Got tattooed by Devin Mena and it's literally better than I could've ever imagined, he's got the lightest touch so i didn't feel any real pain the entire tattoo. Highly recommend, I'll be going back for sure. read more

Vatican Studios - I asked him for carnations and poppy's and he drew this up! Love it so much!! - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I got my first larger tattoo from Mando last July and I couldn't be happier with it! My Mister Toad tattoo was one I've been wanting for years and he came through with more than I could have hoped for. It honestly ended up being exactly like the ride poster at Disneyland. Mando's usage of color through the tattoo worked perfectly. The experience was great too - he was extremely hospitable and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. Getting to choose a movie and hang out made it so much easier! The work isn't necessarily cheap, but you absolutely get what you pay for when it comes to something you'll live with for the rest of your life. If you want something done they way you imagined it, you couldn't go to a better place. I hope to go back soon! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ron is such a nice guy and pro piercer. He is very clean and patient. I look forward to getting more ear piercing done here :)

I can't begin to explain how much I LOVE this place!! Everyone is so friendly and the shop itself is gorgeous. I have a few pieces done by the talented, kind and beautiful Emily. I would highly recommend her and will definitely be coming back for more read more

I finished my sleeve in February with Alexis and could not be more happy with the result. When we started this piece I had a general idea of what I wanted but I really wanted to give Lexi the artistic freedom to create. He really takes the time to understand you as a person while mixing it with his own creativity to make something really beautiful . During the sessions with him I feel like it's not just a typical tattoo sesh but an entire EXPERIENCE! You don't feel rushed and it's so cool to have something custom drawn right on your body directly from his mind. Nadia was so great at keeping me updated with any cancellations to get in earlier too! I can't wait to continue collecting from Alexis and just being around the contagious positive vibes that are felt during the whole process !!! Thanks Lexi , Nadia, and the entire Vatican team !! XOXO see you soon :) read more

If you're considering Emily, you need not look any further. She is a true artist, talented and dedicated to her craft. When I first contacted Emily, I had a rough idea for the tattoo's visual effect and several paragraphs of writing explaining the meaning behind it. She took these pieces of information, hand-crafted designs for a shoulder piece far more beautiful than what my awful artistic mind contemplated, and incorporated all of the meaning into her sketches. When it came time to get inked, she was just as excited as I was to start. My tattoo is now 90% finished, and it has turned out wonderfully. I cannot say enough positive things about Emily, her practice, and the wonderful environment she and Zero have created in their tattoo haven. If Emily charged 5x what she currently does, it would still be a bargain. As long as I live in Orange County, I will never get a tattoo done by another artist. Long story short, five stars aren't enough to quantify Emily's abilities. read more

Vatican studios is an amazing shop. Its clean, has awesome decor, friendly staff, beautiful artwork throughout, and most importantly my favorite artist, Nakota Garza! I've been going to Nakota for 7 years now and her work never ceases to amaze me and that's why I love being her walking billboard. She's a pleasure to deal with, fun to talk to throughout the hours of sitting, always a sweetie, and not to mention a fox! Her lines are clean, her coloring skills are on point, she has dynamic composition, and every piece she has done for me has made me fall deeper and deeper in love with her. I give her an idea of what I want and let her do her magic and viola! I'm covered in awesome, colorful work that everyone compliments me on. Give this gal a call if you want some quality work. Promise you won't regret it! read more

Vatican Studios - My unicorn by Nakota Garza, the photo is stitched together since it wraps around my leg - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I was lucky enough to receive my kiddos signatures tattooed on my forearms by the fabulous Emily! Her room is stunning, welcoming, artistic, and Emily is just the same. I felt comfortable and am in LOVE with the final result. Already planning my next one with her!! Thank you, Emily read more

