Awesome experience from start to finish. I have several tattoos but I haven't had any done in over 10 years. I found Kitty's work through some vegan groups and was impressed by her passion for animal rights and her beautiful art. I reached out to her through Instagram and gave her a few ideas to work with and she sent me an outline to look at. She took the time to make sure I was happy with all of the details. My tattoo came out amazing and I can't wait to return. My sister got some sparkles tattooed on a whim and is now planning a follow up visit for a new piece as well. The shop itself has such a relaxed vibe and every person I encountered there was welcoming and chill. Kitty is a kind and amazing human being and I highly recommend her work and Sacred Rose! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo for Jess - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

Me & some friends came here for one of their Friday the 13th deals. The whole atmosphere is so chill & inviting. The offered us water, coffee or tea while we waited. Kitty who did my tattoos was so friendly & sweet! She made the whole experience very comfortable. I can't wait to go back & get more. read more

I had the pleasure of having a tattoo done by Kristina today. It was an amazing experience. My tattoo is everything I could've wanted. This tattoo was painless. Kristina is so gentle. I would like to add though I met another lady there and the owner and they were amazing as well. Very, very clean and comfortable environment. I will definitely be going back and I have already told several friends and family members this is the place to get a tattoo. Loved everything about it. Thank you ladies. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ellen did this lovely portrait of my dog on me. I love it :) I really enjoy getting tattooed with her in general. She has a heating pad on the table so it's extra comfortable to lay there and be tattooed. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My daughter found this WOMAN OWNED shop and invited me along to get tattoos on Friday the 13th. We've gotten 2 tattoos so far and will get another the next Friday the 13th in June. Kitty was our artist both times and she was great along with the other people who helped us. Everyone was pleasant and helpful. Overall the vibe here is peaceful, welcoming and awesome. GO HERE! read more

I love kitty! This shop is very clean, professional and very friendly offering water/tea while waiting. Back in September I was out that way for work & really wanted a Friday the 13th tattoo. I invited my mom & we found this woman owned tattoo shop. We both got baby ghost. The second time back was this past December (Friday the 13th). Kitty is such a sweet beautiful soul who recognized us by our ghost tattoos & we were excited she had time to see us both again. She is extremely light handed, thorough & frequently checks in. Highly recommend as I will continue to go back to see her! read more

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Kristina is phenomenal! Her work is exquisite. Found her on insta. Love her work and her skills are off the charts. She's done two larger pieces for me and we'll be back for more read more

I had a friend who was my tattoo artist for 10 years. She passed away, and when I was inspired to get a new tattoo I stumbled on Kitty. I had a plan to get a brand new tattoo but once I saw her work, I asked if she wanted to fix one that I got 25 years ago. Kitty was kind, sweet, professional and responsive as I explored my options. We did our first session today, and I am beyond thrilled. She blew me away with her light touch, her kindness, and was incredibly thoughtful when I started crying about the state of the world. When I saw the finished masterpiece I was dumbfounded. I can't believe it's the same tattoo!!!! I made another appointment so we can start on my next tattoo. Everyone was super nice, and I loved the vibe and space. If you're looking for amazing flowers and animals, look no further. Thank you again for bringing me so much joy, in such a dark time. Now if Yelp would just upload the photo of your masterpiece I'd be happy. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Sad original tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is probably the most overdue review I've ever written. I've been coming to Sacred Rose for over a decade and have gotten tattoos with a few different artists, but most notably I've gotten probably a third of my body if not more tattooed by the shop owner Karen Roze. Karen is both a supremely talented tattoo artist with decades of experience and also an incredible human being. Our conversations have spanned many topics and have been one of the reasons I don't notice the pain of sitting through multiple 4+ hour sessions for my large tattoos. She is truly an artist when it comes to color and when I give her a vague idea of what I want, she comes back to me with a beautifully drawn piece that is always much better than I had envisioned. I trust her judgment completely and it shows! The shop itself is super clean and the walls are covered in art. The location is great and as far as Berkeley is concerned, it's not that hard to find parking. I can't rave about this shop and Karen enough. If you want a big tattoo and can get an appointment with her, do it! You absolutely won't regret it. read more

