8 Best Tattoo Artists in Melbourne

Instead of just Googling “tattoo places near me” why not put yourself in the hands of the best tattoo artists in Melbourne like Third Eye Tattoo or Good Luck Tattoo?  Melbourne is renowned for artistic endeavour, and ‘tattoo culture’ is made famous by AFL athletes like Dustin Martin, or back in the day, Dane Swan, it’s part of the inspiring tattoo movement in Melbourne.

Our expert team of editors care about your next ‘permanent’ choice and have compiled an independent list of their favourite tattoo parlours in Melbourne so you don’t end up with something you’ll regret. The city and its surroundings offer dozens of places to choose from, so doing a little research will go a long way to nailing the perfect tattoo. In each of these studios below, you will find a steadfast dedication to precision and craftsmanship, unique and thoughtful design and excellence in execution.

Hours and Prices checked as of August 2026.

Best Tattoo Artists in Melbourne at a Glance

From private studios to walk-in flash, these Melbourne tattoo artists suit every kind of appointment.

• Best overall: Third Eye Tattoo, Fitzroy North. Private artist studios, worldwide artwork and an all-style approach make it equally suited to planned consultations and spontaneous walk-ins.
• Best for Japanese tattooing: Dynamic Tattoo, Richmond. Founder Trevor McStay’s renowned Japanese work shapes the offering, while seven resident artists also cover Americana, black and grey, and colourful imagery.
• Best for walk-ins: Victims of Ink, South Yarra. Custom work sits alongside walk-ins, backed by a warm shop atmosphere, professional staff and stringent hygiene standards.
• Best for women: Hot Copper, Coburg. Its seven female artists and custom-only booking model create a comfortable setting for women planning a considered piece.
• Best for first tattoos: Good Luck Tattoo. An extensive wall collection offers a clear starting point, while artists can help turn a personal idea into a custom design.

Now that you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.

List of Melbourne Tattoo Parlours and Artists

1. Third Eye Tattoo

Tucked away in Melbourne’s Inner North, Third Eye Tattoo houses a few of the industry’s most talented and iconic artists. Each tattooist has their private studio within the parlour, decked out with artwork from around the world to inspire your next piece. This open and welcoming tattoo parlour offers all styles of tattooing and accommodates both walk-ins and consultations.

• Address: 700 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North
• Style: Fine line, realism, black and grey, Japanese, ornamental
• Instagram: @third_eye_tattoo
• Booking: Walk-ins and consultations; enquire via thirdeyetattoo.com.au or call 03 9822 3809

2. Good Luck Tattoo

Good Luck may be the sentiment, but you won’t need it when in the hands of the dedicated artists at this busy tattoo parlour in inner-city Melbourne. Since 2012, Good Luck Tattoo has been inking its customers with bright, bold, quality tattoos that stand the test of time. You can choose a design from the extensive collection on the wall or have a chat with some of the best tattoo artists Melbourne has to offer for something more personal.

• Address: Address unconfirmed. The studio’s Cremorne site (goodlucktattoo.com.au) is currently down and third-party listings suggest a possible move to Melbourne CBD; confirm before visiting
• Instagram: @goodlucktattoo
• Booking: Contact via Instagram to confirm current location and book

3. Dynamic Tattoo

A Melbourne tattoo establishment since 1991, Dynamic Tattoo houses seven resident artists producing some of the finest ink in the city. There’s a definite Japanese flavour here, thanks to the renowned work of founder Trevor McStay. Yet the diverse and talented line-up of tattooists at this parlour can handle any style, from traditional Americana to intricate black and grey work or bright and colourful imagery.

