My wife and I adore Kaiti. She is extremely gentle, quick, and knowledgeable. She tries to make the experience as painless as possible. She is also very thorough in letting you know what she is doing and providing information regarding after care. All of this to say we absolutely would recommend The Ink Spot!! read more

My brother and I both got tattoos a couple of years ago when we were in town for the weekend. We made an appointment last minute and they were able to fit us in. I would highly suggest making an appointment well beforehand, however, as some artists are booked solid for weeks. My brother needed to get a couple designed and I wanted to get a cover up. We had an idea of what we wanted, but we didn't have an exact picture. Rob was our tattoo artist and he gave my brother a bunch of books to get some ideas. My brother wanted to get two dragons, one on each calf, and chose a picture from one of the books. Rob suggested that he design another dragon based on the original picture, one to compliment the other, facing the other way. The design was fantastic and the tattoo was even better! It was incredibly detailed, shading and all. It only took just under 3 hours for the two, black and white tattoos, including design time. My cover up was also amazing. I had a black and white tiger done with a bit of orange on my right shoulder blade. The size and shading was done perfectly to completely conceal what I had, and Rob made sure I was always relaxed and comfortable the whole time. I'm pretty sure I even fell asleep for a little while during the tattooing! The atmosphere is very casual and has an alternative, skater type of feel. They had metal playing when my brother was getting his tattoos, and the Beatles during mine. Some of the tattoo artists also have their own art and canvases for sale in the shop, so it's great to take a look around. All of the guys are so nice and even if you're lying on a bed with another stranger being tattooed next to you, you still feel like you're just hanging out with some friends. The pricing is very reasonable, but if you ask me, they should be charging a lot more since their artists are incredibly talented and have even won awards for their tattoos. read more

Ink Spot - Cover up - Tattoo Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Update (Response to shop owner's comment): I guess I will add my response to Shawn here since they do not allow follow up comments: Yelp is all about customers giving their honest opinion. You can't get offended because I didn't like your shop. I explained in my review that maybe I was just not aware of tattoo prices in recent times. I am still entitiled to give my opinion. That is what Yelp is all about. You claim the artist redrew the tattoo twice? I don't know who he drew it twice for. He drew it ONCE and then made changes to it on my skin. I have the right to mention that in my review. AGAIN, that is what YELP is all about. I do plan on bringing my business somewhere else. No need to come on Yelp and tell reviewers that. If you don't want people to give their honest opinions on Yelp then maybe you shouldn't come read them. Sadly not everyone is going to be happy with your business. It is life. You could have just explained the price breakdown and I would have edited my review to thank you for explaining it. However, you came on here defensive and rude. The "sweet" girl you claim was drawing, she was actually on her phone. Maybe you are remembering what you want to remember. The artist should have told me the $10 was tax, that would have saved a lot of trouble. I also love how you had nothing to say about me having to ask about aftercare. ________Review__________ Ok so I emailed them from their website and uploaded a picture of something I had designed. My tattoo request was for a 1.5 inch in length tattoo, super tiny in my wrist and I was quoted $80-$100. I ended up getting it SMALLER and I paid MORE! Lol go figure. Maybe it has been way too long since my last tat but I paid $125 for my last one which was about 10x the size! What I honestly think was that they thought this was my first time around and they figured I wouldn't know I was over charged. This is my 6th tattoo. All mine before were done in NYC so I KNOW when i'm being over charged. Sadly it was already too late. I would have been ok if he stuck with $80 but don't go and charge me more when I got less work than originally planned. Anyway, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that MAYBE tat prices have gone up in the last 6 years. Or maybe Ottawa is just too small and there aren't enough tattoo shops so they have the luxury of charging that much! Maybe I just don't understand the prices. Ok so you have to go in person to make an appointment plus leave a deposit. For me it was pretty Inconvenient having to go in person. Maybe accept payments through PayPal online and book appointments that way so people don't have to drag themselves downtown twice just for a tiny tat. Ok next, when I went to make the appointment the person that was there was a super rude chick. I wasn't even worthy of her stopping what she was doing to look at me and answer my question. Anyway... Maybe that Is their style. Not cool. Next - they make you sign a 2 page waiver that basically says they are free of any liability EVEN IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE. So in other words they could totally fudge up your body and they just walk away clean. Not to mention you have to pay their legal fees If you sue them! Lol Oh what is even funnier??? They make you sign that you were given all the care instructions etc right??? I finish my tattoo and the artist doesn't even ask me if I know how to take care of a tattoo. I had to ask for a refresher on how to take care of it. I mean it's been 6 years after all. Anyway - I will not be returning for my next 2 tattoos and that is a shame for them because my next piece is going to be my entire hip side and flank area. To bad they lost my business. They just aren't friendly. I'm sorry but if someone is putting needle to my body and over charging me for it they might as well be nice to me right? Nate was my artist and while he was very welcoming to me making changes to the design. I didn't like that he didn't even offer to redraw my 1 inch tattoo. Like it would have taken him 5 secs. Anyway, it still came out great but how can you really mess this up? I am giving it 1 star just because my experience was BAD! The work was good but again I didn't get anything too elaborate. OHHH and he asked me what I was quoted then charged me 10$ more dollars after I had already left a deposit. What I thought would cover the tattoo. I paid $90+ almost $100 for a tattoo that to me was not worth that much. He took maybe 10 mins to tattoo me. read more

