I wish I could give more stars! Me and my fiance (Ian) went in on the spur to get flash tattoos for our last day in Ballard. HANDS DOWN THE BEST TATTOOING EXPERIENCE EITHER OF US HAVE HAD!! Tracy is the MAN! Not only was the art he put on our skin beautiful and skillfully done, but the conversation during our tattoo session restored some faith in humanity. Great people giving great tattoos. Tracy, I hope you read this and know you truly made our last day in Seattle special. We feel blessed to have stumble upon this gem in Ballard. If you're looking for quality ink and quality people go in and get a tattoo here. Best of all worlds to you Tracy! Much thanks, The flying fish and the trout read more

Joe did an awesome job on my arm. For the first tatoo this was awesome experience, the place is clean, vibes are awesome, Joe knows what he is doing and he will give you honest consultation and advice. Will go back for many more! read more

Great experience. Everything you want when getting a tattoo. Quality, energy, cleanliness, music. Had it all. Can't recommend enough. Especially if you are thinking about a walk-in or same day, go to Anchor. read more

Classic tattoo shop with friendly vibes. Awesome collection of historic and modern flash to choose from. They were cool with my ideas as well and have 30 plus years of experience in the business! read more

Anchor Tattoo - A look inside the amazing shop - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I recently popped in for a small finger tattoo from Tracy at Anchor Tattoo while my boyfriend was in working on his full color sleeve. Tracy was kind enough to squeeze me in, and helped me make the right choice on placement and size. The shop has a great old school vibe, and Tracy is clearly a skilled artist with tons of experience. Couldn't not recommend it more. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Theo is the best! He's for sure gonna be my main guy from now on if you want badass traditional work go to Theo! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Telly was phenomenal i absolutely love her and my hummingbird she created for me is so much more beautiful than I could have imagined. Thank you and I will differently be back more art from her. Thank you so much alhoa read more

After months of deciding and planning what my tattoo was going to be, I looked around at some local Ballard tattoo shops. I really had no idea which one to pick so I asked a few of my friends where they had been. A number of them recommend Anchor Tattoo so I thought why not and sent an inquiry email when I got home from work Wednesday night with what I wanted to get. By the next morning, Dylon had already replied and by 2pm on Thursday I had an appointment for Tuesday the following week. Dylon was really cool and made me feel really comfortable during the whole thing. We talked about the new Star Wars game that had just come out and things like that. More importantly though his work is great and would highly recommend going to Anchor. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Awesome and clean shop. Owner is kind, professional, efficient, and honest. Super breezy experience which was hard to find with tattoo shops on our search this weekend. Also... look at this line work! Hand is steadier than a heart surgeon. Didn't catch the owner's name cause we were in and out so quick, but this was all him! Thanks Anchor! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I will go back here for any of my tattoos in the future. They were able to accommodate three walk ins on a weekend-I was SHOCKED. My tattoo is now two months (approx) healed and I am in love. I cannot wait to go back for another. Thank you!!! (This picture is of my tattoo right after it was done so ignore the redness) read more

Anchor Tattoo - My tiny whale tattoo! - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Walked in on a Friday night to get a tattoo of the Hawaiian island chain (nothing fancy, just a black outline) on my inner right forearm and was served immediately. The tattoo took a whole 10 minutes. Happy customer to say the least! FYI - There is a minimum no matter what you get. I believe it's ~$80. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I came in about a year ago after seeing a piece by Tracy whose design really spoke to me- He was so kind and made a design for me that looked similar but was more my style, and was actually was able to expertly tattoo over scars of mine as well. A year later and my piece still looks fantastic! read more

John at Anchor is the best. Meticulous in cleanliness, Meticulous in design. He is kind, and personable. If you are thinking about your first tattoo, he is the best and welcomes your ideas and designs. An over all great experience at Anchor in Ballard. Zoe their go to girl (woman) is pretty sweet too, lol! read more

It's taken me about four years of getting tattooed in Seattle for me to land on a shop that I come back to exclusively. I've gotten two pieces done here, both by Jacob, and I absolutely love them. The lines are extremely clean and they both healed better than any of my other tattoos. Jacob drew up both designs after I gave him a description of what I was imagining, and I really loved how they turned out when I showed up for my appointments. I started the most recent tattoo I got at Anchor back in March. When I came in a month later to finish the shading, I had to stop just ten minutes in because it was such a painful spot, and I just wasn't in a good headspace to try to meditate through an hour or more of getting tattooed. Jacob was not only patient with me, he was incredibly reassuring and kind about it. He didn't seem the least bit upset or frustrated. I can't think of any other tattoo artist I've encountered that would respond so coolly and professionally. We just finished up the tattoo last week, and I adore it. I'm very much looking forward to my next visit to Anchor. :) read more

