Coastal Ink Tattoo

Recently back for more. And yes it was worth the effort and planning to get an appointment. If you…read moreare reading this review I will assume you are a serious tattoo aficionado who respects/appreciates a true artist. Everyone has their personal opinion about tattoos. And if you are a person reading reviews of tattoo artists hoping to find a person to trust with putting art on your body that is permanent I can't recommend enough the value of coming to this studio to see Marlo. She is a true artist. Tattooing to me should represent a spiritual experience with the artist. Trust in them to put on your body a piece of art that fits you. Something that matches your unique life and personality. Well, Marlo does all that. No stencils. Just free drawing an extension of my heart onto my body to remind me of my strength and resilience. She told me more meanings and I was absolutely touched at the insight she had into me as a woman. She created a visual representation that is so beautiful. Does getting a tattoo hurt? Yes. Of course it does. But Marlo is an amazingly caring professional and will stop as needed to check in on you and take breaks if necessary. But don't go into it thinking it isn't going to hurt. That is just silly. Some parts hurt less than others of course and everyone has their pain tolerance. But be realistic peeps, come on now! Be safe and enjoy life! SYOY!

I am beyond HAPPY and in LOVE with my tattoo!!…read more Marlo is welcoming, professional, and clearly extremely passionate about her art work. She genuinely took the time to make you feel comfortable and safe. She understood exactly what I wanted and what I wanted it to represent, and executed the design flawlessly! Her line work and shading are top-tier, and hygiene standards were excellent! Earthbound Tattoo brings on good and positive vibes, and is great with communication! If you're looking for a skilled, reliable tattoo artist, she is the one for you! Marlo - I am so honored to have the privilege to get this beautiful art piece from you! You and Le are genuinely great people! Keep doing what you both are excellent at! Aloha & Mahalo! 'til next time

Outside

Stunning work.

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Sunflower

Creative Visions

4.5(141 reviews)

0.8 mi

I had such a great experience getting my cartilage pierced! Brian was incredibly kind, friendly,…read moreand made me feel completely comfortable throughout the process. I will definitely be coming back for all my future piercings!

i have been thinking of getting an industrial piercing for a long time but did not know where to…read morego. i found creative visions and i made my appointment through the website. Brian communicated well with me and i was able to get an appointment. He was very nice and understanding when i mentioned that i was a bit nervous. He told me when to breathe in and breathe out, and i am sure this was the reason why the piercing did not hurt. I give the pain a five out of 10 and it hurt less than my second lobe piercing. I payed $60 in total which included my change to a gold bar. i went back after the swelling went down and Brian changed my bar to a shorter one. Amazing customer service and I 100% recommend this place. I will definitely be coming back in the future.

Helix done by Brian $40

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Sacred 8 Studios

5.0(21 reviews)

0.2 mi

What a cool shop! Super cool vibes with a ton of Pokémon bulk cards to sort through. Was a last…read moreminute stop on our annual Monterey trip and we were so happy to find this local gem. We will definitely be back with more time to kill looking for more cool cards!

I walked in to chat with someone about an idea I have to cover up a scar on my leg. I spoke with…read moretwo of the kindest men working that day and one of them is doing my tattoo in a couple of weeks. His name is X and his work is pretty epic. I'm so excited and can't wait to get started. The other young man I believe is (wizardcleave?) I definitely want a tattoo from him as well, I've been looking at their past artwork and I'm seriously blown away. The shop is pretty cool too.

Cholo diglett tattoo by Armando

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Cholo Cubone tattoo by Armando

Autonomy Tattoo

4.8(17 reviews)

0.2 mi

Honestly, this was THE best experience I've ever had with a tattoo artist. And I've had well above…read moreaverage experiences in the past. Avalon was not only a GREAT artist, (aside from what my friends and I had, the designs that were displayed were REALLY good) but she was so accommodating, informative, and above par on being clean and sanitary.. which is a huge deal in my opinion. One of the 4 of our group was there for her first tattoo and was slightly nervous... but Avalon went totally above and beyond to make her comfortable and relaxed and I can attest that she was extremely happy after having her first tattoo done here... And that meant a lot to me for how patient and understanding she was when my friend was feeling nervous. As I said before, I've had very good experiences with getting my tattoos in the past, but truthfully I can't imagine going anywhere else from here on out because of how great my experience was...