Got some work done here awhile ago, it turned out well and very happy with it.

The Ink Spot is an established tattoo shop on Bank St. that has been around for 13 years. The shop is small, but it is very clean and recently went through a renovation earlier this year. It is a little far from the downtown core, but that is part of the charm. I do not see The Ink Spot as a "street shop", like the shops that you see on Rideau St.. The Ink Spot has a regular and loyal clientele that keep returning, myself included. I have been getting tattooed exclusively at The Ink Spot for about 2 years now. I have been tattooed by Shawn, Pierre, and Greg. I have also been pierced a couple of times by Chris. Everyone at the shop are super professional and courteous. I highly recommend The Ink Spot to anyone in the Ottawa area looking to get inked! You will not be disappointed! read more

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Great shop with great staff. Archy not only gave me a killer tattoo yesterday, he took my idea and made it better.

Was a nice shop. I'm not sure of the other artists but I had Stephanie... It was over a year ago and the tattoo still gets itchy and swollen. It's a result of an artist with a heavy hand. The fading is botched and I'm embarrassed when people take a closer look at my tattoo. Also, she increased the price for the second session without warning. I've never had such a bad experience for a tattoo. I'm not sure about the rest of the shop as I've only had a tattoo from this particular artist. I paid $980 (including a $40 tip) for a tattoo I get embarrassed about. I also reached out approx. 4 months later for touch ups (because it took so long to heal) and she refused. Like I said, I'm not sure about the other artists but I would highly recommend to avoid getting one from Stephanie 'Smash'. read more

Went back for another piece and am super thrilled with Shawn's work! 5 stars for quality, service, cleanliness, price, etc. read more

Ink Spot - Lascaux cave painting horse by Shawn. - Tattoo Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Went in to get a helix piercing done with a friend yesterday and spoke to 3 different people all of whom were very nice! As soon as we walked in the place looked and SMELLED so clean. My friend and I were nervous and acting stupid and we still received respect and kindness (and some caution - I look way younger than my actual age; they seem cautious about piercing people under age which I think looks pretty good on them). The piercer - I don't remember their name - was very friendly and helpful. The piercing itself was quick and easy and not at all as painful as I expected. My friend had the same experience. Will definitely be coming back! read more

