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    Empire Tattoo

    4.4 (112 reviews)
    ModerateTattoo

    Services - Empire Tattoo

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    Recommended Reviews - Empire Tattoo

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    chad m.

    Brittany is a supreme talent. I brought in a design that I worked on and she was able to get the thinnest lines with patience and care. She has great energy and I felt comfortable in the chair with her. I would highly recommend requesting Brittany when you book.

    The art on the walls are amazing
    Dee C.

    I give a 3 because I only made it as far as the counter but that was a delightful experience. The guy behind the counter is named Sam and he is absolutely charming. He answered all of our questions thoroughly, was laid back, good attitude, its def welcoming. In my opinion who you see first will always be an impression on the establishment and hes represented Empire Tattoos well. They have tons of cool art on the wall. It's nice and clean, spacious, plenty of seating and just a chill environment. Saw some artist portfolios, def good work. Also minimum price is 60$ which beats out any other shop in the area. Also, if you check in using your Yelp app you get 5% off

    Chelsey G.

    Reilly killed it I am obsessed w my new tat and would def come back for more. Went to the shop for a walk-in, didn't have to wait for that long and it couldn't have turned out any better!

    Amazing experience as a walk-in with my friend for some smaller pieces! The person at the front desk was incredibly accommodating and helped translate our ideas into sketches perfectly. I had this done by Ramon and it came out better than the photo I showed him as inspiration. Sometimes I can feel intimidated at tattoo shops but this was not the case. My friend had Joe do two small tattoos - a flame and some script - and they also turned out beautifully.

    Background in progress.  Everything but the moose and banner has been done by Amanda Abbott
    D M.

    I've been coming in to Empire to see Amanda Abbott since soon after the shop opened. I had seen her work online and we had connected while she was working at another shop further away. I liked her work and all the details and how fine art her tattoos looked based on photos. It also seemed like fate since my other tattoos were done by Russ Abbott, so maybe I'm only meant to be tattooed by an Abbott? Funny coincidence. Anyway, I met with her during the winter, and we're been in the process of adding some really fun pretties to some naked spots on my arm. She came up with some really great custom ideas that fit along with what I wanted and what I already have on my arm, and it looks great so far. I'll be back to get that finished up, and most likely more. I mean, I have a Ruby tattoo, I think I need an Indy one. Amanda is a total delight to work with, and I get a big kick out of her personally, so that makes it really comfortable to go in and get tattooed. Also, she's a crazy dachshund lover, which made me instantly love her. :) The shop is really clean, comfortable, and everyone who works there is really pleasant. Also, right down the street from my house-AMAZING! Love that we have a tattoo parlor so close to the East Somerville and Union Square area. Chris, who is the piercer, is normally at the front desk whenever I go in and he's really nice. The pricing for piercings seem really reasonable, if that's your thing. Hell, custom tattoo work is really reasonable. I think it's right around $100/hr, which is great. It may vary from artist, but that's usually right around what I pay. Also awesome: it rarely seems like there's too much of a wait to get in, and everyone seems pretty flexible and accommodating. Look online-all the artists have a lot of different styles, all are really great. Anyway, I won't go anywhere else for tattoos in Boston, and if you're looking for something new, go here!

    Compass rose tattoo by Claudio Camilucci
    Lauryn M.

    If you're looking for a professional, reasonably priced tattoo shop with great quality tattoos, look no further. Empire Tattoo is the best. I came here as a walk-in looking to get a tattoo on my foot and was given a consult by Claudio. I gave him a sketch I drew up myself to give him an idea of what I wanted and he came up with a design even better than I had imagined myself. Claudio is super sweet, professional, and really funny; he made my time in the chair fly by. It took 2 sessions to complete the tattoo- 1 for the outline, the 2nd for the color and shading, but it was totally worth two trips. Totally obsessed with my tattoo, I show it off every chance I get. I look forward to coming back to Empire and getting inked again in the near future! Also, if you're looking to get a rose, Claudio is your man, jus' sayin.

    Ray's amazing work
    Faith B.

    Empire tattoo is the go to tattoo parlor is Boston. . My friend and I were on a girls trip and decided to be spontaneous and get tattoos. After reading plenty of Yelp reviews I decided to come here. When you walk into Empire, it gives you that typical tattoo parlor feel, very laid back. Once we told our tattoo artist what we wanted they went to get the sketches ready, which they did very quickly & I appreciated that. Ray was my tattoo artist and he was great, he is also a New Yorker like me which gives him some extra brownie points lol. Ray did a great job making sure I was happy and was very patient with me as I was being indecisive about part of my tattoo. Ray also tattooed my very quickly, which was great! I was in and out within 20 minutes. Fast & easy just how I like it :) THE ONLY reason I am giving this place a 4 is because I didn't like that there was food laying around in the back not too far from where you are tattooed. This place needs a designated break room or to be covered by a curtain or something. I also would have liked some written after care instructions for the tattoo. I wish I could give like a 4.8 because these things were so minor. BUT overall if you are in Boston and want to get a quality tattoo this is the place to go!

