10 Best Tattoo Shops in Sonoma County
From old-school Sailor Jerry tattoos and fine-line botanicals to minimalist designs and matching body art, these local shops are catering to every kind of ink aficionado.
Buddha's Palm Tattoo and Art Gallery, Sebastopol: Buddha's Palm has been named best tattoo shop for seven consecutive years in the North Bay Bohemian's "Best of the North Bay" readers poll. The studio masters a variety of tattoo styles, including tribal, pinup, surf culture, and fine art. 313 N Main St, Sebastopol. buddhaspalmtattoogallery.com
Tattoo by Christian Nolan at Buddha's Palm Tattoo and Art Gallery in Sebastopol. (Courtesy photo)
Valkyrie Tattoo, Penngrove: Valkyrie Tattoo is a woman-owned studio named for the forceful female figures of Norse mythology. Owner Jennifer Untalan runs her business with feminine force, albeit less intimidating than that of the valkyrie. The artists here are known for mythology-based tattoos, linework, color work and black and gray tattoos. 10002 Main St, Penngrove, valkyrietattoo.com.
Florals on the foot from Annelise Kinney at Valkyrie Tattoo in Penngrove. (Courtesy photo)
Mirror thigh piece by Toni Stirling at Valkyrie Tattoo in Penngrove. (Courtesy photo)
Faith Tattoo, Santa Rosa: This Santa Rosa shop, named after owner Justin Shaw's grandmother, is known for quirky styles, traditional tattoos, linework, and colorful pieces. Justin's tattoos served as an inspiration for the wine labels of Lucky Rock Wine Co., one of our favorite boutique wineries. 600 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, faithtattoo.ca
Lady head by Alex at Faith Tattoo in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
While Faith Tattoo in Santa Rosa is known for tough tattoos they also do softer versions, like this one by Andy Chism. (Courtesy photo)
Tarot Art & Tattoo Gallery, Sonoma: Owned by husband and wife team Shotsie and Kristine Gorman, this quirky shop is part tattoo parlor, part tarot reader, and part art gallery. Shotsie started his ink career in New York City in the late 70s, when tattooing was still illegal. His work features traditional pieces, portraits, and recreations of famous works of art. 17977 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, tarotarttattoo.com
Monkey Wrench Tattoo, Santa Rosa: Monkey Wrench's former owner Joe Leonard came up with the name for his Santa Rosa shop when he was working at a Philadelphia tattoo studio. At this time, tattoo shops were underground businesses and Joe was asked to start writing and painting "monkey wrench" on the studio's exterior walls, lending the impression it was an auto shop rather than a tattoo parlor. When Joe opened his own studio in Santa Rosa in 1995, he kept the name. Wes Andersen currently runs the shop. 1066 4th St, Santa Rosa, monkeywrenchtattooshop.com
Tattoo by Wes Andersen/w_royal at Monkey Wrench Tattoo in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
Small butterfly by Wes Andersen/w_royal at Monkey Wrench Tattoo in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
Electric Monk Tattoo, Cotati: The Electric Monk is a character and plot device in Douglas Adams’s novel Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency; it is a "humanoid robot designed to practice religion in their owners' stead." In the case of this tattoo shop, the name is a nod to owner Mike Hughes’s belief that tattoo artists are in a unique position to hear people’s stories, hold space for them and believe in them, thus creating a lasting work of art. 3355 Santa Rosa Ave Suite B, Santa Rosa, emtattoo.com
Matchless Tattoo, Sebastopol: They say every tattoo is one of a kind – a mantra that has inspired the name of Mike Pritchett's Sebastopol tattoo shop. Mike has been creating art his whole life, and tattoos for the past 18 years. He loves to make tattoos that are full of motion, color and depth. 2371 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol, matchlesstattoo.com.
KO Studio Art and Tattoo, Cloverdale: Ko is the Hawaiian word for sugar cane. The owner of this Sebastopol tattoo studio, Ipolani Bovee, creates art reflecting the sweetness of the shop’s namesake, focusing on florals, fineline pieces, and watercolor tattoos that look like candy. 213 N Main St, Cloverdale, kostudioart1.wixsite.com
Tattoo by Ipolani Bovee of KO Studio Art and Tattoo in Cloverdale. (Courtesy photo)
Tattoo by Ipolani Bovee of KO Studio Art and Tattoo in Cloverdale. (Courtesy photo)
Tattoo by Ipolani Bovee of KO Studio Art and Tattoo in Cloverdale. (Courtesy photo)
Hidden Coast in Sebastopol: Entering this Gravenstein Highway shop feels like walking into a storefront right on the California Coast, which is one of the reasons owner Aaron Hodges named it “Hidden Coast.” The shop encompasses Aaron's love of the ocean, as well as his life as a U.S. Navy veteran, and it is known for its colorful flash art, portraits, and larger pieces. 961 Gravenstein Hwy S Suite 160, Sebastopol, aaronhodgesart.com.
Tatttoo by Aaron Hodges of Hidden Coast in Sebastopol. (Courtesy photo)
Eternal Art Tattoo Gallery, Santa Rosa: This family-owned tattoo shop is aptly named "Eternal Art." The name seems even more fitting considering the tattoo shop was one of many businesses in the Larkfield Center that nearly burned down during the October 2017 Tubbs Fire. Eternal Art specializes in traditional pieces, portraits, flowers, Chicano, Asian, skulls, black and gray, and flash art. 676 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa, myeternalart.com.
Tattoo by Troy Harper at Eternal Art in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
Tattoo by Kayla at Eternal Art in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
Tattoo from Eternal Art in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)