Anchor Tattoo - healed lines, fresh color. by jacob. - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Curtis is the man. Seriously. Not only did he understand what I was trying to do conceptually, he executed the artwork perfectly. The tattoo is all his original work... I get compliments on it constantly. I uploaded a picture... It's the girl on the bass drum holding drum sticks and a martini glass. Can't say enough good things about this place. Go there. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Dreamgirl.... - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is hands-down the best talent in Seattle. The artists are professional, congenial, respectful and informative. My first experience: I went 3 weeks ago on a whim with my boyfriend's mom, who wanted a simple, small goddess-symbol. After being turned away by an overbooked competitor whose desk staff was less than helpful, I suggested Anchor after hearing glowing reviews and seeing some truly amazing work come from there. We arrived, were greeted immediately by Tracy the owner (mid-tattooing) and Alex, who ended up giving her the tattoo. Alex talked to us for five minutes, took the shabby print-out we brought with us, and within 20 minutes, had a beautiful sketch, stencil, paperwork and a clean workstation for Krista to get what she wanted. And within another 15 minutes she had a lovely tattoo that was better than what she had imagined and we were thrilled. So naturally, it gave me the itch to get one of my own. I had never received a tattoo before and had many ideas of what I wanted. After selecting the one that felt most right, I called and made an appointment with Alex (who is only there occasionally as a guest artist when he's not globe-trotting) He had me e-mail him exactly what I wanted as we didn't have time in either of our schedules for a consultation. From that e-mail, he drew one of the most beautiful sketches I have ever seen, better than anything I could have imagined, had suggestions for how to make it look better, and just "got it". He knew exactly what I wanted and translated it into something wonderful to last a lifetime. It was roughly 4 times as big as I had imagined, and being a "first-timer" I was jolted...but I wanted that stunning artwork on my body forever. And Alex made it so. And as if the amazing work they bring forth isn't enough, these are gentlemen. I chose my side/hip/waist region, and modesty was not fitting into the plans, but despite being somewhat bare in a semi-public place, I never once felt uncomfortable. They aren't overly chatty, they're interesting to listen to, and if you're looking for amazing artwork either of your own or something they design, this is the place to go. I'll post a photo on yelp. It's the jeweled flower basket with a banner. I couldn't be happier, and I truly feel that no one else could have given me something even half as good as what I received from Alex Nunez. Thank you, Alex for this gorgeous beauty, and thank you Anchor for taking away my fear of going under the needle. I'll be back to see you, you can count on it :) read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Anchor has been my studio of choice for years. I've walked into a bunch of shops and Anchor has an immediate vibe of a great funky place, that is clean, and that just radiates we care about what we do. Curtis is a great artist and wonderful to work with to come up with a design you'll be proud of for the rest of your life. Tattoos are permanent, people--take the time to find a place like Anchor and Curtis that make sure you walk out the door happy. I can echo a bit what one reviewer said about some of the staff being a bit gruff. I think it probably gets a little old answering the same old questions about tattoos being asked by people who walk in just to satisfy curiousity or a whim. Anchor is right on the street in Balard, and probably attracts alot of lookyloos. But if you're serious about getting a good tattoo, and you have a design with you, then you'll be well treated. Also, bring some cash for for a deposit. It usually takes a visit to set up a design, then your appointment to get your tatt. All in all a great place to get your first, second, third, fourth, fifth, (you get the picture) tattoo. My son turned 18 last July and is talking about tattoos---I wouldn't let him go to anybody but Curtis James. Anchor Tattoo is the BEST. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Anchor Tatoo on a sunny day - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I can't say enough great things about Jacob and Anchor Tattoo! The tattoo turned out better than my most wonderful tattoo dreams could imagine! It all started when I emailed Jacob with my idea of a hedgehog tattoo in the traditional style, but I wanted his spines to be flowers and grasses. Jacob thought that sounded fun, and he ran with the idea and came up with an amazing design which turned into a tattoo that I'll forever cherish! He took my ideas about color and developed the perfect color pallet for my little friend. Thanks Jacob and Anchor Tattoo, you guys are rad! read more

