I had a great time at Red Rocket. I work in Midtown west and had been itching for this tattoo for a while, so I thought I'd bite the bullet and get it done on my lunch break. I went in one day to ask some questions and check out the place and found it clean, organized, and a very cool vibe. I couldn't book an appointment since I didn't know what time I'd have to show up the next day for my tattoo, but that was no problem. They were happy to note that I would be a walk in the next day. I worked with Rodrigo, who was nice, funny, and gentle. He presented me with three different options and I went with the largest. He worked quickly but gently (which I appreciated as it was on my neck) and was very thorough. I'd 100% go back to Red Rocket. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Came in as a walk in, was in town for Harry Styles. Wanted a tattoo done, waited less than a hour. Everyone was super nice and helpful. Great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend. read more

I proudly recommend this business when you need a tattoo artist in NYC. I did extensive research using reviews, pictures for cleanliness and organization, and artist talent and attention to details. I have chosen Mike Bellamy here at Red Rocket twice and have been quite happy both times. Mike brought my daughter's vision to life and created an epic tattoo that I will wear proudly. His price per piece is fair. Cash only. Make sure to tip in cash as he is a stellar talent. Go a little further than Times Square for some experienced artistry. You'll be satisfied and quite happy. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - First tattoo. Got matching with my daughter. - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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This is my second visit with Andres Flu and once again he killed it! Got a realism bat hanging in a cave this round and the work is amazing! It looks like you could walk into the cave. I am always impressed with Andres' work and will continue to have him do my future work. Each of my family members have gotten a tattoo in this shop by various artists and each time the work has been top tier. The atmosphere is welcoming and they all love what they do. The location is blocks away from Bryant Park, so plenty for friends and family to to while you are under the needle as well. I also had another piece done from a stone carving and the work actually looks like stone! I honestly can't say enough great things about him! I will absolutely be a customer for life! read more

I love this place! I first considered another tattoo shop on the same block, but they quoted me an outrageous amount. I got 2 tattoos at Red Rocket and they were reasonably priced, the staff is very helpful and kind, and the overall vibe of the shop is super cool. I would recommend Rodrigo, his art is amazing. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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This was my second time coming into the shop, (aside from vibe itself and the how the place looked) I instantly felt welcomed. I made an appointment with Matt Brodnax almost a week ago, sending him ideas of a tattoo I wanted. He responded promptly and we agreed on a date. The day of my tattoo when I arrived, he seemed very prepared and had already had my ideas printed out. He worked diligently with me on getting the proper placement for my tattoos (since they were matching). He was very professional and respectful. I tend to be quite particular when I get my tattoos done and worked very well with me, not making me feel anything less than good/confident. I will be back for more work! Thank you, Matt and that you, Red Rocket Tattoo! read more

Chris did amazing work for my friend and I! She was so nice and accommodating, and we'll definitely be back again on our next visit to NYC. Our other friend got a tattoo as well with another artist that was just as amazing. Highly recommend Red Rocket Tattoo!! read more

Andres did an amazing ratio for me and I'm forever grateful!! Chris did an excellent tattoo for my husband and we could not be more grateful for the pull from the universe to go with these two amazing tattoos artists!!! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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The process to reserve a spot was easy. Chris Murphy nailed the design in honor of my dad. I would highly recommend her for having a tattoo done! She asked all the right questions and i am getting so many compliments as to how awesome it looks. I cannot wait to come back and get another one by Chris! Thanks Chris!!! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo honoring my late dad - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Clearly I'm hooked! La Piercer is def the best I've had and I've decided to get 2 additional piercings. Went for the 2 lobe piercings for $100 special and did an upper lobe and one between my other 2 lobe piercings. It was def more painful than I imagined and caused my helix to swell a bit, but it's been a few days since and my ears are comfortably back to normal. La Piercer is hygienic, efficient and great at suggesting piercing spots. Will update in a few months once fully healed! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - La Piercer (upper ear piercing) - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Had an amazing experience working with Mike on this tribute for my deceased husband. I had approached Mike with a tangle of ideas and inspo and *emotions*, and he captured it all into an expertly crafted image--extremely symbolic and meaningful to me, and just a simply gorgeous piece of art. I literally could not be happier. The shop itself was clean and inviting with natural light from the many windows (I have been to some rather dungeon-esque shops in the past), and it could not have been easier to get to being located right by Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. Mike was knowledgeable, kind, collaborative, and gave excellent aftercare instruction. The pricing was more than fair and for his level of experience and professionalism I truly expected it to have been more. Also, despite the myriad of skincare at home I purchased the aftercare balm they carry and am delighted by the all natural ingredients, clean scent, smooth texture, and ease of use without turning everything it touches into a grease stain while still providing top notch hydration and protection. Win, win, win. I am very much looking forward to working with Mike in the future, as well as checking out the piercing services also available at NYC's Red Rocket Tattoo! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Outer leg / calf. - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I've been getting tattooed by Mike, the owner/operator for over 25 years. The shop is full of talented artists and his hands down the friendliest tattoo shop I've ever been in. Can't recommend them highly enough. read more

