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    Dark Water

    5.0 (24 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM

    By appointment only

    Updated 2 months ago

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    Response time

    40 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Dark Water

    Tattooing

    Dark Water Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Dark Water

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kuya did an incredible job with my cute custom tattoo. He is very patient and helped bring my tattoo vision to life. The shop is super clean and aesthetically very calming. The entire process was professional and super chill. Thank you Kuya!

    Prep!
    Dennis T.

    Long story short: if you want Suminagashi or heavy blackwork, you need to go to Katie Mizuno at Dark Water. I came across Katie while researching Suminagashi (Japanese floating ink) tattoo artists. After missing her bookings a few times, I finally secured a spot for a full sleeve extending into my chest and hand. I traveled up from LA which was absolutely worth it. The studio itself is bright, open, and clean with great decor and a bumpin' sound system -- exactly the vibe you want for long sessions. Katie was meticulous about tool prep and sanitation throughout the process. Her music taste is also *chef's kiss*. I wanted Katie to have full creative control, though I cited a few of her previous pieces as inspiration. During our first session, she presented several design variations and absolutely nailed one that flowed perfectly with my body and what I had in mind. We mapped out the chest and hand extensions in subsequent sessions. Katie managed the pain by balancing where she worked, which, since we did multiple days in a row, I was very grateful for . Aftercare was a breeze, with Katie sending me home with everything I needed for proper healing, as my first session grouping healed really well before returning for the second set only a couple of weeks later. The entire piece took 4.5 days in less than month, and I'm grateful for how diligently and efficiently Katie works. The final result exceeded my imagination, and I'm honored to wear her art. If you're looking for Suminagashi or any heavy blackwork, get on Katie's bookings ASAP. And if not, still go to Dark Water, because they had a ton of talented artists putting on other really cool pieces on people while I was there! Katie and everyone at Dark Water are amazing people. I think I'll be coming back for more

    Custom blackwork thigh tattoo by  Josaline Green. Inspired by cryptic spren.

    I love going to Dark Water. I have two tattoos by Josaline Green. One was custom and one was pre-made. They healed beautifully. The experience is always amazing. I love chatting with Josaline. I haven't had any tattoos from any of the other artists, but the atmosphere with all the artists is very fun and comforting. I highly recommend checking out Dark Water and Josaline. ​

    Fine line ginko leaves

    Whiskie/Lea did an incredible job on my tattoo. The shop is clean, the staff is friendly and welcoming. I had so much fun getting my first tattoo and will be back. The process form start to finish made me feel confident and comfortable.

    Healed- not a good angle of the whole thing but no doubt 10000% savage
    Julia D.

    If you're someone who is looking for a highly skilled, one of a kind professional tattoo artist-- stop right here....because you don't need to look any further. Tired of searching down the rabbit hole of google and IG and just want a reliable artist that gets their shit done, shop is clean and immaculate that guarantees your safety 150% with 200% return on satisfaction? Dark Water and Katie Mizuno is your gal. I was there, and so glad my endless search is now over! I've been to many tattoo artists, but none compare to the incredible talent and professionalism I found here. From the moment I saw her one-time flash sale of one of her 1/2 sleeve designs on IG, our now beautiful collaboration began when I teased emailing her a picture of my blank arm and basically said " you know you wanna tattoo this canvas" hahahaha! :) Im so glad she chose me, because that one time has blossomed into what is now a full BADass sleeve... and will eventually turn into a full right-side body piece that is one of a kind. Not only is she exceptionally skilled with the needle, creating vivid, stunning designs that come to life on skin, but her humility, authenticity, and thoughtfulness shine through in every interaction. She always makes sure I am comfortable, and happy with her work, and undoubtedly I always am! What sets her apart is her ability to make each session a collaborative adventure. I always want her to be the main driver of what it looks like (since Katie's a downright professional) and email her the concept and a ton of examples of shapes of things and let her play with it. She listens intently, infusing her creativity and expertise into every idea I bring, turning them into bespoke pieces of art that exceed my wildest expectations!! Her workspace exudes warmth and comfort, making each session feel like a retreat from the world. Katie's authenticity and down-to-earth demeanor make every visit a joy. She's a professional who deeply respects the art form and her clients, ensuring each design is not just a tattoo, but a personal story etched into skin. I always get stopped everywhere I go or wherever I am-- hiking, grocery store, airport bathrooms (hahaha) bars, music festivals, or just walking doing my thing...people are always so blown away and look at my arm in awe of her work -- I think the most I've gotten in a day was 20 people, and still counting! Each time explaining the story brings me back to the moments spent creating this masterpiece and brings warmth and a huge smile to my face. :) :) And here's the thing - even before my current session is over, her passion and creativity have me excitedly thinking about my next tattoo. That's the magic she brings to the table. I couldn't recommend her enough to anyone looking for a tattoo experience that's not just about getting inked, but about creating something truly special that you will never find anywhere else. Thank you for making each tattoo journey an unforgettable one! Can't wait for the next!! Also-- can't forget a shout out to Kento always being such an amazing partner, manager, communicator, co biz-owner who is undoubtedly also adding such value by bringing an amazing / humbling tone to the hospitality and tattoo experience every time! I appreciate you both so much, stoked to see the NEW Dark Water space for whenever the time is right to get started on the next!!!! Darkwater.ink for life! Best tattoo shop in the Bay Area, located in Berkeley, California.