Awesome studio, totally takes you by surprise once you walk in, considering the plain exterior (business park). Latisha is...amazing. Thoughtful, attentive, incredibly talented. Took the time to really find out what I wanted, fair pricing, and an unbelievable result. Creates a peaceful experience and felt totally comfortable. Hats off! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Before deciding where I was going to get my next tattoo, I did a lot of research and choosing Vatican Studios was worth the wait. Everyone was super friendly, obviously close-knit, and offered a wide range of artistic styles. The studio space alone is worth the visit! Clean, elegant, and a mini-tattoo museum unto itself. My artist Latisha was super professional and really enthusiastic about my concept which made me really comfortable. She was open to new ideas and had great inspiration during the whole process. I am definitely going to stick with Vatican Studios going forward with my future ink. And I was honored to receive an awesome discount as a first responder! read more

Vatican Studios - Burning Roses by Latisha Wood - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I've been a fan of Emily's work for years now, so to be able to have her tattoo her art work on me was so awesome! She is amazing at creating such a comfortable and welcoming tattoo space. I have two pieces by her already and two more already scheduled. She truly cares about her clients comfort and creating something special with not only her art but the experience as a whole. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! read more

I got the industrial bar and it was pierced by Ron and he did amazing. He takes his time figuring out where to put the dots on your ear and makes sure you like the placement. He sanitizes all the instruments used for the piercing, including the bar. He walks you through the entire process of the piercing and how to take care of it. He's very knowledgeable about piercings and is willing to give you his opinion about where you'd like to have the placement on your ear. He makes you feel super comfortable and keeps you entirely distracted and calm while getting it pierced. Vatican Studios is a super clean place and the staff is very friendly. I got the classic titanium bar and the spray to take care of it and it was $91 read more

This place is unlike any tattoo parlor you've ever been too! It's an art studio. Mando is amazing & gave me exactly what I wanted. He took my ideas and designed my tattoo even better than I could have imagined. Worth every penny & he was easy to spend lots of hours with! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo by Mando - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

My tattoo experience with Alexis Vaatete at Vatican Studios was the best tattoo experience I have ever had. From the artwork to the professionalism, it completely changed the way I look at the tattoo experience. I came in for a custom piece and ended up with a masterpiece that covered a horrible tattoo from my youth. I literally cannot wait for my next appointment as we continue my tattoo, making it a full sleeve. Alexis and his wife went from my artist to my friends, and they are amazing as is Vatican. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Let me tell you a little bit about this place before I tell you about my experience. This place is truly an art studio. When you walk in, you're greeted respectfully at the front desk. You'll then take a short walk to the gallery, which is beautiful. Someone will guide you to the artist best suited to do your work, give you pricing, and the availability of the artist. Make no mistake, this place is not cheap, but the prices here are in no way unfair. For what you get, it is a bargain. World class talent resides here. If you want an artist that understands you, that has the talent to make your vision a reality, this is where you go. Now let's talk about my experience. My dog recently passed, and I was utterly devastated. For 1 week I had been eyeing the work of Mr Alexis Vaatete. The guy is brilliant. I had read that it would be extremely difficult to book him, and I didn't even know if I could afford him. So I had decided to drive down to the studio to see if I could find a secondary artist. I had talked to Josh, about wanting Alexis to do a piece for me but not knowing if I could wait for months to get it done. He told me that Alexis happened to have a cancellation right then, but happened to be coming by the studio just to hang out; and that he'd ask if Alexis would be open to doing a session for me. Alexis happily agreed, and I was hesitant because I wasn't sure if he needed some time to conceptualize what I wanted. I told him how important this tattoo would be to me and he said not to worry, when he's done, I'd see my boy again. I took him up on it, and he got started. It was awesome watching that guy work. He's a true professional. He was crunched for time that day, and even stayed a half hour late for me. When he was done, and late going on about his own life, he had the same smile that he did when I walked in. The tattoo he put on my arm was breathtaking. It looked just like my best friend. I wanted someone to capture my dog's eyes and smile. I didn't tell Alexis that, but at the end he said those were the things he was trying to capture. I was so happy, I asked Alexis to sign my tattoo so I could remember the person who gave me back a piece of what I had lost. I know I paid for a service that day, but when I walked out I knew that someone had done an amazing kindness for me. My artist is at that studio, I guarantee that yours is as well. read more