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Awesome place, don't know if it could be any awesomer! Been going to this place since it used to be on University closer to campus. Chill vibe and super nice folks. Absolutely love working with Joy Shannon when she comes into town. Service is always top notch. Will definitely be back. A+++ read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Joy's amazing work - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great place , very cool & great vibe ! Service was great ! Claud great work on my piece ! So coming back if I'm ever back in town ! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

I recently had a tattoo by Kristina and she was fabulous. I could tell she took her time and did the best job possible on my turtle tattoo and it came out great I even changed it partway through and she was very gracious. I highly recommend her. She also does portraits in oil and I'm thinking of getting one of those done. read more

Kitty is incredible! she is always gentle, considerate, and makes beautiful detailed artwork. The shop is a chill vibe, woman owned and relaxed. read more

I love Sacred Rose :) I've had the honor of getting tattooed with Karen, Ceci, Louis, Dobos, Javi, and Mynt! Everyone who I meet there is so kind and their tattoo work is amazing. The front desk person, Leigh always offers clients tea, coffee, and water. It's the most hospitable tattoo shop I've ever been to :). I really enjoy tattooing there and also being tattooed there read more

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My first experience at Sacred Rose was in August of 2023. Kitty Jones was the talented artist that I worked with. Kitty has a unique knack for drawing animals in ways that truly capture their essence. This is why I chose to work with her. Kitty was very responsive to my emails and asked the right questions to get ideas of what I wanted. She promptly sent over drafts, and we went from there. On the day-of, I arrived a bit early, and Kitty was fully prepared. During the tattooing, she was kind, making sure that I was fully comfortable, and incredibly careful with detail (as you can see). Kitty understands tattooing. She gets it from both the artist's and recipient's perspectives. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Inside of my right forearm - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had been planning on adding to my butterfly tattoo for quite a while but wasn't sure where to go. Many people offered suggestions until my friend mentioned a woman owned tattoo parlour. As soon as I heard about Sacred Rose Tattoo, I knew it was the place for me. I emailed photos of what I wanted, Martin made sure that he was clear about my choice then he got right to it. It did take longer than I expected but that was just because Martin wanted me to be happy with the end result. And I was! I'll definitely be returning to Sacred Rose Tattoo! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Final product - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I had an amazing experience with a tattoo artist named Kitty Jones at Sacred Rose!!! I brought my son in on his 18th birthday to get four tattoos on his arm. Kitty not only designed incredible pieces for him, but helped him figure out the perfect spacing. Her work is beautiful!!! She pays attention to detail, which I appreciate very much given the permanence of tattoos. Kitty is creative and patient. She checked in with my son to get his input every step of the way and to make sure he was comfortable. I'm so impressed by Kitty's talent and her professionalism. My son is thrilled with all four of his tattoos and he gets compliments about them all the time. Thank you Kitty!!! read more

I too love Sacred Rose and recommend it as I have visited all 3 locations past and present in Berkeley. Gaytha is fun and professional and does a fantastic job !!! in all the needed tattoo elements of artistic creation of my vision, fitting it to the anatomy, recommendations of color, sanitation of the space, client care, and having a great rapport while doing it. She has done a lot of work for me over the years and I highly recommend her. I have gotten to meet Karen Rose and Ellen too, who are amazing. Loyal customer here sharing the enthusiasm with you. read more

I highly recommend getting a tattoo here, the atmosphere was super chill and more inviting then most tattoo shops. I got my tattoo done by Mynt and the entire process was so stress free and I'm so happy with how everything came out! Her booking process was the easiest and her design came out exactly how I envisioned. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Mystical Wizard ‍ - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

The place gives a super chill, no judgment vibe. Mondo was my artist and he was awesome. Talked to me and the friend who came with me for support. Knew where I wanted the tattoo was going to be painful and was totally cool with my colorful language . Did beautiful work. read more