Chris Murphy is the best. My friend and I went to New York City and got our first tattoos and she worked so hard to give us the best experience and we loved it! Highly highly recommend anyone to go see Chris. read more

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Everyone who works there wants you to have a good experience. I randomly came in at around 1pm and was finished by 2. The artist gave me several options for the image and placement. My dad died loving elephants and I got one to remind me of him this 10th anniversary of his passing and I love it. Pricing also is completely reasonable and I recommend you tip your artist fairly because they do care -Rachael read more

Soooo... randomly my friends and I all got tattoos today lol. We did a quick search and saw Red Rocket had good reviews. Service - as soon as we walked in we were helped and easily accommodated, especially because 4 of us were each getting tattoos. Also, they only take cash but don't fear because they have an ATM inside and also a restroom. Artist - all of us had our tattoos done by Shannon and he was amazing. He was patient, accommodating, very talented and chill. We had good conversations throughout the time we each got our tattoos. Location - easy to get to and see the sign. There are a lot of stairs but not too bad, only 2 flights. We would def come back and probably will and Shannon knows he's now our tattoo artist! He's amazing read more

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Highly recommend Gio Lang at Red Rocket! I was a walk-in and he accommodated exactly what I wanted, a black and white humpback whale. His attention to detail was excellent and was so great to work with! I'd definitely go back in the future! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Humpback whale - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I received a tattoo from Vadim Vadik, who I selected as my artist after looking at his work online. It was a complicated negative space tattoo (Pictured) with a lot of shading and small details and he was very quickly able to draw up a design that incorporated all the elements I was excited for, along with his own interpretation which I very much wanted to include. The service and cleanliness of the studio in general was excellent and while I was there for a long time receiving my tattoo, it was absolutely worth it and I'm very happy with it. Vadim is an incredible artist and I would highly recommend this studio. The only note I would add is that unfortunately this studio isn't accessible. It's not something that can be changed with most NYC buildings so I understand it might not be fixable, but there are 2 flights of stairs and no elevator, which was a little difficult for me as a disabled client. Not the studio's fault, but something to keep in mind if you're physically impaired and trying to book at this studio. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

After going to the same tattoo shop for about 10 years, I was so anxious about finding another one that matches up in terms of quality, pricing, and service. I Yelped through quite a few places in the area, and liked what I read about Red Rocket Tattoo. I stopped in a few weeks ago to make an appointment for today. They require a $100 deposit, but conveniently have an ATM on the premises for cash withdrawals. Thank you for not sending me back down two floors to go find an ATM on my own! Greg was my assigned artist. He's very down-to-earth, friendly, and talented. My appointment was taken promptly at 12, and he was able to finish my piece in about an hour, without sacrificing any of the quality. The other thing I really appreciated is that he had the sketch drawn out on the parchment paper and ready to go when I arrived. Many other times that I've gotten inked, I've had to wait upon arrival for the artist to draw out the tattoo and transfer it onto the wax paper. I understand that they do this to get the size and customization exactly right, but it can be SUCH a time-waster depending on the complexity of your tattoo. In past experiences, I've sat for like 45+ mins waiting for the prep to be done. So, I was very pleased with his efficiency. I'll surely be back in the future. I was lucky to choose Red Rocket for my new piece today! read more

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Love this place, got my third tattoo from Matty Tat yesterday. Everyone is extremely friendly and will help you find a tattoo idea if you aren't sure. Will be doing my whole patchwork sleeve there. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

My husband and I did a walk in after speaking over the phone the day before and I couldn't be happier with going here! Everyone was awesome and we will now forever have a souvenir of New York! Definitely recommend this place! read more

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My best friend and i wanted tattoos together. We called to see if they accepted walk ins and they gave us a time frame in which the artists would be free. Luckily when we got there there weren't any other walk ins waiting so we were seen pretty quickly. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Our artist was MAGO and he as extremely kind and sanitary standards were up to par as well. We are OBSESSED with our tattoos ! Magos line work is so clean! Honestly some of the best script Iv seen. We're so grateful we got him as our artist read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Done by mago - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

This place is amazing! I had gotten a tattoo 15 years ago and just hit another milestone so I emailed the team and they got back to me asap! In addition to the tattooist, the entire team just provides such a supportive atmosphere. Very professional and very customer centric! I had a big piece - took 3 hours to finish and the end product was absolutely stunning. I requested dates of my kids' birth year and while I had some idea how they should be embedded, Shannon my tattooist drew an alternative and it looked even better. Shannon was totally supportive of the number of breaks I needed and kept encouraging and pumping me up through the process. Shannon - you are the man! Will definitely send more clients your way! read more