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The best artists reside here - amazing work at reasonable prices - So glad I found Alexis Vaatete - Check him out before you get your next piece - you won't regret it!!! Check him out on InstaGram, Twitter & FB!!! https://www.facebook.com/alexisvaatete/photos https://twitter.com/#!/ALEXISVAATETE read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Well this place definitely lives up to it's hype on yelp. I had recently done a search for a new tattoo shop close to me. With nothing but great reviews, I decided to give Vatican a try. From Josh, who coordinated the appointments and was the go between guy, to my tattoo artist, Zero, everything was as best as you could want it. Josh took a look at the lettering I wanted and immediately suggested Zero to do my work. It was a perfect pair up, not only did my work come out crisp, clean, and amazing, but the conversation was an absolute bonus. The atmosphere is definitely super friendly. I love sarcasm and wit, so I most assuredly felt at home and relaxed here :) yes pricing may be a bit more than some places, but here you pay for real artistic work. I couldn't see anyone leaving this place unhappy. I'll be back for 3 more for sure! :) read more

Vatican Studios - -Zero - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Vatican is a lovely studio full of very kind folks. Nakota Garza has done a pile of smaller pieces for me (including a crystal heart and some stellar floral work) and we are working our way through a sleeve on my left arm full of fruit, bugs and dramatic lighting. I couldn't be happier with her professionalism, talent and quality of the work. She has tons of creative ways to make your idea into something really special and has always made time to talk to me about concepts. She has a distinct style that I absolutely love and is very flexible working with whatever you might come up with! Plus, she is just plain fun to talk to. I keep a pile of her business cards in my purse to hand out when I get compliments on her work. The staff at the shop is always friendly. The owner Franco is such a nice guy and the piercer Ron who runs Sacrament Body Piercing sets everyone at ease. If you're feeling nervous about getting a piercing I couldn't recommend him more. Very good bedside manner and fantastic taste in body jewelry. I hope this is helpful! read more

One of the best places to get tattoed. This isn't your typical street shop, this has the look and feel of an art studio featuring works of art, a spacious waiting area, and a wall-size fish tank. I've been here 3 times, twice for myself and once for my girlfriend. Each time I've been here London Reese has taken care of me and he's done amazing work (check photos). He's a true professional and accommodates his clients to all their needs. Recently, London moved up to the top floor by himself which makes your experience one of a kind. Be prepared to pay a premium and wait on a months long wait list but it is definitely worth it. If you value your skin and the art you want represented on you, then take the extra time to save up cash and make it well worth it. I guarantee you won't regret choosing Vatican as your tattoo shop. read more

Vatican Studios - Here's a little mermaid piece London did on my girlfriend. It took approximately 4.5. - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Got my first tattoo by Denis today and all I can say is wow! He is so kind, polite, informative and helpful, every question I had silly or not he answered them, assured me my tattoo would turn out excellent and it did! I'm already planning my next piece with him! He totally made my design unique and made any modifications I asked for, or he thought necessary, can't speak highly enough of Denis, and I would recommend him to anyone. The read more

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Chris did a fantastic job on my tattoo and I'm in love with it!! A million thanks for giving me exactly what I wanted and more. No one could have done it better. I'm beyond happy!! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Ron! This guy pierced my septum and my sisters belly button. I have a really small nose and was hesitant getting this done but this guy knew what he was doing, he was educated, skilled, knowledgeable, and even knew the science aspect of things. Also really kind and funny!He was great even with the little room he had to work with, he assured me that he was determined to get the piercing aligned perfectly straight. He gave me his honest opinion about what he felt would work well, the healing process, and the jewelry my nose could/couldn't have. Best piercer I've ever went to and will be coming back to get more piercings from him for sure!! Thanks Ron! (Also, the man that greeted us as we walked in was very welcoming! Really good vibes from the whole place and the people there) My piercing was only $73 total. read more

