Came in for a helix piercing and had Lance give me exactly what I wanted! He was extremely professional and knew exactly what he was talking about. He wanted me to make sure I was going to love it and told me the perfect spot for it with the jewelry I choose. Would come back to him anytime. Will be coming back soon! Also, the place is so nice and aesthetically please! HIGHLY Recommended!! read more

This weekend, on a sister-trip to LA, we decided to get 'sister tattoos'. We stopped at a few other places but were treated like jerks - so sorry, Mr Cool Man smoking a cigarette on Hollywood Blvd. We researched and found that Ink Monkey in Venice was close to where we were going to be, and that it had great reviews. We walked in, spoke to K.R. who took care of my sister and Sawooli took me on. We wanted simple tattoos - and K.R. managed to talk both of us into a second tattoo as well. :) I didn't want something complicate, just a single word in typeface and Sawooli didn't make me feel like an idiot. He took his time, plotted out exactly where it was going to be placed and was done with the upmost professionalism. Should I ever want to add additional tattoos to my body - Sawooli and everyone else at Ink Monkey will be my first choice. read more

I love the people and the atmosphere at I k Monkey. I got my very 1st Tattoo from Michael and it is. Exactly how I wanted it. Great color and solid lines. They are all really talented and very friendly. You won't be disappointed. Prices are great and you'll feel like family. Highly recommend Ink Monkey and if your into piercings they do that also. Security Dave read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

I walked in interested in a Daith piercing and I was immediately helped by lance and he was super nice! He walked me through everything he was doing and the piercing was almost painless I highly recommend this place! I also had gotten my first tattoo here a year ago and it healed very nice I love it read more

I got my tragus and conch pierced here at the same time. My experience with my left tragus piercing has been horrible. i got my right tragus pierced at Ancient Adornments by Richie in Westwood and it healed beautifully, plus that was the ear I actually sleep on. Never had any issues whatsoever with that piercing. My tragus piercing from Ink Monkey, however, seemed botched. It didn't heal well at all, and today, I went to the emergency room to get it looked at since my lymph nodes were inflamed and sore and the piercing had swollen up yet again. Turns out it is in fact infected. The piercer at Ink Monkey told me it was not when it was swollen previously, and that swelling and bubbling is normal. According to the PA I saw today at the hospital, that is NOT normal. SOME crusting is to be expected, but it should not bubble up which mine did. My piercing should have been taken out when it first started bubbling, waiting it out only made it worst. Maybe there are other factors as to why my piercing didn't heal well. Maybe my ear just rejected being pierced twice at the same time. Not sure but I'd rather not risk it again so I won't be returning back to Ink Monkey for future piercings. read more

I came here with 3 other friends to get tattoos. We did not have appointments however the staff was very friendly and accommodating! Jesse was my tattoo artist and he was awesome! I did not know exactly what I wanted, however he was patient and worked with me to design a beautiful tattoo that I am in love with. The shop is very clean and sanitary! Thanks Jesse I will and have recommended you to many friends. read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

Had best experience today- Austin was very patient and helpful. my tatoo is exactly what I wanted. Two Hawks pierced my daughters eare- he was so kind and caring! Would recommend to anyone! read more

My dad I got a tattoo yesterday for my birthday and I have never been told a price as high as we paid. $500 for a tiny tattoo. The bigger tattoos I have never costed that much and it has extreme detail so there is ZERO excuse. Do not go here to get tattooed seriously. read more

PIERCING REVIEW: (writing this review because I wish there had been a more accurate representation of what to expect from here beforehand) I got my nose pierced here about 2 weeks ago and right away noticed that the angle seemed wrong (the jewelry did not sit on top of my skin like a piercing is supposed to). After doing some research and feeling pretty sure about the fact that the piercing wasn't done well, I decided to get a second opinion from a different piercing shop: Aesthetic Ambition. Thomas (who actually used to work here at Ink Monkey but has since opened up his own shop) confirmed that the angle of the piercing was way off. He asked where I got it done and said that he frequently fixes piercings that were done at Ink Monkey.. Save yourself time, pain, and money and go to AESTHETIC AMBITION. read more

Whoo! A painless and smooth process thanks friends! Will definitely be back for the great service for piercings! read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Helix and second lobe - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