Anchor Tattoo - My hedgie all outlined and waiting for color! Thanks Jacob! - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My friend and I both got our tattoos done by Jacob, who was incredibly patient with us. He repeatedly drew my design until it was exactly what I wanted, and was very understanding about it. I was initially a little hesitant because I looked at all the Anchor artists' instagrams, and none of their styles seemed to be what I was looking for. However, I gave Jacob a couple pictures of what I wanted for reference and he illustrated a design that was exactly what I had in mind! Both of our tattoo sessions combined was around 2 hours, and the store had actually closed before I even got started on my consultation. He stayed behind an extra hour just so we could both get them done together that same day, which was very nice of him. I'm very pleased with the tattoo itself, and it healed beautifully without any extra care beyond following the simple directions given to me afterwards. The shop was clean, and he knows what he's doing so no worries there! This place is cash only though. I recommend calling ahead to see if they have any time slots open, but either way you'll leave satisfied with your tattoo and experience. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Can't say enough good things about Dylon at Anchor! I came in with a very loose idea and inspiration, and he designed a beautiful and meaningful tattoo that I love!! I put a deposit down for him to start working on the art (standard), and made an appointment to come back about 10 days later for the tattoo. I told him my budget, and he was very respectful of that and didn't make me feel bad for having a budget (I'm not someone with a ton of tattoos, so I am a relative rookie when it comes to the process). I loved his recommendation that we make final edits to the design only on the day of, so as not to overthink the tattoo too much. We barely changed anything day of! It was perfect. Getting tattooed on the ribs/flank certainly hurts, can't lie about that, but Dylon made it as comfortable as possible. His after care instructions were also very thorough. I would highly recommend Dylon! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Beautiful art by Dylon - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tracy was super friendly, totally professional, and just a fun guy to be around. The place was very clean and he was meticulous with cleaning everything correctly. He was patient as I adjusted his drawing several times. We ended up chatting the whole time while he was tattooing me and he was just really nice and engaging while still being focused. I appreciate that he was up to doing it even though it's totally different than his usual style. He did great work, super happy with my tattoo. Would recommend! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Jacob is who worked on me, and his art come out great! I was recommend to Anchor by a friend who is really awesome at what they do. I figured someone with a 6-9 month waitlist would know what they're talking about, and I have not been disappointed! I saw someone else who apperently saw Mack, and the line work from both of them is precise and very well done. Different styles, but both are great! Also, great with following through, which is a problem I've had with tattoo artists. But, i love the art Jacob has done and would've chosen based on that. The recommendation helped and I will definitely be coming back for more! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Dylon Munoz gave me a fantastic tattoo experience from beginning to end. He was very quick to respond to emails, worked with me on my design idea, and created something far better than I even imagined. He was super friendly and very professional, and I could tell he really cared about giving me a great tattoo. I cannot recommend Dylon highly enough, and I will definitely be coming back for more tattoos from him in the future! read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Highly recommend! Tracy worked hard to make the handwriting of my late grandfather come to life for my dad and I. He was kind and his execution was flawless. We are so grateful for how he helped us memorialize such a special person in a time when a physical memorial is not possible. Anchor Tattoo is the spot, and Tracy is the man! read more

Well I went to get a Friday the 13th tattoo today and got there around 4:30. Looked like only 6 people ahead of us. Left at 9 because I have to work but all the peoples name that we're on the list but weren't there came back and kept getting pushed ahead of us. Two of the guys said that everyone that was physically there would be the last. There were about 8 people in there including myself and my brother in law. Well we both ended up leaving and not getting tatted because they kept allowing these other people to go before us. I've never been to a tattoo shop on Friday's the 13th that allows people to leave and come back when people like myself have been waiting for 4.5 hours. I'm very disappointed. read more

I had my tattoo done by Lauren (I can't remember her last name, oops). Anyways, I've been meaning to get an old tattoo on my wrist re-done. I got it 10 years ago, without doing any research and suffered the consequences of tha. I finally did a lot of researched and decided on coming to Anchor Tattoo. I wasn't looking for anyone specifically. It seemed that everyone that worked here did a fantastic job so I just looked for an opening that worked for me. I was squeezed in that same day. The whole thing from me getting there to walking out the door took almost 2 hours and the price was extremely reasonable. Most importantly, I finally got the tattoo of my dreams. I got the tattoo that I had originally wanted years ago. Lauren worked really well with the existing tattoo to create a masterpiece over it which is not an easy task since she wasn't starting from scratch. I absolutely love it. The place is also very welcoming, clean and everyone is very friendly and have immense talent. I highly recommend Anchor Tattoo and Lauren. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Old Tattoo that needed the cover up! - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The tattoo came out really well but the artist Aron was very rude from the start. He was rude when answering questions as well and had an overall bad demeanor. Really great art though. read more