    Gerald S.

    I decided to visit the studio after the IG algorithm showed me art from one of their artists, DUDURU-KUN. From that moment, began a wonderful story of my tattoo journey with Dark Water + DUDURU-KUN. After being inspired by a recent anime convention and being tuned to my interests, I wanted to get a tattoo that represented a Japanese series that is near & dear to my heart + life. That series is Naruto. Within Naruto, I decided to get a tattoo that represented the Anbu Black Ops group. A tattoo of the symbol for that ninja group. This tattoo would be done with red ink. Something I haven't tried before. I looked at DUDURU-KUN's IG profile and went out to fill out the contact form. Mind you, I was already contacting another artist prior & had been waiting a while for a response. However, DUDURU's fast communication was record-breaking and I was able to book a session within a couple of hours in the same day. Big green flag for me. It made me excited to work with DUDURU-KUN. Once I entered the shop for my 1st appointment, DUDURU-KUN was already in the lobby area ready to check me in. This first session was for a color test just to make sure my skin + reactions would be okay to go forward with the full tattoo. Though it was a short session, it was a great 1st appointment with DUDURU-KUN and we were able to learn a little bit more about each other. Spiritual pressure was high during this appointment. The 2nd appointment was the real deal and this time, it just was DUDURU-KUN holding down the fort on a Friday evening. DUDURU was well prepared and made sure I was comfortable before the session began. He was meticulous with getting things right before the first ink-to-skin contact was made. We worked with each other to find the best size and position for the tattoo. He already had 3 different stencils prepared and we ended up going with a new one that was slightly bigger than the others. We both agreed this new one was the perfect size. I got onto the bed and let DUDURU-KUN do his thing. He was in the zone and did masterful work. During break sessions, we'd chat and get to know each other a little more. To my surprise, we shared a lot of things in common. We also shared a lot of jokes and laughs. haha. I felt fulfilled after my tattoo session with DUDURU-KUN. He did the usual information share about tattoo care and applied fresh tattoo protection before I left. DUDURU-KUN is an amazing human being and I appreciate the willingness to share the origin story. I was thoroughly impressed and wish nothing but the best for the artist and the studio as a whole. Keep in touch and see you on the next episode of.... Tattoos with DUDURU-KUN at Dark Water

    Full sleeve tattoo
    Nate M.

    Katie was awesome! I spent 3 days at Dark Water more than a year ago while she finished out a sleeve for me adding to the 3 mandalas I already had. I love how she worked with what I had and added her own touch to it. She created something unique just for me based on the inspiration and ideas I had, but surprising to me, my most favorite part of the sleeve is something she added that had nothing to do with my ideas going into it! And I'm headed back to her to get even more of that design added on. She made the whole experience very comfortable, was very easy and enjoyable to talk to (important when you are spending 20 hrs next to each other!). Her studio was clean and comfortable. Can't more highly recommend her and Dark Water. And I should add, after a year and half her lines and art still look great. They are really crisp and dark. I get comments nearly daily on her art and how detailed and perfect the lines are. She really took her time and did amazing work.

    Claire P.

    Story has done a number of botanical fine line tattoos on me, with these plants being the latest! I always feel comfortable and Story is great at communicating and working with you on design. I haven't been tattooed by other artists at the studio, but everyone is welcoming and clearly are great at what they do! Super happy with the results, and will continue to come back :)

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    8 months ago

    Tattoo consultation went very well. Shop is gorgeous and clean. One of the artist that greeted me was very friendly and helpful.

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    You're the best Max! It was an honor to do you're first tattoo!

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    Ask the Community - Dark Water

    Review Highlights - Dark Water

    Long story short: if you want Suminagashi or heavy blackwork, you need to go to Katie Mizuno at Dark Water.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Magnetic Arts

    Magnetic Arts

    5.0(27 reviews)
    1.7 miSouth Berkeley

    I've had two sessions with Ella so far and I couldn't be happier. She's so sweet and her work is…read moreamazing. I get complimented on my tattoo on a daily basis and I can't stop looking at it. If you're looking for an artist for some epic florals or sweet fauna, you can stop now, Ella is your girl.

