San Francisco has always been known, along to a certain extent with the entire bay area, as a sort of centralized area in which creative people tend to gather.  Although that trend may have hit its absolute zenith in the late 1960's, San Francisco is still a veritable maelstrom of creative energy.  Today, all of that energy has started to evolve into one of the most unique, talented, cool body art, tattoo, and piercing communities in the nation.  San Francisco area tattoo parlors, for example, host some of the world's premier tattoo artists and, if you can dream it, there's an artist in the area that can ink it onto you.  So, if you're going to San Francisco, instead of wearing flowers in your hair, consider wearing some on your skin.  Out of all the different tattoo parlors, here are some of the best:

-Brain Drops-

1871 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94117-1219
Phone: (415) 922-7246

Brain Drops is, without a doubt, the coolest-named tattoo parlor in the San Francisco area.  Aside from that cool name, though, visitors to this shop can also expect to get some of the best tattoo work in the state of California.  Brain Drops is just an all-around great selection.  The staff is friendly, the designs are unique and impressive, it's clean and comfortable, and the artists handle walk-ins expertly.  Also, if one of the artists at Brain Drops thinks that your custom design needs some work or won't translate well onto your skin, they're willing to work with you in detail to fix the situation.  Everything considered, Brain Drops is probably the best tattoo shop in San Francisco.

-Picture Machine-

5124 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone:

(415) 668-7377


The Picture Machine tattoo parlor has been a San Francisco staple for over three decades now.  In all of those years, this shop has excelled at one thing above all others:  bring in repeat customers.  What does that translate to?  Well, tattoo patrons are notoriously difficult to please.  This is especially true because of the fact that body art is a permanent thing, so when something goes wrong the customer certainly isn't going to be happy.  So, if a tattoo parlor keeps bringing in the same customers time and time again then that must mean they're doing something right.  That's the case with the Picture Machine and it's one of the primary reasons that they earn top-shop honors for their tattoo work.

-Everlasting Tattoo-

813 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117-1505
Phone: (415) 928-6244

Everlasting Tattoo is one of the friendliest, cleanest tattoo parlors that most people can ever hope to see throughout their time on Earth.  The artists are all extraordinarily talented and, wonder of wonders, they set everything up in front of you just so you can witness how fully sanitary and safe the entire operation is.  Also, when it comes to working with a tattoo artist on a custom design, Everlasting Tattoo is definitely a must-visit.  They host some of the most creative artists and they're always willing to go that extra mile to make sure that their customers leave happy.


OTHER NOTABLE CONTENDERS:

-Mom's Body Shop-

1408 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: (415) 864-6667

-Black & Blue Tattoo-

381 Guerrero St
San Francisco, CA 94103-3331
Phone: (415) 626-0770

-Anubis Warpus-

1525 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117-2912
Phone: (415) 431-2218