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I'm going to keep it short and simple because if I talk about everything good about this place, it will be longer than my final college paper. Red Rocket Tattoo was such a pleasant tattoo parlor. They're super clean, the studio is comfy and the people? Unforgettable. I'm a super nervous person so you can guess for my tattoo my mind was all over the place. But once I got there, Erica who was my lovely artist, made that all go away. She was super patient and friendly along with her co workers, they didn't make me feel like an oddball just sitting there for three hours getting tattooed. I am in super love with my piece and would recommend this place to anyone. Erica did the damn thing and I would definitely come back to Red Rocket for sure!! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I've had MANY tattoos and this by far was the best experience! Chris is not only super talented, she is funny, patient, and kind. If you are considering a tattoo, especially with friends, hit Chris up!! read more

This shop is awesome. They have outstanding artists who specialize in different styles. Super clean, super professional, and super creative. I highly HIGHLY recommend checking them out. read more

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Could not recommend Red Rocket enough! I came here for my 6th tattoo while I was visiting NYC, and this is by far the best experience I've ever had with an artist, the people at the front desk, and the shop in general. Matty is incredible and took so much time talking to me about what I wanted and what was realistic to do on my arm. It looks so beautiful and colorful, and seriously none of my friends think it's real because of the lack of bold black lines and how delicate it is. If you're wondering where to go, go here! Also, I was a walk-in and I got there right when they opened, and they were able to do my consultation and session all at once! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Checked my bucket list of a female artist with Chris and 4 of my friends! She was so friendly and accommodating. She made sure we were all comfortable and was willing to try a few different designs before committing. If you decide you really need to mark a moment with friends, Red Rooster is the place to call. read more

Update: Came in for tattoo #2 3 weeks ago. Once again, Matt A hooked me up, this time with a tribal band on my lower leg. I LOVE IT. Thanks, Matt. You rock. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Update: On Monday 03/01/2021 the owner of Red Rocket Tattoo and the person who tattooed me when I visited the shop in July 2020, Mike, gave me a call in regards to my review. Mike was very understanding of this review and why I felt it was necessary to address this experience. He was very kind and apologetic about my experience and refunded me the amount I paid for the tattoos. We had a very productive conversation about how the shop is inclusive but should definitely display that in the portfolio. I think it's really important for business owners to look at reviews like this as a way to really take constructive feedback and positively implement some changes. Mike is truly someone who cares for the shop and everyone that comes through there. It's super respectable that Mike reached out to hear me out and address my concerns. Original Review: I'll start with positives: everyone was super nice, I think it was some pretty great pricing ($100 minimum) and i spent $150 on the two tattoos I got. My tattoos were done by the owner, Mike. He was super nice honestly, great conversation, made me feel comfortable while getting the tattoo after having a lot of reservations about it. I think the customer service was really great in that aspect. Shop was clean and Covid safe. That's why I'm giving 2 stars not 1. My issue is how my tattoo came out. This is a very personal tattoo and I really hoped it would come out good and it just really didn't. I don't think they're experienced with tattooing darker skin tones at this shop so I would reconsider this location if you have darker skin complexions. I've attached images of what I asked for vs. what I got (numbers) I've even attached an image of a tattoo (smiley and sad face with x's) I recently got at a black owned tattoo shop with artists who are POC and black experienced in tattooing all kinds of skin complexions. The tattoo I got at red rocket isn't that great and I'm already In the process of designing a cover up and getting my numbers tattoo on my other arm at this black owned tattoo shop because the lines are cleaner and they're clearly more experienced with skin like mine. The tattoo mike did was way too thick and he went way too deep that the numbers end up looking like little blobs now. I also told him my concerns about placement and how I felt it was really slanted and we re placed it a few times. On the 5th replacement (I know that's a lot but I should've seen this as a red flag to just not go thru with it cuz IT IS permanent after all and it's a personal tattoo that I wanted to love) I felt him get a little impatient with me and he assured me it was straight. As you can see in the images, it's very clearly not straight. The other tattoo came out okay. Not terrible just not in love with it. It's covered by a lot of hair now. I think it's quite difficult to cover in its current location (behind the ear) but I think I will most likely cover this one as well and get another one of it at the shop i visited recently. I've attached an image of this one as well (? With three x's). All the pictures from red rocket are healed tattoos I got from them in July 2020. Overall, as a dark skinned black person I cannot recommend this place to black people or POC with darker skin tones. I have seen beautiful work from this place on light/white skin, like really pretty stuff, I just don't think that's possible for dark skin here. I highly recommend you do your research into artists and find some of their work on black/dark skin. Not everyone actually knows how to do it even if they say so. If you would like a referral to the black owned tattoo shop I visited recently please contact me! read more