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Where do I even start? This place is above and beyond. I walked in without an appointment and they were able to take me right away! I explained what I was looking for and my artist took the patience and time to make sure she gave me what I wanted! She was very comforting and friendly, especially for my first tattoo. She made me feel welcomed and calmed. I also had a great conversation with the owner and felt very well respected by her. The pricing is also very reasonable. For any future tattoos I plan on getting, I'm definitely coming here. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - My nieces name I got tattooed on me. - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sacred Rose Tattoo is FABULOUS. I've been inked at several parlors, but this is my favorite. Martin del Camino and Karen Roze are the two artists I've worked with there, and they're both really talented. And the whole staff/artist team there is chill and fun. Highly recommend! read more

Mynt!!!! She's an apprentice & I have gotten two custom tattoos from her, & let me tell you, I was nothing but in love with it them. First one was for my love of plants on my thigh, and second one was an ode to my Vietnamese-American culture on my shin. During both sessions, Mynt made sure I was comfortable & hydrated. I genuinely felt like my time and my ideas were valued by this individual. Not to mention, the work came out gorgeous. Thanks for bringing pieces of my ideas to life through your artistic twist. Yes, I will be back, and maybe sooner to take advantage of Mynt's apprentice price --- while I can! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Shin tattoo by Mynt Ortega - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great artists, clean establishment, fun vib. Some of the most talented artists I've ever seen. If you want a tat & are in the area, check it out! read more

I went in to the shop hoping to get a tattoo in memory of my mom who I lost going on 6 years next week. The lady who took care of me said she was an apprentice, but by looking at my tattoo I wouldn't have guessed. She did a wonderful Job made me feel comfortable and always asked me what my thoughts were. I just love my new tattoo and so does my family. Can't thank you enough. read more

Went here to get my first ever tattoo. The gal who greeted me was professional and informative. We discussed my ideas and set me up for an appointment with the owner, Karen. I was impressed as my tattoo was relatively simple. The $100 deposit is reasonable to hold the appointment. She did a fantastic job! She was friendly and answered all the questions this newbie had. The shop was clean and professional. Update: got my second tattoo from Karen last week and I love it. I really appreciated her artistic help as I just said that I wanted it to look cool. The shop has a new location on San Pablo, but the service remains top notch. Sincerely, The Girl With The Honu Tattoo. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Paul is a true artist. Brought my vision to life and completely exceeded my expectations. The details blew my mind and the subtle tones just made the artwork a masterpiece. I plan on going back to him for all future work and would recommend him and his designs to anybody. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Before the days of Yelp this was one of the most talked about shops. I came in and found the place clean and the staff to be polite, even to novices like me. I met with the owner Karen Roze and talked her thru what I wanted. I selected her because of the work featured on her website and it fit the style I was looking for (Celtic knots). 'd been planning my tattoo for a while, as I wanted something to remind me of my mom who passed away a few years prior. I discussed the meaning of the artwork I wanted, and she took the time to listen which I though was way cool because she could have totally not wasted her time. She was professional and took the time to meet with me even tho I wasn't paying her. We looked at some Celtic books and in the next week she drew a design that met my requests. She then drew it for me in various sizes before we set the appointment. At my appointment she was very patient and kind. She gave me candy because she read an article about how sugar in the bloodstream helps people tolerate pain. She applied the tattoo for placement asking me questions about the size and location before beginning. It didn't take too long and only cost about $180 which is what I was prepared to pay having done research. I would highly recommend Karen and her shop! I added a picture of my tattoo to the pics for this business (mines the butterfly) hope you like it! It's simple, but it's been 2 years and i still love it! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have a large tattoo that folds over my chest and onto my arm. I came to Karen with an idea of what we wanted, and it became an incredible collaboration. She understood what the tattoo meant and how I wanted it to look, and transformed it into incredible permanent art. Years later, I decided to expand on the tattoo, and despite the time since the last meeting, the tattoo now feels like an even more complete piece. Her artistry, kindness, and quality is incredible. I can't recommend this shop enough. read more