Avalon was so amazing and I think it might have been the best tattoo experience i've ever had. Even…read morethrough all my indecisiveness and having to take some extra time to bring the idea to life, she was so patient with me and reassuring. The space was so comfortable and cute, even the bathroom was pretty! lol Not to mention the star of the show which is the amazing fine line work she did for me! Her lines are so pristine, I can't even draw that straight of lines with a pencil. When i'm back home in the area again and looking to get a tattoo i'm definitely coming back!!

Permanent lip liner and mild blush, with slightly expanded borders on both lips.

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Harbor Light Tattoo

5.0(24 reviews)

If I could give this shop 10 stars I would. I have been to several shops around here and this place…read moreis THE BEST. If you're serious about your tattoos like I am go here! Noah is sole proprietor and the best tattoo artist I have ever been to. I contacted him back in June to get a half sleeve done. We talked on the phone and then I emailed him some photos. Last minute I decided to add some text which was no problem. It took 3 sessions to get it done, but well worth it!! The shop is clean and comfortable. When you're there it's just you and Noah. I personally like not having a bunch of other people there while I'm getting work done. He has a cooler of water, juice and snacks too. The photos speak for themselves. I had the heart before- the rest is his work. We are really blessed to have such a great tattoo shop right in Monterey. Note he does not take walk ins, by appointment only.

I finally committed to getting my first tattoo. I couldn't be happier I chose to work with Noah…read more His private studio had a great vibe and was super comfortable. Noah's communication couldn't have been better leading up to our appointment, while he worked, and in between sessions. He was able to execute the vision perfectly, and I'm eager to get back in for some more of his work. There's nothing bad I could say about the entire experience.

Coverup tattoo.

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Outline done

Vaughn Body Arts

4.8(322 reviews)

1.9 mi

First time here and had a great experience with getting my daughters nose pierced. Very…read moreprofessional and informative. They walked her through everything. Love this place!

I feel they are more worried about upselling you on their jewelry than anything else. The place is…read moreclean, but the experience I felt was lacking, mostly because they are so adamant on you getting a more expensive piece of jewelry.

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Meliodas Tattoo

5.0(1 review)

One of my favorite tattoos I have, Josh is very professional and has an elegant style. The design…read morewas exactly what I had hoped for. Would highly recommend.

Watercolor charcoal black and gray anchor lily flower

Watercolor pastel raven evil blue eye tattoo

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Fine line cherry blossom design

Iron Crown Tattoo

4.6(95 reviews)

Just spent 4.5 hours receiving the most beautiful tattoo ever. Thank you RYAN!!!…read more The shop is clean, and everyone who works there uses good practices to ensure the safety of the clients (from infection). From the moment I first walked in and AMY greeted me, to Orlando and others chatting with me (to help distract me!), Iron Crown was professional and welcoming. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! #ryanisthebombdotcom #ironcrowntattoorocks

First tattoo ever and I chose a mid shop. Sorry guys but you were rude when I talked to you and…read moregave me this weird attitude when I told another artist about the tattoo I wanted to get. I got a yin yang tattoo on my inner arm and I got rude vibes from the dude who tattooed me. I only tipped him out of fear that he would yell at me. Is this place worth it? Price-wise, it's okay, and as for proper tattoo care/aftercare, it was kinda just meh. They didn't tell me anything about proper aftercare or healing, they just kinda let me pay then leave. Experience-wise, I wouldn't really recommend this shop. Go to a store where they're actually nice to you.

A sign in the establishment

Got the tattoo I've always wanted. Thank you Lexi!!!

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Brick Alley Tattoo

4.0(9 reviews)

Best tattoo shop around, by far. Every artist here is incredibly talented and they're the nicest…read morepeople you'll ever meet. Always willing to work with you to make your tattoo come out just the way you want it. Louis is bringing a major custom leg sleeve to life for me and it's is coming together beautifully. I can't recommend Louis and the rest of the crew highly enough - great people who work hard to make great tattoos.

My friends and I came as walk-ins, and the shop is very friendly and welcoming. Lily was my artist,…read moreand did a fabulous job. She perfectly recreated a little heart my late father drew on a birthday card. Very clean shop with friendly and talented artists.

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Eric S.