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Matt was awesome! Took me in as a walk-in, I showed him what I wanted and he went out and drew me his own version of it which I loved. Staff are great and very friendly read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

This shop is still kicking ass, and I trust them with my health. Erica is beyond amazing, and I have always been treated with respect when I come into the shop, before and during the pandemic. These folks are amazing artists and they deserve your business! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Matthew was awesome and very accommodating. We were able to get walk-in tattoos at a downtown NYC parlor. Very happy with their service! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - ADDISON I'm Old English - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I have had three tattoos done by Erica at Red Rocket. Absolutely wonderful experiences each time. Erica is an amazing artist who brought my ideas to live on my sink. Red Rocket is a welcoming open space. My first tattoo there was pre covid and my lost recent during Covid. I felt very safe there with both the mask requirement and the spacing between stations. 5/5 would (and have) recommend! read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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I had been pining over Erica's work for quite sometime while she was in New Orleans. When she came to New York (an easier commute from Ohio) I seized the opportunity to get tattooed by her. When I got to the Red Rocket shop, Erica already had a draft of my design sketched out and it was perfect. I was in the shop close to 6 hours having her complete my half sleeve piece in one day. Everyone at the shop was super nice and friendly and made it comfortable to be there as long as I was. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I have been coming to this shop for years now and I am always really impressed by my two highest priorities while getting a tattoo: firstly, the shop is full of nice and genuine people. Everyone here, and I genuinely mean everyone, is honest and authentic in everything that they do. They really want you to be happy and leave with a great looking tattoo if you're willing to listen to their advice and have an open mind. I am CONSTANTLY getting compliments on all of my tattoos that I've gotten from Erica, but every artist here is immensely talented. No matter what kind of tattoo you're looking for, you'll find someone who can do it here. Secondly, this shop is CLEAN. Even pre-Covid, I was impressed by the sanitation here. I never have to worry about if the autoclave is working, or if my needles are being reused, or if my artist washed their hands - everyone here automatically priorities safety. They've also gone above and beyond with the COVID safety measures. A well-run tattoo shop will be one of the cleanest places you can go to even during a pandemic. Don't forget to tip - it's ROUGH out here right now being an artist and it's still a luxury to be able to afford a tattoo, but Red Rocket is really doing this right and making it a worthwhile experience!! read more

This is the spot. Had received a recommendation from my most senior boss and decided to check it out. I've been wanting a palm tree on my ribs. After scoping out Red Rocket's Instagram and finding Matty's page, I knew his style would be perfect for what I had in mind. Upon arrival, Matty worked with me to get the design perfect and turn my vision into reality. Talk about a pro. This guy gets it. Naturally, was a tad nervous to get this on my rib, but the pain was not as bad as I thought it would be. Matty's customer service is impeccable and his hilarious industry stories/witty banter really made the time pass quickly and the pain seem minimal. Seriously I can't give him enough credit, he's a damn artist. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I've been to Red Rocket three times now and I've enjoyed every experience. My first tattoo here was with Erica Flannes. I had a very specific lady portrait idea in mind and really wanted her to be the one to do it (she is so talented). We emailed each other a few times - she was so professional, courteous, and open to working in the details that I really wanted. When I got to the shop, she was working on finishing the design, so I ended up watching Army of Darkness in the waiting room with Greg Rosenfeld, another artist, who was also very welcoming and chill. Erica showed me the drawing, I instantly fell in love, and she got right to work. It is such a gorgeous piece. She worked very quickly and made sure I felt comfortable. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Ms. Flannes is such a joy and you'd be so lucky to get art from her. My second and third tattoos were done by Matt Adams. I came in wanting a butterfly tattoo, but unsure about the design. I felt kind of sheepish about not knowing exactly what I wanted, but he seemed so excited about coming up with an idea together and it was a great experience. He cares very much for the art, not just for the design itself, but the concept behind it, how it looks on your body, and how it fits in with any other tattoos you have in the area. I've had experiences in other shops where I felt like ideas were pushed on to me while my own were disregarded, but Matt is so open to hearing you out and working together. Both my butterfly and rose/key tattoos came out beautifully. Matt is a warm, funny guy - you will feel so comfortable and heard throughout the whole process with him. Basically, this shop is full of very welcoming, cool people with some serious talent. GET YOUR TATTOO HERE. read more

Mago did so good on my first tattoo, I could not be more happy with this. I will definitely be going to him next time I want a tattoo in NY. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Join or Die snake tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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My 18 year old daughter did her research and selected Matt at Red Rockett. A year later, the 19 year old brought her mom and they both received great work from Matt. While we are in the burbs, make a day of it and go into NYC for the cool vibe and experience. This is no strip mall. Highly recommend. read more

Chris did an amazing job. Very friendly staff and very accommodating. This is my second tattoo at Red Rocket and I will continue coming here. read more

Red Rocket Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York