I had never gotten a tattoo and always wanted one and knew what i would get, so, a friend recommended this place to me, she didn't, however, tell me he name of a tattoo artist so I walked in on a Sunday afternoon not knowing what artist I would get. The woman at the counter was super nice- I told her I just wanted lettering and she said JD could do it for me. Out comes JD- also super nice, I told him I wanted typewriter font, the quote, and the placement. Long story short- my tattoo came out amazing, the experience was amazing, so much so that I have gotten another tattoo by JD and am going back for a third. read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Second ones and only $80! - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

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Recommend this place 100%! Good pricing and great customer service. Switched my nose stud to a Gold Hoop. The Gold Hoop cost $50. Additionally, I got my second lobe pierced for $40 (including jewelry), which was the least expensive price. read more

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The piercer was so sweet and communicative. Answered all my questions and we had just walked in. I mentioned how I was a little nervous and the piercer was quick to joke around to help my nerves. Two Hawks was absolutely lovely. read more

I got my very first tattoo in this studio way back in 1996... About a dozen tats later I had been attempting to return for the most significant ink of all. Knowing that they don't take appointments, I showed up nearly an hour before they opened on Saturday 4/22. The people who spoke to me through the door thought that I was there for a piercing, perhaps because at age 55 I have gray hair, or just because the street was loud and the glass door between us was rather sound-proof. Anywho, they said they had a 12pm 'appointment' and I would be the next at 12:30. When the studio opened, we ironed out the misconception, however, someone else had arrived when the storefront opened and my designated artist, JAKE, attempted to serve that customer first. Without going into my long rant, it was apparent that JAKE was less than enthusiastic to ink me. All I wanted was, in simple cursive script, "Step Up ;) Say Yes" It took Jake nearly an hour to "draw" what the typewriter could have produced in less than five minutes. Time and time again he returned w/an image that was not to my specification and he didn't even get the semi-colon in the emoji right!!! $150 ($120 for the ink plus a generous $30 tip) and ninety minutes later we were done... And when I took the dressing off two hours later I was totally bummed at how lousy the tattoo looked. I called Ink Monkey, and spoke w/JAKE who tried to dissuade me from coming in to fix it immediately. He told me it had to heal first and blah, blah, blah about the "pain" of correcting it the same day. B*llsh*t. So I went in and everyone was idle in the shop... No more customers at the 5pm hour. JAKE only made the matter worse... He never listened nor even cared about what I wanted. He does not understand the concept of "cursive handwriting" and the semicolon remains uneven, the parenthesis line for the smile is uneven as well. And my script is think and uneven. A REAL LOUSY JOB for my most-desired, significant ink. I called later that evening, and now I was exhausted and pissed that I forgot whether Ink Monkey's artist was JAKE or ZACK... I left a message requesting management to return my call, and today, still nothing. It is very apparent that the seasoned artists in this studio already have their preferred and designated clients who are allowed appointments. I was told by JAKE that most people who come into Ink Monkey are tourists passing through town. TOURISTS/LOCALS there are many shops in Venice. Tho' it is perhaps the most visible due to location, STEER CLEAR of this storefront. They just don't give a damn... (AFTER PURUSING THEIR ONE STAR REVIEWS, IT IS TOTALLY AGREED THAT THE INK MONKEY IS DISCRIMANATORY AGAINST EVERYONE EXCEPT THEIR 'PREFERRED' CUSTOMERS) read more

My seven year old wanted to get her ears pierced, but was scared. All her friends had gone to the mall stores to have it done with the gun, but I had done a ton of research on a needle piercing versus a gun piercing and everything about a needle piercing was better on every level than using the gun. I called to speak to Thomas, the piercing guru, and we set up an appointment. We arrived with my mother in law and three year old in tow as well as my seven year old, and they were ready for us! They had all the paperwork ready, and while i filled that out, my daughter chose her jewelry. Thomas was so kind, and so patient! My poor kiddo was so scared about the process, and they helped make it so easy for us all. Thomas and Luci asked what her favorite movie was and made sure to have that soundtrack on in the piercing room to make her comfortable. The process was easy, and everything was so precise. They made sure to go through the entire routine (sans needle), so she would know what to expect. There was a little pain, but she was brave and the second it was over, she was all smiles. This is the place to take your kiddo for their first ear piercings! Thomas and Luci were amazing, and Thomas especially was so good with kids (and mother in laws!). Not only that, but they squeezed in my mother in law when she wanted to get her ears re-pierced as well. I saw so many piercings that looked amazing, I kind of want to go back for myself! Thanks Thomas!! read more