I was sent to Anchor as a recommendation from another place and I was not disappointed. The first thing that I noticed when I walked into the store was Bon Scott era AC/DC playing in the background and a very friendly artist named Dylan there to greet me. Dylan was meticulous, friendly, and very hygienic. I came in as a walk in and was treated the way I like to be treated: with regard and respect. My tattoo is beyond amazing and beyond anything I expected. Thanks Again Dylan and Anchor Tattoo!! Highly recommended!! I will be coming back. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So, uh, hey...you think you can tattoo me ASAP? I want a WWII plane. A picture, oh, no, I didn't bring anything... Oooops. So, after the wonderful recommendation of the guy in front, I went to the library down the street, printed out what I wanted and brought it back. Agus was free to do it in 2 days and I agreed. I gave a few specifications and went home where I was unable to sleep for 2 days worried about the draw up I would return to. It was perfect, actually, it was exactly what I wanted, to the T....Agus put his own spin on it as well and I couldn't possibly be happier... The tat is not finished yet, but I can't wait to have Agus finish it! He exceeded all my expectations which is always nice when it comes down to something your will have on you forever... read more

Got work done back in '05 and am pretty happy with it... I had scheduled to get done on a break at work which was 2.5 hours long. When I showed up they were running behind. I eventually got in with an hour to spare before work, so they gave me 2 options. Do one leg and come back another day or each artist would work on each leg at the same time and knock them out. I chose option 2 and it was cool. The art was nice and exactly what I wanted. Good times.... read more

So while I stand by my review of my initial experience with Rempe, I have to update this to say that after writing this review I was contacted by Tracy who very kindly reached out to me and my friend and apologized for the incident. Like I said in my initial review, I've heard very good things about Anchor prior to my experience there and to date I've heard nothing but good things about Tracy and Curtis. Tracy's reaching out to me really shows how much he cares about running a good business and I'm now sure that my experience was an anomaly rather than the norm. read more

I have had nothing but great experiences at Anchor. Once you get past the initial tough exterior of the guys they are really nice and easy to talk to. I cannot recommend Rempe more, for his age he is extremely talented and professional, but the best part is he is genuinely passionate about his work. He is a real artist and can give suggestions that improve on your design as well as draw his own awesome designs. Seriously, you need to go see this guy before he becomes a tattoo superstar and you can't afford him. I don't believe in inexpensive tattoos but I've been much more satisfied with Anchor's prices than with other places around town. The cash-only thing is a bit of a bummer since I don't like carrying lots of cash around, but for what I got it is truly worth it. Go to Anchor right now! read more

I'd give more than three stars because the guys artwork is amazing. He had exactly what I've been looking all over this city for (for my very first tattoo!). However, the other shop employees suck, which decreased the stars. When I walked in (at the prompting of my Husband who knows how badly I want a tattoo), I was greeted with strange glances as in "who the eff are you?". Nice. Yeah, I was wearing jeans, high-heeled boots and a pink/gray fleece. But I am still entitled to inquire about a tattoo. How did they know I didn't already have one or three or five? The guy that first spoke to us was very gruff and not very friendly. I explained what I was looking for as my husband sat down on their window bench, our daughter sitting on his lap. After a minute or two, he directed me to Curtis, who showed me some of his works as we discussed the tattoo of my dreams. Then the first guy makes the comment "We have a strict no minors policy". Um, are you referring to me or the fact that my HUSBAND is HOLDING my daughter? She wasn't running around like crazy, she was talking a bit, but being a complete angel. What was I supposed to do, have them stand outside in the cold (a 2.5 yo out in the cold? Nice!)? I informed him she wouldn't be at my sitting and ignored him as I continued to talk to Curtis. We made arrangements for me to bring in my deposit, worked out sketch details and my Husband and I, toting our daughter, exited the shop. Now, was it really necessary to insinuate that you a)wanted me to leave because I stopped by on a whim for an inquiry while I was in the neighborhood and happened to have my daughter with me or b)be rude because of how I looked? Hmm.. I think neither a or b were appropriate responses to potential clients. Point is, rude staff, great artwork. And don't bring your children even if you are just making a quick stop for an inquiry. read more