0

1

5 years ago

Hello, if your reading this you might be planning on getting a tattoo from Rudy at Coastal Ink. With much experience and confidence, I can say your looking into one of the best, and most talented tattoo artist you will ever seek out. For almost 30 years I have been receiving tattoos from a handful of tattoo artist here in California, covering a decent portion of my body. There is a huge difference in the style, technique and approach of each artist. Rudy takes his tattooing very seriously, and is all about the tattoo and its importance, artistry, quality and longevity. He could easily turn his name into a brand, hire some other artist and focus on the money. He doesn't, because he holds himself to a higher standard than most others could achieve. I can say this because I've sat in the chair for over 30 hours with Rudy, and still have many more hours to finish the projects we are on. AND with that, looking very forward to the future endeavors for beautiful art I plan to have him do. Rudy and Thalia were very thorough in our early meetings. Discussing the design, size, layout, scheduling, potential pricing, and what would be involved. Including expectations on both parts. They were very detailed and stringent about the process of maintaining and keeping the tattoo(s) clean. They were also very clear there would be no exceptions for any alcohol use prior or during the tattoo. Tattoos do hurt, but there's definitely a difference from artist to artist. Some guys like to grind and pump the ink in there, hard like. Rudy on the other hand was very surgical, methodical, tedious, and the ink stayed beautifully, no scarring, and he was able to minimize the discomfort. You can get a bit tired after sitting in a chair for eight hours getting tattooed on your chest. Rudy's naturally gifted ability to make and see art is second to none. I've seen different medias and styles of art he has created through pictures, paintings, leather works, sculptures, tomahawks, even quick sketches. But his tattoos will keep you coming back. You look at it once and you think you see all the detail. Next you'll find yourself looking in deeper, to admire how he shaded an area or put a heavy line to create some contrast. Gorgeous colors with perfect quality saturation. Simply outstanding. Since you've read this far I'll go ahead and give you my opinion about cost... Have you ever spent a weekend out of town, and spent a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars? Looking back how many hundreds if not thousands of dollars have you spent on shoes? Where are they now? people will pay tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for plastic surgery to make themselves look better. People will struggle and hurt themselves physically by eating crazy diets, working out like mad, people will do anything they can to improve their aesthetics and their looks. And yet..... Time and time again I hear from people about how expensive a tattoo is/was, or how they're looking for the best deal, and if I know anybody that could give them a tattoo for cheap..... This is absolutely absurd to me. Would you go to McDonald's and order a filet mignon and then write a review about how Ronald didn't do a good job cooking it!?!! Take a month off from whatever vice you have. Stop drinking soda, or alcohol. Stop smoking cigarettes or a Vape. Put down the weed for one month and save your money. Invest in yourself and a quality tattoo that you'll be staring at for the rest of your life... THINK ABOUT THAT... the rest of your life! People will look at it, and the only thing they will say is... It's beautiful, it's amazing, who is the artist?!? where did you get it?!? Nobody is ever going to ask you, did you save $300.00? did he do it in some dark alleyway and give you some kind of disease through a dirty needle? Please tell us more about your crappy tattoo and your terrible experience... I'm sure it was the best money you ever saved!!!! So there you have it. Get scheduled with Rudy, and be proud of your skin!!! read more

Sofia M.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Rudy did an amazing job on my tattoo! I love it! I will be going back to him for all my tattoos. He is professional, clean, and very talented. He really takes his time to not just give you a tattoo, but an actual piece of art. He was very easy to work with, the process to set up an appointment was simple. I messaged him and his assistant replied promptly, she answered explained how Rudy works, and answered any questions I had. She was very sweet. She got me in very quickly, I was surprised. I left a deposit, which is normal, then in the day of my appointment I spent the entire day working with Rudy. I like that it's a one on one session, and no other clients are walking in bother you. I felt really comfortable during my tattoo session. Rudy is a very nice guy, and he is great to talk too. We had some good conversations and listened to good music. The time flew by. Price was reasonable, I understand that quality work is not cheap, and a tattoo does last forever. I mean people throw hundreds and thousands of dollars away on useless crap all the time, like eating out, getting your hair and nails done, weed/alcohol, etc. might as well save that money spent and put it towards something like a badass tattoo that will be on your body forever. Just saying.. Don't listen to the few bad reviews on here, Rudy is a nice guy, one of the chillest artist I have met. I can't imagine him being rude to anyone. They do explain that deposit is non refundable if you cancel last minute, which Is understandable since they do lose out on work if someone doesn't show up. As far as prices, they have gone up on everything everywhere. The world has been crazy these last couple of year! So the lady who left the bad review complaining that prices had gone up since her last tattoo with Rudy a few years ago. Well obviously lady everything has gone up on price! That is something you should already know and expect, not complain about. If you want a badass tattoo, go to Rudy. If you don't really care what it looks like, just want a cheap tattoo, then go somewhere else. Rudy is can do some magic at coverups. So if you do go the cheap route, then you might need him to cover it up for you in the future, ha! read more