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Whatever you do, make sure to work with Two Hawks!!! He was kind, professional, and made sure my experience was a positive one. I will only be coming back to him! read more

We went in for my daughter's second piercings. Professional, kind, clean, friendly environment. The staff were all super welcoming and cool. Two Hawks (the piercing artist) was extremely calming and dissuaded any and all nerves and couldn't have been kinder. He was super professional. Highly recommend. read more

Luci was awesome! I walked-in after getting my helix and 3rd lobe piercing done at Del Rey Tattoo a few weeks ago. My new pierced lobe earring fell out last night and went down the drain. Plus my helix piercing wouldn't move and I felt like something was wrong. I walked in and Luci greeted me, looked at my ear, and showed me the jewelry options (there are lots). Then she prepped and walked me through the process. Turns out, my helix had the wrong sized earring and the opening clasp had popped open and was stuck inside my ear. Luci explained the options to me and then quickly and efficiently fixed both piercings. She walked me through what she was doing each time so I knew what was going on. After, she followed-up with after care and I was out of there. Luci is amazing and you should come here for your piercings especially if you're like me and haven't gotten a new piercing in a while or have feel something is wrong. I'll only go here from now on. read more

Okay so I've been wanting my septum done for 6 years now but I'm terrified of needles, like it's not the pain it's just the needle! and omg Austin was soooo amazing! I'm so so so happy with how it came out and it was super easy and painless! he did such a great job I'll def be going back!! read more

Great service,amazing piercing that never got infected:) got my piercing done my two hawks I highly recommend :))

Yesterday I went in for my first helix piercing and I was so nervous! I made an appointment in advance and was pierced by Luci. Even when calling to make the appointment the receptionist was very kind and happy to answer any questions I had. When I walked in the shop had a mellow atmosphere and everyone seemed happy. Luci helped me pick out the right jewelry and was very knowledgeable about what would work for me as I have sensitive ears. In general I'm kind of a wuss when it comes to pain but Luci calmly talked me through the whole process as she was piercing me. I am so grateful because I have a bad tendency to wig myself out, and before I knew it we were done! I had such a great experience while I was there and if I ever get anymore ideas about what I'd like to get pierced, I will only come to Ink Monkey. Thank you to the staff for making it such a great experience for me! read more

Loved this place. I got a random snake tattoo on a whim while my friend got her nips pierced. The tattoo is rly good. I should have gotten my finger tattoo that turned out rly shitty here instead of black diamond on venice blvd. Everything was very clean and the atmosphere comfortable. The dude who did my tat was super nice and offered free touch ups in the future! read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

You want a banging new piercing from a piercer that knows his stuff? Someone who can guide you in the right direction for what works for your anatomy and recommend jewelry that will fit your style and taste? You have to head over to Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing and see Thomas Junior! His work is awesome and so if his professionalism and expertise!! I was trying to decide between a daith or triple forward helix. Thomas, looked at the anatomy of my ear and said that he could definitely my daith but thought that I might not have enough room for the triple forward helix. I decided to go with the daith and I'm glad I did :). Thomas explained the whole process to me as he was doing it and it turned out fabulous! Thanks again Thomas! :) read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Daith pierced by Thomas. Love my teal anodized titanium captive 3 - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

Hey yall, I had two smaller tattoos done by Sawoolie (hope I spelled it right mate) about two months ago and they healed very nicely. I got exactly what I asked for, and even though the tats were simple they were clean. Sometimes you can hide mistakes in a larger more complicated piece but this guy clearly knows what he is doing. But the proof is in the pudding. Within 24 hours of getting these tats I got laid, and several times not long after that. I have gotten tattoos at other shops in the past and it usually takes AT LEAST 6 months to get laid but the quality of Sawoolie's work was clearly superior to other shops. read more

5 of us came in to get a piercing. My friend was looking for her phone and called it. It started ringing and in ended up in another customers pocket. She got it from the other customers pocket. He didn't realize how it got in his pocket. His wife started arguing with us. We never accused anyone of stealing. Must have been an accident? The workers did nothing when the guy and his wife stared arguing with us. So we left. read more