Curtis is indeed the man. Too bad the stars go up to only 5. Just got #3 from a design that I brought in, and it looks SO much better than I'd imagined. I brought in a few copies of what I wanted, one for size and one enlargement for shading, and once he understood what I had in mind (and put up with my pickiness; but hey, I'm entitled--this thing's permanent!), he set to work and was done in an hour. Of the other two guys, one was standoffish and one was very nice, so I guess it's a mixed bag. I don't know their names. Curtis isn't much of a talker, so don't expect chitchat. But he's thorough and gentle and takes obvious pride in his work. As well he should--I'm SO proud of this one...definitely going back to him for #4 once I get it figured out!! The upstairs is airy, you don't get people gawking at you from the sidewalk, and you can look at the stuff on the shelves while you wait for your masterpiece to be done. Pet the mummified cat on your way downstairs... read more

Didn't really want to deal with 'special' corporate other tattoo shops and had heard great things about Anchor. Randomly walked in on a Saturday evening with a picture of what I wanted tattooed and they said they could do it that night. PERFECT, because I'm so impulsive. Rempe did my tatts (I got two that night) and was a total doll. He was super patient with me while I annoyingly asked half the staff for their input on the positioning of my tattoo. (Yeah I was that girl) I'm not sure what people are talking about when they say the employees were rude--they're all just passionate about their work and hanging out together. True they're not Nordstroms friendly but it's a tattoo shop. I guess if you want to be pampered like you're so special you should go to a special place. I was there for 2 hours and had great convos with all the staff and I just want to add in this was my first tattoo and I was dressed like a total prep and they did not judge. I am definitely coming back to get more stuff done in the future! These guys are great and I have been recommending them all over town. read more

My husband and I came in and had a consultation with Jacob. We told him what we wanted and came back the next day to get the tattoos. He drew out sketches of each of our tattoos and I think they were both better than we imagined them to be. I cannot stop staring at my tattoo. Everyone at the shop was super friendly and we will definitely be back! Thanks for making my first tattoo experience very enjoyable :) read more

I just got my first tattoo with Jacob today, a ship, and could not be more pleased. Jacob is professional and meticulous. His lines are so clean! He was prompt in returning my emails. This shop has the best traditional tattoo artists around I think. If you're not sure what you want, they have a great selection of flash to choose from too. If you want traditional, go here for sure! I will definitely be back. read more

Just got my second tattoo from Curtis. I can't recommend him highly enough. He is a true artist. He was patient with a tattoo novice. He managed to balance being true to my vision with his knowledge and experience as an artist. He did an awesome job taking my examples and descriptions and making my tattoo come to life. He gave respectful advice when he thought something might not work. He also doesn't make you feel bad if you just want something simple. He was more than willing to do revisions to his original design to align more to what I wanted. Highly recommend. read more

Ask for Tracy, the owner. He is professional, meticulous, and experienced. I trusted my entire right arm to him and over several weeks of pain, there was much gain. All the artists at Anchor base their business on respect of the art in the form of CLEAN LINES! Appointments recommended as they are quite busy. :) read more

Can't recommend this place enough!! My friend and I came here to get my second and third tattoos and her first one and our artist for all of them was Jacob who was awesome. My friend made an appointment with Jacob for Thursday and when we called to see if he could squeeze me in for a couple of small ones after hers and he said to drop by whenever and he would be able to make something work. Later that day (it was a Wednesday), we stopped by the shop to see if anything was available and Jacob greeted us and said he would be able to tattoo both of us that night. He stayed until 10:30pm (they close at 8pm) finishing us up and we could not be HAPPIER!! I got two glyphs and moon phases that required a good deal of detail/shading in small areas that he executed gorgeously. My friend got a mountain on her side rib cage that he drew up and changed 3-4 times (my friend kept changing her mind), and was still very patient and accommodating to us. During the actual tattoo: Everything was cleaned and prepped properly and he made sure to make the positioning of all my tattoos even and to my liking, even if it meant moving it just a quarter inch, he was great. He checked in multiple times throughout both of them to make sure that I was doing alright and said I could take a break whenever I needed. When he finished he let me look and make any changes/improvements/additions I wanted along with his suggestions/experience. The tattoos themselves are precise, clean, shaded beautifully, and are healing well. We both couldn't be happier with the work or the artist. Because he stayed late we were able to free up our last day of visiting in the city which we couldn't be more grateful for. No matter how late it was getting Jacob made sure to be careful and attentive with his work, patient with his clients and made us all feel welcome and listened to. Overall would 12/10 recommend this place to any and all of my friends who are considering getting their first tattoo, or their 12th, this is a great shop. read more

Anchor Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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