• Address: 71 Swan Street, Richmond
• Style: Japanese traditional, black and grey, fine line, geometric, dot-work, lettering
• Instagram: @dynamictattoo
• Booking: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun by appointment; free consultation, deposit required to secure a booking

4. Victims of Ink

No matter how complex or straightforward the design, the talented and diverse crew of artists at Victims of Ink can handle it. The emphasis is on custom pieces, but they also accept walk-ins, retaining the excitement of the classic street tattoo shop for those spurred by the moment. The vibe is friendly and warm, the tunes are banging, and the staff are professional and stick to the most stringent of hygiene standards.

• Address: 515 Chapel Street, South Yarra
• Style: Fine line, realism and microrealism, geometric, blackwork, traditional
• Instagram: @victimsofink
• Booking: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun by appointment; walk-ins welcome, call 03 9002 0495

5. Devil’s Ink Tattoo

One of the city’s best-known tattoo parlours, Devils Ink Tattoo, has been inking Melburnians since 2002. The three Melbourne tattoo artists, Justin, Andy and Brendan, have a wealth of experience, knowledge and awards between them. Whether it’s a walk-in inspired from the extensive flash art or a custom traditional, neo-traditional, Japanese or portrait realism, these guys execute precise and bold tattoos and keep the good vibes coming.

• Address: 18 Hall Street, Newport
• Style: Script, floral and custom; black and grey; traditional and neo-traditional; fine line
• Instagram: @devils.ink
• Booking: Thu-Sat 12pm-5pm, Sun-Wed by appointment only; walk-ins welcome subject to availability

6. Melbourne Tattoo Company, Melbourne CBD

This tattoo shop in Melbourne is tucked away in the loft of a historic building. It can be tricky to track down, but a vast and colourful oasis awaits for those in the know. The Melbourne Tattoo Co. is built on a foundation of exceptional quality of work, a passion for clean and lasting aesthetics, and a bond between artist and client based on openness and understanding. Each of the nine residents are some of the best tattoo artists in Melbourne and are often booked for months in advance.

• Address: Level 2, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne CBD 3000
• Style: American traditional, Japanese, black and grey, fine line
• Instagram: @melbournetattooco
• Booking: Open Monday to Saturday, Sunday by appointment only; walk-ins welcomed when the schedule permits, call ahead

7. Hot Copper

The focus at Hot Copper is custom pieces, so booking ahead is essential. With seven of Melbourne’s finest female artists, this is the perfect venue for women to feel comfortable, although gents are welcome too. Each tattooist is versed in a range of different styles, from bright and flowery Tropicana to abstract realism and everything in between. Close to Coburg station, you will need to make a booking to find out exactly how to get there.

• Address: Coburg, Melbourne 3058 (private studio; exact address provided on booking)
• Instagram: @hotcopperstudio
• Booking: Appointment only; message via Instagram or the site’s contact form, call 03 9350 1108

8. Blue Lady Tattoo, Melbourne CBD

Rounding out our list of best tattoo shops in Melbourne is Blue Lady Tattoo. Step right off the streets of Melbourne’s CBD and into the bright and spacious loft warehouse that Blue Lady Tattoo calls home. Every wall is adorned with art and artifacts, the vibe is fun and friendly and the resident crew consists of eight of Melbourne’s best tattoo artists. There’s a strong emphasis on good old traditional designs, yet each artist adds their own modern twists to spice things up a little.

• Address: Suite 2, Level 9/94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD (relocated from Hardware Lane)
• Style: Fine line, red line, black work, traditional, Australian designs, colour work
• Instagram: @blueladytattoo
• Booking: Mon-Sun 11am-6pm, after-hours by appointment; walk-ins welcome, call 03 9972 3371

Things to Consider Before Heading to a Melbourne Tattoo Shop

When looking for a tattoo artist, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Price: The type of tattoo you want will vary by size. Keep in mind that some shops also have a deposit fee upfront.
• Skill: If you want a detailed tattoo, look for an artist with experience in the field. Different artists have different skill sets.
• Style: Think about the type of style you’re going for. A good artist should be able to keep the style you want while doing it in their ability.
• Availability: Some tattoo shops require booking upon request for a tattoo. Can your appointment be a walk-in, or is a booking needed?
• Cleanliness: Safety should always come first, especially when it comes to tattoos. Probably one of the most important components make sure your shop is implementing good safety and sanitary practices with their needles.