I went in as a walk in with my friend and I absolutely loved the service right away. I got my nipple piercings done by "Luci doll " and she is such a sweetheart, makes you feel 10x more comfortable. Tells you what she's about to do and when to breath in and out and when you will feel a pinch. I really loved how she asked how I felt after each piercing. My friend went in not knowing what to get and she asked her and she gave her ideas and also asked her to look on her Instagram for ideas and my friend ended up loving her piercing. I absolutely loved it here :) read more

Just had my first tattoo with Sawooli (Saul). I couldn't be happier. Sawooli is a pro and made great changes to the design I came in with that completely enhanced the final product. I already made a second appointment for my next tattoo. The guy's work is great and everyone at the shop is super friendly. Check out Ink Monkey for your next tattoo, you won't be disappointed!!! read more

I got a tattoo done by Saul of a beautiful female portrait that turns into a skull. His professionalism, ability to adapt the design on the spot, and beautiful detail put into the tattoo make this the best tattoo experience I've ever had. The price he gave for the work he put in was in my opinion undercharged as the quality of this work is priceless. Will be going back to this artist for future tattoos (this was my 11th and favorites session) and want to thank him for his work through this review. read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

I love love love this place & my piercings! Everyone was so nice. They answered all my silly questions. Two Hawks was amazing. Drove from the OC just to get my first piercings done here! 10/10 must go to place! read more

Solid place for walks ins looking to get inked or pierced. My girlfriend, our mutual friend, and various of her co-workers and friends have been pierced here by Thomas - a quiet but consistent professional who takes his piercings seriously. In terms of piercing the executions have been top notch. He speaks to you very calmly and informatively, tells you everything you need to know, the environment is clean and he gives everyone the reassurance and information they need before the piercing happens. My friends are very happy with their respective piercings, septum, ears, et. al. (I got my ears pierced here years ago) and recommend it. If you're a walk in looking for some ink, ink monkey is a solid joint as well. I've seen some big basketball players and TV people at the shop as well - given that it's Venice that doesn't surprise me as the place has become kind of a staple here for locals, celebs, and tourists alike. They're also very helpful with the after care. The only downside is the TV in the corner of the main area. It's always blasting some corny reality TV show or cheesy, over-the-top WWE wrestling...which...unless you're a fan of that sort of thing, can be really annoying and distracting. read more

Walked in the other day for a couple piercings and lance was amazing! Everyone is so nice and friendly. Will definitely be going back!

On February 6th, my partner and I walk into Ink Monkey to go over a design I want. Austin proceeds to speak to us both and takes us in the back so he can see where I wanted it and what I'm thinking of getting. We are all on the same page so we walk back up front so I can text him my photos and give him a $50 deposit. Before handing him the money I specifically ask him, "Will you have the mock-up of what you are thinking of doing regarding the tattoo on Tuesday or no later than Wednesday as I don't want to wait until our appointment which was suppose to be today, Friday the11th." He said, "yes I will for sure!" We all heard him, but he chooses to have gotten confused because on Tuesday I ask him for it and he replies back "Not yet but will soon." Wednesday I text him again to ask for the mock-up and he replies, "Possibly I have had the last 2 days off where I spend that time with my son I will get to your drawing at some point in time tomorrow for you to have something to look at by Friday." I then reply, "If I'm understanding you correctly. We agreed upon you having an example by Tuesday and the latest Wednesday so that I come ready for it Friday. I'm not showing up Friday thinking about what we are doing again and what if I don't like it? You said in the store I will have something to look at before my appointment by today or tomorrow. If this isn't the case then we might need to push the appointment." Because, once you give the deposit guys it's to hold your time slot and there's no refund if you don't show. Then he text me back being very condescending by saying, "Like I said I'll get to it tomorrow. I do apologize for any mix up or confusion! I also apologize for using my days off to be with my family and reset for the work week so I can be the best tattoo I can be! I hope you have a wonderful evening! And I'll be sure to get you something sent over by tomorrow! Do me a favor and please use this evening to lock down a direction of your piece as your references dictate many directions and like you sis do just want to confirm we're on the same page to make this the best drawing and tattoo experience possible for you because I know from our talk your nervous!" (this is from is text and not me making this up btw) NOW I'm like, WTH!!! I had to let this sink in over night so I can see how I feel about all of this. Wednesday night I text him back the following, "Austin, I had to let this all sink in as it sounded very condescending. As if I'm not the customer who walked into your shop asking for service. You offered the service with specific instructions and now you're acting like I'm the blame. I'm not sure I can trust letting someone put needles on me with the tone of this text. If it's not something you wish to do I understand and I can come get my money and find someone else. To be nervous and on top of this not getting what you told me you would do has left me feeling not comfortable at all. You asked me to send you photos before I left the shop so you could take all my photos and put them together to come up with a drawing for me by today. Now I'm back at square one narrowing it down myself? I'm so confused right now." After all this, I told my partner and then he said, "you're definitely not letting him touch your skin now." So on Thursday, yesterday we walk into Ink Monkey and I ask for my money back from a young lady and she goes to get Austin. Mind you I've been here before because they did my navel piercing years ago and I loved the service so I returned in hopes of getting a tattoo done. Well, Austin messed that up! The manager was sitting there and she said hi to us and had remembered us coming in Sunday and having the conversation and asked us what happened. Austin walks up front and grabs the envelope he had put my money in, opens it and lays it on the counter without saying 1 word, like a kid having a bad tantrum. I hope the way he acted isn't the example he's setting for his son because if it is he should really seek help. Maybe one day I'll find someone mature enough to stick to their word and take their job serious. Other than this experience, I like Ink Monkey, but I definitely wouldn't hire Austin to touch my earlobe!!! read more