The following email was sent to the shop owner: Dear Mr. Carrier I went to your shop, to get a septum piercing and had less than a positive experience. Roxie, without any communication had me lying down and the clamp on my septum. The needle went through with a second of sharp pain similar to any piercing I have had in the past. Roxie then said "it is through, I just have screw on the bead" following this there was the most excruciating pain I have felt. She proceeded to violently manipulate the jewelry in my freshly pierced septum. I said several times "that is really really painful, what are you doing?". She replied "yes this is going to hurt". I was bewildered because screwing on one bead should not leave me with tears streaming down my cheeks. I allowed her to continue to forcefully manipulate the jewelry painfully for several minutes after which I could not take the pain anymore and said "STOP! What are you doing? Is there a problem? Roxie replied "there is no problem I am putting the jewelry through". I physically pushed her hands away from my face and looked in the mirror. The jewelry was not in my septum but in her hand. She had lost the connection when the needled pasted through and then proceeded to lie to me that the jewelry was through and all she was doing was tightening bead where in reality she was forcefully trying to hide her mistake and was ramming the blunt horseshoe through the freshly pierced hole without success and causing me undue pain. Once I caught her error she was forced to move on and proceeded to use a taper and once again lost the connection and the jewelry was not through the piercing. I asked her several times "what is the problem?" She had no response, no apology and made no effort to rectify her mistake and diffuse a now escalating unhappy customer. By this time I had lost all confidence in Roxie's capabilities and told Roxie I was leaving. I requested to discuss my negative experience with the manager. Roxie said yes I will meet you at the front. I walked to the front, Roxie did not follow. Roxie never did come to the front to speak with me but instead stayed hidden in her piercing room. It was only after I demanded the manager's first and last name did the receptionist provide it. I then asked for Roxie's full name and the receptionists rolled her eyes and said "no, you don't get her last name". Immediately following this I went to Living Color and their piercer looked at my septum, said it was hamburger meat and recommended a period of healing before attempting another septum piercing. This incident is very distressing in part because it appears that your pierce Roxie is incompetent. It is my understanding that she has been piercing for over eight years and this leads me to believe she does not lack experience but lacks motivation and effort to provide the customer with a high quality experience and final product. Equally disturbing is the manner in which your employees conducted themselves. Roxie should have been honest and forthcoming when there was an error and that she had lost the connection during the piercing (because after all, mistakes do happen). She could have taken control of the situation, informed my that she would proceed with a taper to insert the jewelry, apologized and diffused the situation immediately. Instead she lied and attempted to deceived the customer while causing unnecessary pain and tissue mutilation by forcing blunt jewelry through a closed hole. I have submitted a compliant with Ottawa's Health Inspection Board outlining this entire incident as well I will be submitting this story to the Ottawa Citizen. You will also find my review online. I hope that your employees can learn from this incident. read more

I got my thigh piece done about 2 years ago by the wonderful Nate Silverii (that unfortunately doesn't work here anymore). I had such a great experience for my first tattoo. Nate took the time to walk me through the process and answer all of my questions. He was extremely sweet and made sure I was comfortable before starting and throughout the process of the tattoo. My thigh piece is still my favourite tattoo, and I recommend this shop to everyone! Such a professional and all around nice environment. I'll absolutely be going back! read more

What an amazing experience. Pierre did a FANTASTIC job. Everyone at the shop is extremely professional, friendly, and courteous. Pierre does great tattoo work, I gave him a base idea, and he ran with it to place I couldn't have imagined myself. The place was very clean, and the entire staff was extremely knowledgeable of their crafts. Thank you again, and I can't wait to go back for more. read more

The woman didn't read the e-mail describing the tattoo or the placement and didn't start the drawing until I got there for the appointment which is not a big deal but still not very professional. What irked me was after she asked about the orientation of the stencil and I told her the correct orientation she put it on my back upside down.. Couldn't see it being done and didn't realize until it was over so I currently have an upside down tattoo that I'm looking into getting covered. Can't speak for all the artists, I'm sure they do great work but I'm not coming back and won't recommend the shop. read more

I needed to get my ears re-pierced. And we were driving by. I checked out their website and the place looked great. I didn't have an appointment. They were knowledgeable and professional. And experienced !!! And yes clean!!!!!!! Dan was the one who pierced my ears. So friendly so thoughtful. Listened to what I wanted and answered all my questions. Would definitely recommend going here for any of your piercing needs !! Dan is the Man! read more

My friend and I went to the shop to get a tattoo. The staff were very welcoming and made us feel at ease. This was my second time at the shop. Pierre was our tattoo artist at the time. I gave him a baseline picture for him to work from. He really listened to what I wanted and made his recommendations on how he felt it would look better. It turned out amazing and have no regrets whatsoever. Getting ready for my next tattoo and was looking on their website, to find out that Pierre is no longer there. Very disappointing. Now what is a girl to do? Desperately search to find out where Pierre went? Or get work done by another artist in the coolest place in the city? read more