    My handwritten script tattoo from a birthday card my grandma gave me. This incredible work was done by Ray!!
    Marshelle J.

    I had such an awesome experience with these guys! They could not have been more patient and understanding. My grandma, who I was very close to, had a massive stroke and passed away last week so I wanted to get something meaningful as a constant reminder that she'll always be with me. When I found out how steadily she was declining, I went in search of tattoo inspiration; I came upon an old birthday card with her signature saying "Love you forever, Grandmommy xxoo." I instantly knew that having this personal handwritten message would be just the symbol I was looking for. I immediately went to Yelp to research tattoo parlors around Boston, and came upon these guys with awesome reviews, so I sent them an email explaining the situation and giving them a general overview of what I was wanting. They emailed me back instantly and were so sympathetic and told me to come in as soon as possible. I went in this past Sunday and they remembered my email and set me up with Ray. We rescaled the image a few times until I was completely happy with the size and spacing and then Ray went to work after thoroughly explaining care instructions and why we had to go with the size we did. I got the script on my wrist, and before Ray would even touch my skin, he traced over the writing to ensure he could do it in one fluid movement. He was so quick, and the end result could not have been more perfect!! I am so happy that I came to these guys and I will definitely be back for my next tattoo, and have already been recommending this place to my friends!! That night, I realized we had forgotten to add a comma. I called in and they told me that Ray was off but to come in anytime and they would fix it for me, no problem. Finding this kind of customer service in Boston is certainly a rarity, and I'm so happy I found Empire! Thanks guys! :)

    My t-shirt,  I wear it with pride!
    Erica J.

    Neil England is a true "Ink God". I Googled best cover up tattoo artists in New England and his name popped up! I checked out his Web page, followed him on Facebook, and called to snag my appointment. He had a 3 month waiting list which I gladly accepted for quality work. Let's start with what I had. ...I had what is coined as "a nightmare tattoo". It was a dragon which I had done circa 1997/1998 by a now well known tattoo artist. A friend of mine stenciled a dragon on me, and instead of removing it I had to worked over. It was fine and barely visible until touched by then known as "Naton" of Dark wave Dermagraphics located in his loft at Dudley Station in Boston, when tattooing was illegal. I left with a horrible tattoo. A marriage of pain and torment which I lived in. I had tried endless times to have it redone and was always told it couldn't be done, until Neil came along.... About Empire Tattoo....it stepped in to seal the deal, and get a brutal, bloody, long overdue divorce from this tattoo. I sat in an ultra cushiony soft leather sofa which immediately made me sleepy. The studio was clean, spacious, and all employees friendly. About Neil....HE IS THE REAL DEAL. He takes time to analyze your existing tattoo and discusses the options. He is a real artist. His work space was awesome. He calmed me with movies, we watched Push, and Casino Jack. He has outlets to charge your cell phone, art everywhere, and is not only am awesome tattoo artist but a great person. He is a family man and proud of his wife, who is a true artist also. The vibe in the studio is awesome, positive energy and even the owner is very cool! When done, Neil sealed the deal and filed my tattoo nightmare divorce by wrapping me up in Saran wrap. I am sooooo happy, I cried out of happiness and also pain, lol. When done I got a care package of tattoo balm which increased my healing time and a cool t-shirt which I wear often with pride. Go with cash, I had to use an atm across the street, no biggie, but we all know cash is king!! Have cash to tip also, these people are artists and cash tips are necessary! Lastly there is ample parking across the street adjacent to advance auto. Do not park in advances' parking lot, park on the public street or risk being towed!!! I look forward to rebooking with Neil. Follow him on Facebook and instagram to see if he has cancelations. His appointments are COVETED, do not rush him and do not miss your appointment. Empire tattoo is clean, friendly and professional. I have been in a few places and left running...Empire IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU NEED TO GO FOR A TATTOO and I highly recommend Neil. The other artists seemed great too, but it's the work of NEIL ENGLAND, that I wear with pride...thanks Neil....

    Taylor S.