Cindy V.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Rudy is the best! You will not regret going to him, he does amazing work! Super cool guy! Super clean shop! If you want a high quality tattoo then he is your guy. It is not just a tattoo you are getting from him, it is ART! I am so happy I chose him as my artist. I was nervous at first since he said everything would happen the day of the appointment as far as creating the design, but now I understand why. He really needs to see his canvas (you) to get everything drawn out and placed on you. The first hour of my appointment, he spent creating the design with me until I loved it and said yes to it. He was so easy to work with, he didn't mind having to change something I didn't like, or explain to me why something wouldn't work. Once the design was perfect and I loved it, he gave me a flat rate price for the design, which was a reasonable price for a quality tattoo. I paid him and he got to work tattooing. Rudy was so gentle, it was almost painless. I love that he uses a wireless gun that is not so loud like the plug in guns that most tattoo artist use. Also, I love the numbing solution he uses, it really helped. Rudy was so nice, he made me feel so comfortable throughout the entire process, he always checked up on me to see if I was ok or needed to take a break. He offered me food and water on our break times as well. Honesty he went above and beyond. I've never felt like that anywhere else I have been tattooed at before. It was a game changing experience as to what a tattoo shop should be like. Rudy is a great guy, very sociable, yet professional! Good music! Good Vibes! So if you are looking for a high quality tattoo from the best artist in Monterey County, go to Rudy, you will get more than a tattoo, you will get beautiful ART! I love my tattoo! read more

Julianni T.

3

9

1

3 years ago

Rudy is a great artist and person. He really cares about the quality of his work and goes above and beyond to give you an amazing piece of art, not just a tattoo. Because of Rudy I learned the difference between a tattoo and ART. For something that will be on your body for a lifetime, I understand why it is important to get good work done. I'm forever grateful for Rudy's work. I would definitely go to him again for all of my future tattoos! read more

Elias G.

0

6

0

3 months ago

This is hole in the wall type of place that you will not regret going to. The artist Rudy is so kind and really took the time to educate me about the tattoo process and aftercare. Vibe was welcoming and the studio is so unique looking . Tattoo was done so quick I didn't have time to flinch. When I looked in the mirror I was so amazed and happy to see the beautiful artwork on my skin. Thank you Rudy! read more

Queens C.

0

1

0

6 months ago

I got my first tattoo here; it was a cute little stylized butterfly. I showed my reference images, and the tattoo artist was able to combine all my ideas beautifully. He was also very flexible with me, I was worried I was being too picky and asking too many questions, but he was very nice and patient. Very positive experience overall, if I ever decide to get another tattoo, it will be here again. read more

Ella K.

0

4

5

4 years ago

^ response claiming the interaction was a miscommunication because the shop could not accommodate my price range is false. i never gave any price restrictions on my tattoo, i just asked about walk ins. read more

Leslie B.

0

2

0

2 years ago

10 out of 10 on the presentation and quality of this place. This is right on Del monte and a close walk to the beach.

Coastal Ink Tattoo - tattoo - Updated September 2026

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Recently back for more. And yes it was worth the effort and planning to get an appointment. If you…read moreare reading this review I will assume you are a serious tattoo aficionado who respects/appreciates a true artist. Everyone has their personal opinion about tattoos. And if you are a person reading reviews of tattoo artists hoping to find a person to trust with putting art on your body that is permanent I can't recommend enough the value of coming to this studio to see Marlo. She is a true artist. Tattooing to me should represent a spiritual experience with the artist. Trust in them to put on your body a piece of art that fits you. Something that matches your unique life and personality. Well, Marlo does all that. No stencils. Just free drawing an extension of my heart onto my body to remind me of my strength and resilience. She told me more meanings and I was absolutely touched at the insight she had into me as a woman. She created a visual representation that is so beautiful. Does getting a tattoo hurt? Yes. Of course it does. But Marlo is an amazingly caring professional and will stop as needed to check in on you and take breaks if necessary. But don't go into it thinking it isn't going to hurt. That is just silly. Some parts hurt less than others of course and everyone has their pain tolerance. But be realistic peeps, come on now! Be safe and enjoy life! SYOY!

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