In love with my Tattoo & experience. This is a beautiful shop filled with great people. Everyone was friendly and helpful. My artist Latisha created a master piece. She took my vision and created a great design that was way better than I could imagin. It is so beautiful and I love that I keep getting compliments. My experience with her was also great, we had good conversation and her studio had all her artwork on display. Worth the drive and time you will not be disappointed check them out!!! read more

Vatican Studios - My beautiful master piece by Latisha - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Alexis tattooed my forearm a few years ago. I was so angry with the experience and how the tattoo came out I couldn't even write a review without getting completely worked up about the injustice of it all. Firstly, this is not a cheap tattoo parlor. At the time I had my piece done it was $200 an hour which is fine when you're getting amazing work. I have had work done with incredible world renowned artists which is what I expected when I booked with Alexis. He was nice with hint of arrogance but mostly super distracted during the 8 hour sitting. He kept getting up to take breaks to eat, walk around, visit with the other artists and constantly chatting with his very immature 21 year old girlfriend who was hanging out at the shop for the majority of the time. I think he was over 40 at this time. To each their own but keep your private life at home. This to me was exceedingly unprofessional. At one point he disappeared for 30 minutes and I finally wondered downstairs to find him showing off a new camera he got to other people in the shop. I couldn't believe it. When I calculated all of the "breaks" he took it equalled close to 2 hours all of which I was paying for. He also kept wiping my arm over and over with a dry paper towel. My skin was so sore and raw when I left. Unlike anything I had ever experienced with other artists. The tattoo, unsurprisingly, did not come out well. It was a recreated B&G piece of famous art incorporating two squirrels which came out like actual rats. I booked with Alexis because he does have an impressive portfolio of owls but apparently that doesn't matter when it comes to other animals. I was so disheartened by the experience and outcome of the tattoo I started lasering it off less than a year later which has cost more than putting it on. It's finally almost gone yey! read more

I just had the best experience with Latisha, I wanted to do something for my 7 years since I had chemo for HCL and I wanted to use my dad who fought in World War II as the top Tourette gunner on a B17, the design she came up with was awesome, this was my first tattoo and she made it great, her music selection and her singing made my experience one to remember and the finished work is so freaking great, can't wait for more. Great place, everyone in the shop. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place is amazing. I searched high and low for the last year and found this establishment to be the best suite for me. Then came the hard part. I researched each artist and that was the toughest part. Everyone here's work on IG was impressive. I immediately made my decision when I came across Mando's portfolio. I had a great experience here. From the front desk lady who answered all my annoying questions and concerns to the decor and vibe of the studio and even there merchandise was cool. Also I was expecting huge delay in response time and availability as I'm sure they get a lot of emails and requests and especially with the whole Covid thing. I sent a IG message to the studios account and then Mando's and went to bed within a few hours I had a positive response from both accounts and was put into contact with my chosen artists scheduling manager. 2 days later I'm getting the most amazing tattoo done. It's healing but looks amazing. The ONLY thing is this place is expensive BUT you get what you pay for, so don't be a cheap ass. If you want a shitty looking tattoo that's cheap go elsewhere you'll find neither cheap nor shitty here. This studio gained a loyal client as of yesterday. read more

Vatican Studios - Almost finished and I already love it ! - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Worst customer service! This place had good reviews, went to visit and receptionist said all artists are independently working. Most all artists are very expensive. I tried making an appointment with Devin Mena, his wife does his bookings. She makes it very difficult to go over your idea and make an appointment. You can't call, all contact is via email. It can take up to a week to hear back. You can only do little pieces of your entire artwork at a time. If you try to set up several appts in advance, she'll tell you to wait until a certain date to book for a couple months out. Then when you contact her on said date, she will tell you that month is full, it makes no sense. You also can't see your tattoo drawing until the day of. And once you pay the $100 down payment you won't get it back. I ended up canceling my appointment and went with a completely different shop, not worth it to continue, even lost my $100! read more

