â Not trying to knock those who get tattoos for all kinds of reasons, just for me that's what I choose to do. Anyway, enough about me and all my quirks, lets get to the review, lol
Tattoo Paradise was a great place to get my first tattoo. Â It was clean, the people were friendly, and most importantly, they were patient with all of the questions I had before they ever even laid any ink to my skin. They take walkins, I only had to wait about 10 minutes or so on a Friday afternoon to get my work done. Â The price seemed reasonable, but then again I've never had a tattoo before so I don't really have anything to compare to. Â One of the two people I went to said the place was just a bit pricey, but looking at the tattoo one of them had I'd rather pay a bit more for something that actually looks good.
I had a relatively new tattoo artist, Chris. Â He was quiet, but worked quickly and I love my tattoo. Â I can appreciate that he seemed to notice I was very nervous and didn't bother me with idle conversation while inking me. Â He did give me clear instructions and walked me through each step of the process before he did it. Â While getting some ink I did have to sit right in front of another customer who was getting a tattoo done on her lower back. Â That would be the one thing that kinda irked me. Â The spacing is tight and needless to say I did not want to spend 20 minutes starting at the crack of another woman's behind while she got inked. Â Another slight annoyance, bring cash to the place cause if you try to use a card, there is a big fee.
Its been about 3 months and my tattoo has healed just fine. As much as I think tattoos hurt (slight discomfort my arse) I loved the work that they did and loved my experience there. Â So in a few years when my overanalytical mind finally comes up with another "deep" tattoo to get, you better believe Tattoo Paradise will get my business!
I made some edits to my review below, so it is a little different, after I put everything into perspective. Still the same rating though! So that you know what to expect, the minimum on the foot, and other similar locations is $100. From what I understand, it is harder to tattoo the foot since it is bonier, and the skin is different. It is also, apparently, one of the most painful places to get tattooed. In addition, one thing I didn't think about is the healing process. I play soccer, and I work out regularly, so I didn't think about that beforehand...not that it would have deterred me any. It's just that it is not best for me to be sweating in tennis shoes and cleats, and rubbing my foot against the side of shoes. So probably for the next 2 weeks I will have to skip the intense workouts so that my foot can properly heal. Please proceed to my review below!
Review Source:Had a falling out with my old shop, and was in desperate "need" of new ink. I remembered that my next-door neighbor went to a place in Adams-Morgan which was cheap and her work looked GREAT! I'd been in that shop once maybe five years ago just to check it out, so I kinda knew where it was, i.e., in a basement on 18th Street. Hence, Tattoo Paradise.
The guy at the desk was instantly friendly and helpful. Asked about a tattoo first, and the Amy-Winehouse-but-better-looking girl (Nikki) inking someone in the back yelled out, "I'm free after this!" I never picked an artist on a whim like this, but the tattoo she was doing on her current customer looked fabulous (and it was a cover-up, which is even harder). I hung out with the guys in the front while she finished and then she worked on designs for me. They even played me an Imogen Heap (my fave) video on YouTube and then flipped through Thom Yorke (another fave of mine) B-sides on their iTunes. They have a sweet Mac flat-panel monitor, too, I might add.
Sure, Tattoo Paradise has a wall of kanji (boo cultural appropriation), but I'll get over it. Plus, although tattoos are NOT something to skimp on, my now-former shop wanted up to $400 for this little simple tattoo and Tattoo Paradise charged me $80.
Anyway, I'm happy and I'm going back again SOON because there's other stuff to be done that I've wanted forever. It's time to get more ink! Yay for Tattoo Paradise.
I'm giving them 3 stars, because while I am happy with my finished product, the customer service could have been a little better. I waited for 1 and a half hours from my appointment time to start my session for no apparent reason, as I was the only one in the shop.
Besides that, the place is good and professional.
Based on a friend's recommendation, I went to check out Tattoo Paradise for my first tattoo, and boy was it worth it! I walked in without an appointment  and they were accommodating and I didn't have to wait long to be seen. Since my tattoo is on my ribs, the minimum was $100 which was more than I expected, but you get what you pay for, right? Since my design was so simple, it was all over and done with in less than 10 minutes. My artist, Mark, as well as the staff, was friendly and understanding (especially when I freaked out the moment before the needle hit my skin). Very happy with my experience and would recommend them highly to anyone.
Review Source:I had a tattoo done in Lincoln, Nebraska at Iron Brush. My artist, Rob, Â found out I was from the DC area and told me that I should go see Chad Koeplinger at Tattoo Paradise for future work. I eventually did and wondered why I waited so long.
I called, made an appointment, and finally did it. When I got there, I met two very friendly guys at the desk named George, who was the piercer, and Billy, an apprentice. It would be fairly simple as I was doing two Kanji characters. I wanted them colored and saw that Chad really put nice colors together. I let him do it as he felt. I was not disappointed. It was an excellent job, fast but precise.
During the time I spent there, I got to know him as he was very concerned about my comfort and spent most of the time talking with me. I found him to be quite humble as I knew he traveled all over the world sharing his art. I also knew that he had written articles for several tat mags, and had been guest tattooist at countless shows and shops around the world. I also knew that he was a group of select artists chosen by Ed Hardy to do his version of a classic flash page for the book, "Revisited."