    I found Ally on Instagram and booked an appointment for a coverup tattoo about a month in advance…read more I sent her a picture of my original tattoo and the reference I had drawn to be the coverup. Days leading up to it, I was still very worried because I hadn't seen her sketch yet. The day beforehand, she sent me her sketch and I adjusted it to my liking. The next day was my appointment and I had to call her since the building was kind of hard to find. The studio was very clean and professional. I had never had a professional studio tattoo prior to this visit and I was a little worried about the pain especially because of the stipple shading. Ally had a super light hand and the outline was completely fine, and after the pain spray it was basically numb. Another concern was the healing process and I did notice little black flakes coming off and I was a little worried. After a couple weeks, fully healed, the tattoo looks as good as it was when it was freshly done. The session took less than two hours and I think the price was reasonable. Definitely appreciate Ally being my first studio tattoo experience! Thanks again :-)

    Photos
    Magnetic Arts - After the first session

    After the first session

    Magnetic Arts - Second session

    Second session

    Magnetic Arts

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    O Tattoo Studio - Siri's awesome tattoo!

    O Tattoo Studio

    5.0(124 reviews)
    2.1 miRockridge, North Oakland
    $$

    Arie was amazing to work with!…read more I reached out to her via email for a custom design and everything went really smoothly. I sent her lots of reference images and the tattoo she created was exactly what I wanted. Her communication was consistent and she got back to me quickly whenever I had questions. I wanted a fine line design with some ornamental touches and I'm so happy with my result. The studio is very welcoming, clean and comfortable. My tattoo was pretty large for my first one, but I felt fine the entire time and Arie checked on me consistently. Applying the stencil took time, but I'm grateful for that because the placement was exactly what I wanted. We ended up going bigger day of and seeing the piece on my body with a stencil was super helpful in getting it right. I really appreciated Arie's calm demeanor & attention to detail! I get so many compliments on my tattoo, and I'm already planning to come back for more. The healing process was a breeze and my skin was never irritated, even immediately after my tattoo was completed. Highly recommend working with Arie and visiting O Tattoo if you're looking for a beautiful piece, that's done by a qualified, artistic professional.

    I got a tattoo here May 2024 with KG. She was great throughout the whole process! I sent her my…read moreidea of what I wanted my tattoo to look like and what exactly I liked if each reference and she nailed it. She was so sweet and the vibe of the studio was also so calm. I would totally refer her to other people looking to get tats done in and outside of Oakland!

    Photos
    O Tattoo Studio
    O Tattoo Studio - Fresh photo of first tattoo. Thanks Siri!

    Fresh photo of first tattoo. Thanks Siri!

    O Tattoo Studio - Line work by Siri

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    Line work by Siri

    FTW Tattoo Parlor - My son... six months in. Beautiful work!

    FTW Tattoo Parlor

    4.7(118 reviews)
    2.1 miRockridge, North Oakland
    $$

    This was from my birthday last year but I wanted to mention how good of an experience I had for my…read morefirst tattoo. Sean was referred to me by my sister since our two other friends have gone to him for their tattoos, so I already felt comfortable going to him. Made an appointment through email, sent different pictures of what I wanted, and he was easy to communicate with. When I arrived, he was friendly and accommodating with all the little changes I wanted on the stencils. He made good conversation throughout the entire process, which distracted me from the light pain from the tattoos. For both arms, he said it was a minimum of $80! Such a good price for two tats so I decided to tip him graciously. Highly recommend this place if you want your first tattoo experience to be comfortable.

    I've had tattoos done here in the past and they've always done a beautiful job. It had been years…read moreso I wanted to see if any of the artists I worked with and trusted were still there. I saw on Instagram that Sean Perkinson was still doing his thing so I sent him an email letting him know what I wanted. We chatted back and forth and set the date. When I arrived, his warm welcome made me feel right at home. He took his time sizing, and re-sizing to make sure the tattoo fit the area I wanted. Sean made the whole process so comfortable and talking with him was like talking to an old friend. He is such a great guy and talented artist. I will be returning and recommending Sean and FTW to everyone!

    Photos
    FTW Tattoo Parlor - Jason Phillips

    Jason Phillips

    FTW Tattoo Parlor - Right arm - Moon

    Right arm - Moon

    FTW Tattoo Parlor - Left arm - Sun

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    Left arm - Sun

    Dark Water - tattoo - Updated May 2026

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