Chris Borchers is an amazing artist. He has done some BRILLIANT cover up work on some old tattoos that I had, fixed a busted up tat I got in New Orleans (never again, I will stick with Chris) and has come up with some beautiful designs to honor my son that has autism. The shop is clean, sanitary, has amazing jewelry selection, (piercing & crystal) and comfortable, relaxed vibe. I highly recommend Chris and this shop. read more

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I get tattooed by Mando. Great guy and artist. Listens to what I want and collaborates with me to make it happen. Has a program to show you how the design will look on you. Can't wait to see him again. read more

Just got a fantastic tattoo from Chris. My first tattoo and he did a phenomenal job. Love the American Traditional style and Chris is the best. His detailing is awesome with nothing missed. Surprisingly fast healing time for me as well. This guy does Sailor Jerry proud! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Not very friendly artists. I was hoping for a little compassion and understanding but was given negative energy and minimal compassion. Would not refer my friends here. read more

I've gotten 3 piercings here with Ron nd let me tell you it was painless. Not only does he help you through it but the jewelry there is fantastic. The prices are pricey but if your the type to want something that's acruallly going to last a long time it's definitely worth it. Not only that was they have custom cuts as well as pure gold. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Chris was freakin amazing! Really cool dude and a great artist. His artistic vision is on point! This was a great experience for me and I'm sure it will be for future customers. Make sure to follow your chosen artist on Instagram and any other social media if you're planning to get something done. Social media is the best place to see their current and previous work. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came in February 1, 2017 to get a one of a kind tattoo on my calf from Boris a guest tattooer from Europe. https://www.instagram.com/boristattoo/ Came in early at 9:30AM which I thought was too early for a tattoo appointment. I was afraid that there was a miscommunication in time. I was greeted by Paul the maintenance man who was very friendly and said that Emily would show up before 10AM. Emily showed up prior to 10AM and was very welcoming to me. She offered me coffee and kept checking in on me. She was super sweet and was always up for small chat. This studio is mostly appointment only. They have a piercer and many jewelry in expensive looking cases to choose from The studio is beautiful. I am sure, Franco the owner put a lot of thought in his studio. He was very easy going and make lots of jokes. It was awesome. There is even a massage chair in the lounge. There are oil paintings and works from Carlos Torres everywhere and a built in fish tank. (Look for the eel) Nakota and Ron were super cool. Latisha had the cutest french bulldog, Skully. read more

My experience at Vatican studios was awesome. The studio itself has a lot of interesting Artwork which gives off a great vibe. The staff at Vatican are really professional and friendly, one of them in the front asked if I wanted lunch when they were placing orders for themselves. Alexis is the man! Couldn't be happier with our first session and my piece looks great. We got a lot of work done so I'm really happy with the speed of things. Wasn't too sure at first with what I wanted but Alexis help get me through different suggestions. Nadia is very professional with her communication with the client and very attentive asking if I need anything while getting worked on by Alexis. I would for sure recommend this place and these people to anyone who wants to get a dope piece and a great experience. read more

I had an opportunity to finally get my first tattoo and figured go big or go home. A buddy of mine actually told me to check out Vatican Studios since we have talked before about what I was looking for in particular as far as what I wanted as a full sleeve all around. I had the pleasure to meet Alexis as one of the resident artist at the studio. He was very welcoming and explained the whole process of a tattoo. I also met his now fiancé Nadia who is also a reflection of Alexis as a person as well as a true profession of the studio. I have never run into any problems with appointments, the art I was looking for, and any other type of problems that others would possibly run into at a tattoo studio. They always offered me food, something to drink, and if the environment was comfortable to my liking. What I paid for as far as brand, quality of work, and the service is far beyond my expectations. Not because this is my first tattoo, but because of the overall experience I had with Alexis and the studio. Alexis is an awesome artist, personable, and family oriented. It showed throughout the whole tattoo process and I was very impressed with how my tattoo turned out as a finished product/art. I definitely recommend Alexis for those that are looking for quality of work because his perception of what I was looking for truly showed. Do know what you want as a tattoo because I knew what I wanted. I also wanted Alexis's own input and interpretation of what I wanted because there has to be a trust between the artist and the person that is receiving the tattoo. Yes even if it's my first one, I did enough extensive research as well as feeling the vibes from the first session. Again, thank you Alexis for my awesome tattoo. read more