    I had a bad tattoo from when I was younger and desperately needed a cover up. I had been following coralynn for quite awhile and finally made the trip in. I showed what I was thinking about doing and booked the appointment. Two weeks later I went in to see what she drew up and I was FLOORED. Sure - I knew it would be a great piece but I had no idea how incredible it actually would be. I did one sitting for about 3 1/2 hours. I am IN LOVE with my new piece. She truly is an exceptional artist. As far as the atmosphere goes - it's chill, funny and she played a killer playlist. This place really cares about the customer and I think that is rare. For sure my absolute go to for tattoos now.

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    Ask the Community - Empire Tattoo

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    Redemption Tattoo - Tattoo

    Redemption Tattoo

    4.6(161 reviews)
    1.9 miPorter Square, North Cambridge
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    I had a great experience at Redemption getting my very first tattoo. I really like that you book…read moreappointments by reaching out to the artist you specifically want to work with. They have portfolios of the artsists' work on the website. Based on Yelp reviews, I chose Andy Reach and he was great. In order to reserve your timeslot, you send a deposit to your artist (I chose to do so via Venmo), for me it was $60. After you receive the tattoo you pay the remaining amount, $40 for me. [Note: $100 is the minimum fee at Redemption, even for a small tattoo like mine. I was happy to pay that knowing I'm working with a great artist at a reputable shop, but you can probably find cheaper for small, single-color tattoos elsewhere.] Don't forget to tip too! Andy did a great job on my tattoo. I had a really specific design (the 3 stars from the corner of the page in the Harry Potter books) and he copied it exactly. He was very honest and upfront with me about what size and location would last well instead of promising something that would never work long term. I left with a slightly bigger tattoo than I'd anticipated, but I feel confident that it won't fade or blur like the smaller size I'd initially planned on. All in, I was probably under the needle for 20 minutes tops. It felt like someone digging their fingernail into your skin. Sure, it hurts, but no biggie. A month and a half later, my tattoo has healed really nicely and looks great. It bled a little bit the first night but other than that healing was fairly quick and easy. I will absolutely come back to Redemption and Andy specifically if/when I decide to get my next tattoo.

    As my 18th birthday was a while ago, my first to-do item on the list of stuff to do for the big…read moreoccasion was getting my first tattoo! Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I had to wait a little while longer to visit the shop for the first time! After booking the consultation, and meeting my artist, I put down my deposit and waited one painstakingly long week before the official appointment arrived. Of course I was nervous as heck because I had job idea how much the tattoo cost, or how painful it was gonna be, plus doing anywhere during all this madness is a challenge within itself. However, all the safety precautions were being taken, all artists and customers (including myself) had masks and gloves on, and the procedure went great! Jebb, (my artist) did a phenomenal job of making me feel comfortable and calm during the whole thing, and I will definitely be coming back here for my next tattoo! p.s, my art is healing really nicely, and the pain afterwards was little to none!

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    Redemption Tattoo - Obsessed with the end result. Work done by Adam LoRusso.

    Obsessed with the end result. Work done by Adam LoRusso.

    Redemption Tattoo - Ben McClellan giving me my epic tattoo!

    Ben McClellan giving me my epic tattoo!

    Redemption Tattoo - This is it quite fresh, it's of course not so red now. He did a flawless job.

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    This is it quite fresh, it's of course not so red now. He did a flawless job.

    Dia Moeller

    Dia Moeller

    5.0(8 reviews)
    2.0 miDavis Square
    $$

    I've been in Dia's hot seat 4 times, and consequently have learned a tremendous lot about her…read more 5 reasons I love Dia Moeller: 5.) If you are going to be in pain for an undetermined amount of time, she will not only show sympathy, but will also give you fantastic things to look up on your smart phone to distract you from the agony. 4.) She introduced me to Insanity Wolf. 3.) She has a curious passion for mustachioed men like her burly tattooed husband and Freddie Mercury. 2.) She won't judge you for what you want tattooed or try to talk you out of something you really love. She will counsel, give your advise on placement or size, but in the end, it's your fuck!ng tattoo. 1.) She is a spectacular artist! Her designs are fun, fresh, and timeless. Every time I bring something in, she makes it magical, and then makes it permanent. Get a tattoo!