Beautiful studio, very welcoming place where you can find kind and talented people to do your tattoo

I saw Paul Taylor when I was living in the Bay area. At that time, the shop was in the Mission. After doing a lot of research, I chose Sacred Rose due to positive feedback and Paul because I liked his written mission statment as an artist. If I'd been smart and had listened to my gut after meeting him in person, though, I would have left after he kept me waiting for over an hour for my consultation. What's that annoying saying? Hindsight is 20/20... Before committing to anything big-tattoo wise-I went to see Paul to have an older tattoo touched up and brightened and to make it look more integrated on my arm with the addition of some background work. I brought a picture of the original tattoo, a picture of another tattoo I was considering (a koi) as well as some samples of the kind of ink work I liked. After the hour plus wait to see Paul, he was not apologetic or even remotely friendly. Rather he was defensive, argumentative, arrogant and condescending. When I showed him the koi picture, he said it was 'too small' for him to do and maybe I should 'see Karen for that.' I asked if he was saying he did not want to work with me. His response was, "I'm an artist and people don't know how to talk to artists!" I said I simply wanted to know if he preferred that I see someone else in the shop. He said he wasn't saying that and he added that he would do the touch up work on my existing tattoo but then said it was 'too small' and 'we never do anything that small here.' The 'too small' tattoo on my arm that he was referring to was about the length and breadth of a large man's hand... This was not a miniscule butterfly or tiny little symbol. It had taken the original tattoo artist at another studio over 3 hours to produce and had that artist still been in San Francisco, I would have gone back to him. Paul drew up a sketch of his proposed additions to my tattoo, asked me for a non-refundable $100 deposit and we scheduled an appointment. The whole exchange was extremely off putting and unpleasant. Again, in hindsight, I should have just gone elsewhere so part of the blame rests with me for scheduling after the belittlement and poor tratment. My boyfriend at the time urged me not to go back, but as I had already put down the deposit that I'd have to forfeit, I said 'maybe it's just me and I am expecting too much hand holding.' Karl just shook his head and told me I was simply stupid. When I went back 2 weeks later to have the work done, I was a bit early for my appointment with Paul. No one greeted me. I sat and sat. It appeared that Paul was working on someone else so I figured he was running behind though no one bothered to ask my name or give me an update or ETA. Paul finished with his other client and I caught his eye and waved. It was very obvious that he had no idea who I was but he came over. I greeted him, identified myself and reminded him that I was his 4 p.m. client. He still looked at me blankly but had me come back. When I got to his area, he told me to take my jacket and shirt off and lie across two chairs. WTF?! I asked why, since he would be working on my right upper arm. He still looked clueless so I reminded him of what we had discussed doing and told him he had done a sketch for me 2 weeks ago. He started going through his paperwork and reminded me that he did not do any work without a deposit. I reminded him right back that I did give him a deposit and refreshed him on our meeting. I also repeated his comment about people not knowing how to talk to him as an artist. He grinned at that and then said he remembered me. He still had not located the sketch or the cash deposit I'd given him but started the work anyway. I've had tattoos before so there was nothing painful or offputting about this time. Paul was not rough. He seemed slightly more congenial, checking in with me from time to time to see if I needed a break but he was still not partcularly pleasant or friendly. About halfway through, he stopped working and began to look through his papers again. He found my cash deposit and the design sketch he'd previously made. He then admitted that what he was currently tattooing was 'not exactly' what we'd decided on. So what was I supposed to do at that point?! I didn't say anything other than, "Just finish what you started." He did and I paid the balance but did not tip. As I was getting ready to go, he said he'd noticed me looking at his other work on the wall and added if I'd seen any designs I particularly liked, he would customise one for me when I came to see him for my next tattoo. I said nothing but thought he was delusional to believe I'd ever have any dealings with him again. A few years ago, I had the additons he'd done removed by laser. It was a relief to have those 2 negative encounters finally and permanently off my flesh and pretty much out of my psyche. read more