Let me start with my artist, Latisha Wood, several of my friends have recommended her to me and I love all of the work they have had done. From my first contact with Latisha she was great, very organized, passionate and helpful in the design and scheduling process. I sent her a document with several ideas I have for the completion of my sleeve and she dove right in making it her own, her love and passion for what she does is so evident. Once I got to the shop she sketched my first tattoo and then went to work. She has an amazing "soft" touch and you can tell while she's tattooing that she's fully invested in that piece. Her attention to detail and ability to create life life like images is astounding, there's no one better. From fine line work to creative transitions, she is hands down the best. Other artists were even coming over during our session to watch her and ask advice on technique. I can't wait to go back and get going on my next piece. I had been recommended to Vatican Studios by several friends, in particular for artist Latisha Wood. This is my 5th tattoo, all at different shops and by different artists. I have to say Vatican Studios ranks above them all. Extremely clean shop, amazing decour, comfortable and very relaxing environment. The front desk manager was awesome, very accommodating and friendly. She must have asked me if I needed anything 5 times while I was there, from water to coffee, etc. I highly recommend Vatican Studios above any shop that I've been to. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, all the other artists were saying hi and wanting to see what I was getting done. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I went to go get my belly button peirced here and i'm so happy i did. The actual shop is so fascinating and cool inside and my piercer is extremely talented. I saw him sterilize everything in this awesome machine and he used an original method that he developed for years to pierce me. I genuinely didn't feel any pain except some pressure on the area. read more

This place is really cool, they have a lot of art of and several artists to choose from. I was referred to Latisha by a good friend of mine. This review is so low because of the poor customer service. My husband and I got each others initials on our wedding fingers, we were really excited to do this. Our appointment went well and we had a good time hanging out with Latisha. Before we got our tattoos done she told us the cost ($150 per ring finger) would include touch ups. Touch ups meaning plural, right? Well unfortunatley, my finger didn't take so I emailed Latisha to set up a touch up and we tried again. 2nd time - still did not take :( When I emailed her about it this time she wanted to charge me an additional $150! There was no way I was going to pay $300 total for this little tattoo. She didn't even try to work with me, and it was just very unprofessional. Regardless of your trade, if you work with people the customer should always come first unless they are taking advantage, and I was not. I'm in no way saying she is not a good artist, however, I was truely dissapointed the way she handled my situation. I hope I can find someone to fix it soon. read more

This is one of a kind studio, not your typical ghetto looking tattoo studio. Super clean, beautiful is understatement. Ok now about man of the Hour. Mr. Denis. My cousin was the first person who found him and when he got his tattoo I was in love how beautiful and detailed it was. So I booked my appointment with Denis. For years I stopped getting a tattoo because I was looking for someone who was amazing at what they do. Long story short on my 3rd session with Tdan and the man is super professional, very nice, hardworking doenst do justice on his work ethic. To describe his skills...INCREDIBLE. After seeing his tattoos and get tattoos from him I look at other peoples tattoos and I'm like wtf are this people thinking getting tattoos from others. Now my entire family is going to him, 2 of my cousins, my brother and I. Now my uncle wants to get a tattoo by him. One more thing, my dad never liked tattoos and when I got it he was always against it... all that changed when I walked home to show him my tattoo by Denis...he fell In love with it. I showed him the picture of the tattoo and the actual tattoo let's just say tattoo looked better than the actual picture of the tattoo. Denis The Magic Man. I don't get people who complain about high prices. Some of you go spend 2000$ on a shoe wear it few months and forget about it but don't want to spend 2-3k on a tattoo that's gonna be on you rest of your life. read more