Melbourne Tattoo Studios by Style

Looking for a specific style rather than a specific suburb? Here’s which studios on this list advertise each style, based on their own current portfolios and site copy (checked August 2026):

• Traditional and old-school: Devil’s Ink Tattoo, Dynamic Tattoo and Melbourne Tattoo Company all list traditional work among their styles.
• Realism and portrait work: Victims of Ink runs dedicated realism and microrealism specialists, and Third Eye Tattoo also lists realism among its styles.
• Geometric: Victims of Ink and Dynamic Tattoo both offer geometric designs.
• Script and lettering: Devil’s Ink Tattoo leads with script and floral work, and Dynamic Tattoo also does lettering.
• Ornamental: Third Eye Tattoo lists ornamental work among its specialties.

Melbourne Tattoo Studios Compared

Studio	Suburb	Style	Address
Third Eye Tattoo	Fitzroy North	Fine line, realism, black and grey, Japanese, ornamental	700 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North
Good Luck Tattoo			Address unconfirmed. The studio’s Cremorne site (goodlucktattoo.com.au) is currently down and third-party listings suggest a possible move to Melbourne CBD; confirm before visiting
Dynamic Tattoo	Richmond	Japanese traditional, black and grey, fine line, geometric, dot-work, lettering	71 Swan Street, Richmond
Victims of Ink	South Yarra	Fine line, realism and microrealism, geometric, blackwork, traditional	515 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Devil’s Ink Tattoo	Newport	Script, floral and custom; black and grey; traditional and neo-traditional; fine line	18 Hall Street, Newport
Melbourne Tattoo Company, Melbourne CBD	Melbourne CBD	American traditional, Japanese, black and grey, fine line	Level 2, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne CBD 3000
Hot Copper	Coburg		Coburg, Melbourne 3058 (private studio; exact address provided on booking)
Blue Lady Tattoo, Melbourne CBD	Melbourne CBD	Fine line, red line, black work, traditional, Australian designs, colour work	Suite 2, Level 9/94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBD (relocated from Hardware Lane)

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How Man of Many Chose the Best Tattoo Artists in Melbourne

With an editorial team full of adventures, Man of Many has had the unique opportunity to directly sample tattoo artists from the best spots in Melbourne. It is also based on our experience, in-depth research and customer reviews of tattoo artists in Melbourne. As expert journalists who guide people between competing products and services, we have provided our independent opinion in formulating Man of Many’s selections. Our editors have considered location, service and hygiene while also making a concerted effort to highlight a few spots outside of the CBD. You can review our editorial policy here surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial reviews.

This list was rechecked in August 2026: Vic Market Tattoo has closed permanently after 34 years and has been moved out of the active list below. Good Luck Tattoo’s official site is currently offline and its exact current address is unconfirmed, so we’ve flagged that rather than guess. We also looked into Let’s Tattoo, a newer CBD studio with a growing social following, but haven’t yet gathered enough first-hand evidence to add it to this list.

Tattoo Artists Melbourne FAQs

Alternatives to Melbourne Tattoo Artists

Why not check out these other cool places when you’re in Melbourne? Take a break and try some of the Best of Melbourne: The Definitive Guide to Eat, Drink, Play, Shop & Stay or dine out and visit 9 Spots for the Best Dumplings in Melbourne.  For other information to get the best tattoo, here are the 40 Best Tattoo Ideas for Men, or if you’re going for something simple, use our guide 50+ Minimalist Tattoo Ideas That Prove Less is More.

Melbourne Tattoo Studios Permanently Closed

• Vic Market Tattoo: closed permanently in 2026 after 34 years trading in North Melbourne.