Everyone who works here is always so welcoming- I have been here more than a few times with friends to get small tattoos and the crew here is very accommodating and welcoming which is not common in most tattoo shops. This shop will continue to be my go to spot I visit and recommend to friends! read more

Amazing tattoo job! Got my first tattoo from here, was kinda nervous, but Joseph did a great job! Walked in on a Saturday afternoon, he setup and printed the design in about an hour. Due to my pickiness asked him to make changes to the print, and he worked with me on that a couple times until I was satisfied. His hand was really steady while making the tattoo, and he confirmed a couple things with me even while making it. This place is kept very clean at all times, and it does not have the intimidating vibe like some other tattoo places. Appreciate all of Joseph's efforts, and highly recommend this place for any tattoo needs. read more

Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing - Piercing Near Me - Venice, California

Me and a friend came here to get some ear piercings done. The piercers were all available so it was a pretty fast process. I got 3 piercings done and it cost me around $270. They were very friendly as well and even though ear piercings don't hurt that bad, there's still anxiety that comes around getting your body pierced with a stick and they made the experience overall calm and fun. There looked to be a long wait line for the tattoo artists so expect to be there for at least an hour before getting that done. read more

Me and my mother when here today and it was amazing. The service was great and everything was clean. The piercer was great and made us feel comfortable. Will definitely go here again!!! read more

Ink monkey is the only place I trust in LA to get my tattoos! All the artists are very nice and highly skilled. They actually take their time to their customer needs. They're always patient with us customers and they also help us perfecting our initial designs. Thank you Joseph, Sal, Asaru and Adrianne for doing my tattoos! Can't wait to come back and get my next tattoo. read more

I had my daith pierced by Lance who was efficient in managing the line of folks waiting for piercings but also somehow managed to take plenty of time and care with each client. He made me feel comfortable and it was over in a flash. He was clear about after-care instructions and offered follow-ups for any clarification that may be needed, as well as help with jewelry replacements. The staff was very friendly and energized. The environment is great and I felt safe and looked after. I'll also add that pricing was reasonable. read more

Got my traguses pierced by Thomas, and he was awesome! Super professional, clean, sterile environment. I had lots of questions and Thomas was patient and kind and walked me through the whole thing. I have returned to have my piercings cleaned by Thomas, and he's always gentle and very nice. Thomas also did my girlfriend's venom bite piercings. So gorgeous! The man is talented, enough said :) read more

Piercings very over priced along with the base jewelry. They ran my pockets was almost $200 for three piercings. $60-80 for a non solid gold jewelry piece is very expensive. Etsy or any other jewelry seller would charge no more than $20 for your "high quality" jewelry. read more