Love this place, which has never steered me wrong. I've worked with 3 tattooists on ~10 different tats over the course of 2022, and each experience has been very positive. It helps that the shop is owned & led by a badass in Karen Roze, an artist with high standards and a chill vibe. I highly recommend. read more

If you're searching for an artist who does amazingly realistic anatomical tattoos, check out Mondo at Sacred Rose. We gave Mondo a very simple design for a human brain, no shading and no details other than simple lines, and Mondo took the design and made it look incredible. The tattoo looks incredibly realistic. Mondo likes to talk, which is great because he is really intelligent and can have a conversation about anything. He's also not only a very talented tattoo artist, he's an amazing painter as well. If you're searching the market who does amazingly realistic tattoos, check out Mondo at Sacred Rose. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - amazing brain done by Mondo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had been thinking about getting a tattoo for the past 3 years. I did a lot of research and tried talking to several tattoo artists but something never clicked. I went through yelp and came to know about "The Sacred Tattoo".I came into the shop and met Mondo who was just amazing. I showed him the picture i wanted as my tattoo and right away i knew he was the one. He gave me an appointment and than we started . He had some really steady hands and we had some really cool discussion throughout the procedure. The people working at the place was really friendly and the atmosphere was really relaxing. So i have got a total of 2 inks done by Mondo and he was just amazing . I hope to get back soon. read more

I am a Disney Art Director - I have been working in the art space for the last 20 years. (I am super critical about my art work.) That said, when I went to get my tattoo, I chose Karen Roze because she is simply the supermostbestest. If I could give Karen 100 stars I would. I came in with a drawing of a cat (Hobbes) that my 4 year old son drew. She jokingly said it would make an amazing back piece, and then scaled it down to fit on my forearm. Love her sense of humor. She painstakingly recreated his drawing on my arm. She captured all the little precious line wobbles PERFECTLY. It looks like he drew it directly on my arm with a Crayola marker. It's the happiest thing I have ever seen. Karen is a true artist. If you are looking to get a tattoo, look no further, Sacred Rose is the place to go. read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Karen Roze is the BOMB!! She took my 4 year old son's drawing and tattooed it on my arm. It was a perfect match to the his original drawing - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

This review is for GAYTHA. I got my 4th work of art from her yesterday, I am so happy with it. She listens and understands yet guides in the right direction to achieve ultimate results. Her work is beautiful and badass. We talk and catch up or just vibe out during sessions. I feel confident and empowered with my new breast tattoos!!Finally free from scars and lost pigment. "Thank you" really isn't enough Gaytha! You're the best! read more

I got my first tattoo at Sacred Rose yesterday and highly recommend. Gaytha was my artist and she's incredibly talented, quick and charged me a very fair price for beautiful work. She was also great to talk to and, overall, my tattoo experience was so great. I will only get my tattoos from her, so long as she'll have me! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California

Gaytha is amazing. She was able to transform my older, not so amazing tattoos into works of art. Very talented, professional, thoughtful and kind. Highly highly recommend. read more

'Sacred Rose' was my first Tattoo Parlor/Salon I have went to. I just happened to go in with my Sister for my special 19th Birthday! And as I went in, it was an aberration as soon as I stepped through the doors. I was surrounded by talented professionals who produced GREAT quality work. I got a Mickey Mouse tattoo on my left leg, and I think it was Trey who had helped me (which looked like Peter Pan in my opinion), he was very easy to work with. He exactly knew what I was talking about. The people inside were so comfortable and homey with each other that it created this safe aura. They produced great vibes and great customer service. I highly recommend this place. They're wonderful, blithe, and chimerical. I truly enjoyed my time and process of my tattoo! 5 STARS AND TWO THUMBS UP! Thank you again, Sacred Rose! :) read more

One of the best tattoo shops in the Bay Area. I don't pretend to know a bunch about getting inked, this was my second tattoo.....But Mark Bode was great as an artist, and making me comfortable through the process! I'm so proud of the tattoo he gave me! Great place, cool staff, it just rocked! read more

Sacred Rose Tattoo - Getting some ink by Mark Bode! - Tattoo Near Me - Berkeley, California