I found that Chad was a good man with a compassion for people, a father's love for his daughter, and a good heart. This is the man that I wanted to do my tattoos that would reflect my life. Within two months, I came back to Chad asking for a Japanese flavored background on my Kanji work. I let the artist do his thing with very little input from me. The end result has brought many praises from others that have seen it. A month and a half later, Chad also did a piece for me in remembrance of my father. It reflected the bond I had with my father. As Chad is known for his great traditional work, he gave me what I wanted in that genre with his interpretation to perfection. My wife got her second tattoo there after her first 20 years past. Chad did a work of art that covered her entire upper thigh. It started as one session but she wanted to add on and came back shortly afterwards for the second. That was testimony alone to her satisfaction of Chad's work.
The family atmosphere generated by the staff there sucks you in as they make you feel a part of this crazy little family. I have watched several of the artists work, Matt and Nikki come to mind. Both show the same professionalism, cleanliness, and art that is obviously a standard. I've met too many people that have gone there and expressed similar experiences. They have also become part of the family. I'll be surprised if you have a bad experience at Tattoo Paradise. And yes the price is worth it!
I went here to get my second tattoo. It was a great experience. I got  it on my right shoulder on my back. I had some photos of the design I wanted and they took the time to draw it out exactly how I wanted it. Everything was very clean and all of the staff were professional. Tina did my tattoo and she was really nice the whole time checking to make sure I was ok. The prices might be a little higher then other places but it's worth it for the quality and professionalism. I would recommend them to anyone and will be back if I get any more tattoos.
Review Source:I took my friend to get a piercing (her conch), so I cannot comment about the tattoos. We walked in right at 12pm, and the piercer, George, was behind the counter. He was very welcoming and friendly, and this definitely put my friend at ease; she is a bit older than the average piercing crowd (in her early 60's). She had a lot of question for George about how long he has been a piercer (10 years), placement, jewelry, the healing process, etc.. she talked to him for about 45 minutes before he actually pierced her. He was very calm, professional, and went out of his way to accommodate her. Having many piercings myself in the past, I was super impressed. I believe all their piercings are $40, which is the typical price everywhere so I can't complain there. However, I was waiting outside and chatted up a girl who had been in for nipple piercings. Apparently George pierced one side and she returned later to get pierced by another guy which she was not pleased with at all, but just loved George. hmm so not sure how indicative that is about the place as a whole, but eh. kinda odd, yeah? other than that, it was a good experience, and I am thinking of returning for a tattoo after I shop around a bit.
Review Source:I'm in town for the week and based on other reviews I decided to check out Tattoo Paradise. It's located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood and was pretty easy to find (ok I cheated ... I had a gps). The staff was extremely friendly from the minute I walked in until I left. I knew the design I wanted and George helped me locate it online. Chad Koeplinger did my  actual tattoo. It took maybe 30min tops from start to finish. I can't wait until it heals so I can show it off.
This is my third tattoo and I absolutely love it!!! I'd definately recommend Tattoo Paradise to anyone.
Tattoo Paradise was clean, professional, and everything a tattoo shop should be in terms of cool. Â The guys working there were nice, and extremely patient while trying to get the idea in my head onto paper. Â Chad Keoplinger did a great job on the tattoo. Â This was my second one, and I'll be coming back to Tattoo Paradise for more.
Review Source:So I got my first tattoo. Â Well tattoos. Â I was referred by a friend of mine to Grant at Tattoo Paradise. Â This guy was awesome and a great artist. Â The place has a great vibe and the first guy that i met with to get me scheduled with Grant was this guy "Z". Â Very laid back guy with no attitude all. Â By the way, before you enter the shop there a sign that has some rules which include "NO ATTITUDE". Â HA! Â I thought that was awesome. Â Anyway, Grant rocks!. Â I brought in a couple of images. Â He re-drew them to exactly what I wanted. Â Got one on my forearm and one on my calf. Â They definitely take care of you here. Â Definitely recommend these guys for your first tatttoo, or second, or third or fourth, etc. :)
Review Source:Awful awful rude overpriced and too good to deal with the likes of you.
I recommended people to this place for 2 years as a bartender on 18th but my last visit, there with a girl who wanted her first one, disgusted me. The girl at the front desk wouldn't even look away from the tv to speak with us and then was a total (insert explicative here) when she did! The girl I was there with had a drawing of what she wanted, it was very simple. The artist, i mean tracer, refused to press the copy so she could see the size on her skin and then acted really put out with every question she had. This was seriously some of the worst customer service I ever seen. The same tattoo was priced at %75 of the price down on Conn. and half the price they wanted in Annapolis.
Not many people have seen this gem of a tattoo parlour, a hidden basement shop in Adams Morgan [it's right below the Botanica with a large Virgin Mary in the display window]. Â It's a great place to get tattooed. The entire staff is awesome and friendly. Â [Turns out one of the artists is friends with one of the stylists that work for the same company as I do! Small world!] The place is kept very clean, neat, and organized. Â They house great tattoo artists such as Chad Koeplinger and Grant Cobb [who used to work at Jinx Proof in Georgetown]; and they feature guest artists from around the world here and there. Â
I've been twice to have Grant tattoo my lower lip and my left side and definitely wasn't disappointed. I've been tattooed five times before, yet Grant kept up conversation to keep my mind off the pain, giving tips on breathing here and there, as well. He's an all around great artist. Have a specific style you're looking for? Grant will be able to draw it up. Â Some of his work can be seen on the Good Charlotte twins.
George, the piercer, is is always willing to help. The second time I went to the shop, I brought two friends along - they just wanted to watch me get inked. Â George noticed that one of my friends [who has his lip pierced] had lost a ball on his circular barbell and helped him picked out a new one. Â Needless to say, we both left happy with our new pieces. Hah!
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