    I'd been "shopping" for a tattoo artist for a couple of years. And though I'd not really decided…read moreon a tattoo design, I wanted to find a real ARTIST whose work was cutting edge - definitely not ordinary. I'm not a cookie-cutter person, and I don't want a cookie-cutter, pulled-from-a-book design. I wanted a "creation" by someone who might be interested in who I am and could guide me in my creative pursuit. I was directed to Dia by Carl Grace at the Boston Tattoo Convention 2013. Since then, in the last 4 months, Dia's created (2) totally unique works of art on my body. I couldn't be happier with them! The first, a large, abstract watercolor shoulder piece, was a truly creative experience. Neither Dia nor I knew what it would look like until it was done. It gradually evolved as she began to add color in dramatic, broad strokes and in interesting, dripping "moments" running down my arm, back, and chest. Healing was quick and easy only a little scabbing. The second is a hand-sized realistic-looking botanical peach on my hip. My first tattoo, done just before my 20th high school reunion, was a quarter-sized traditional (black-outlined) peach. Dia's larger, brighter cover-up was beautifully executed and is completely healed - only 3 weeks 4 weeks later. I can't WAIT for my next Dia-tattoo! Dia's talent is incredible, and her reputation is growing locally, nationally and even internationally. If you want a truly beautiful and unique work of body art, make your appointment now. Currently, she is booking 2-3 months in advance.

    The Boston Tattoo Company

    The Boston Tattoo Company

    4.1(265 reviews)
    2.0 miDavis Square
    $$

    boston tattoo company has expanded: the tattoo building is where it's always been, and the piercing…read moresection is right across the plaza to the right. i missed his name but the gentleman in the tattoo reception walked us over to the piercing section, was kind + hospitable. i needed help with a naval piercing i got about a month ago from another studio, and i was easily able to find an appointment online for the next day with marina. i came in a bit late and didn't mind waiting, i just really wanted a piercer to check the status since there was some bleeding and uncomfortable healing. Marina was running the shop herself and took care of 3 clients in a short period of time without rushing. she was super kind and helpful even though i didn't get my piercing here. she let me know my options and i chose to replace the bottom disc of a floating naval with a ball since the disc was digging into me. after she replaced the disc, i nearly immediately started feeling better. the disc had swollen the area around my naval, but the ball nearly immediately settled it. the bar already seems much longer due to the swelling going down after about 14 hours. she was patient, helpful and caring. i appreciate that she cared about my healing more than the place i got the piercing done from! and i love her pink gloves and matching supplies. comfortable waiting room, piercing room, good vibes. i love that they separated the piercing and tattoo sections. wonderful customer service. thank you for not treating clients like a burden.

    I had a very disappointing experience with Zach Young. The tattoo I received looks nothing like the…read moredesign we discussed and agreed upon beforehand. I came in with clear ideas and references, but very little of what I asked for was actually incorporated into the final piece. What's most frustrating is the apparent lack of effort. When I compare my tattoo to other work he has done, the difference in quality and attention to detail is hard to ignore. My piece feels rushed and poorly executed, with minimal care taken to match the concept we had planned. Getting a tattoo is a permanent and personal decision, so it's important to feel heard and confident in your artist. Unfortunately, that wasn't my experience here. I would strongly recommend that others carefully review his work and ensure clear communication before committing. Also, he admitted to me that he has been drunk while doing other clients work in the past and had alcohol at his station in the shop. That begs the question if he was drunk while doing mine.

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    Boston Barber & Tattoo Co.

    Boston Barber & Tattoo Co.

    4.5(341 reviews)
    2.1 miNorth End
    $$
    Available by appointment
    Locally owned & operated

    So first things first, I made an appointment to come get a tattoo back in April for October I…read morethink. I had to reschedule twice because I was starting a new job and didn't have the money. Idiot me. I think at the beginning of November I called to make an appointment for November 22nd and this time I stuck with it. I went on Saturday at 2 pm and had my appointment with Tiffany. What an amazing experience it was. First off the logo is catchy as fuck. The shop is small but also really good size. The receptionist was quite pleasant. Then I met my artist Tiffany. So gosh darn talented. I was originally going to get 4 words but instead got 2. I wanted a really cool design for the words so I was doing some research and Tiffany had some cool cursive font on her instagram that I think would pop out. She worked with me on the size of the tattoo and the color and everything. Then it came time for the tattoo. I was so nervous but she gave me a pillow to lay my head on and that helped and then she went to work. She chatted with me through the whole thing and she took her time to. The chatting helped to distract me from the uncomfortableness of the tattoo. They also were very good with letting me know about aftercare instructions which was huge. Btw Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban was playing when I went in which was amazing. Honestly everything went amazing. It was such a welcoming place. Will be back for future tattoos. Thank you Boston barber tattoos and the owner for making this a welcoming place. You have earned a new client. Now to try out the barber side of this establishment!!

    Got a haircut from Sara and she was amazing! She was extremely professional, truly cares about her…read morecraft and was very gentle with the cut. I highly recommend getting a haircut from her because she understood exactly what I wanted and executed it with precision.

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    Empire Tattoo - tattoo - Updated May 2026

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