Best Tattoo Shops in Kelowna

The best tattoo shops in Kelowna are Don't Look Down Tattoo Studio for bold custom work, In Bloom Tattoo Studio for fine-line and Evil Genius Tattoo for black and grey realism. This guide covers ten shops downtown, in Rutland and in the Mission, with who to book for custom work, fine-line, realism and cover-ups. Kelowna’s shops are specialized, so match the artist to the style before booking.

Lake water and summer sun are both hard on a fresh tattoo. Book large pieces for the quieter winter months, and keep new ink covered at the dog parks in Kelowna or on the hiking trails around Kelowna.

Don't Look Down

Don't Look Down Tattoo Studio
1484 St Paul St | $$$

Best for bold, custom pieces, and the best-known shop in downtown Kelowna. Clay Castles and his crew handle neo-traditional, Japanese and fully custom work. The shop is busy and loud, and it brings in guest artists from across Canada; their Instagram announces who's visiting.

The catch: the books fill months in advance. Walk-ins on a busy Friday in July are unlikely. Plan ahead and expect premium rates.

In Bloom

In Bloom Tattoo Studio
589 Lawrence Ave | $$

Best for fine-line work: delicate floral pieces, small script and minimalist geometric designs. The studio is openly queer-friendly, with a calm, boutique feel and a resident pet snake. It's a comfortable place for a long session. Regular flash events are an affordable way to collect small pieces.

The catch: the fine-line books are tight, so expect a long waitlist. Parking on Lawrence is paid street parking; pay for more time than the session needs to avoid a ticket.

Odin's Eye (formerly Dynamic Studios)

Odin's Eye Tattoo Kelowna
273 Bernard Ave | $$

Best for one-stop service. Odin's Eye Tattoo Kelowna, formerly Dynamic Studios Tattoo, has operated on Bernard Avenue for years in a large, professional space. It covers big custom pieces, traditional flash and permanent makeup, and Sage Laser Tattoo Removal works out of the back. Old, poorly done tattoos can be lasered off or covered up here.

The catch: summer tourist traffic on Bernard is heavy, and parking is expensive and scarce. Walk or cycle if you live nearby.

Narrow Waters

Narrow Waters Tattoo
1567 Pandosy St | $$$

Best for large, intricate custom designs such as full back pieces and planned sleeves. Narrow Waters sits just off the highway toward the Mission and focuses on high-end custom work in a bright, clinical space. Consultations and planning are thorough; designs are not rushed.

The catch: the atmosphere is quiet and serious, and the process asks for real commitment from the client. It's not a social, drop-in shop.

Pitch Black

Pitch Black Tattoo
213 Rutland Rd N | $$

Best for American traditional: bold eagles, skulls and daggers built to last fifty years without fading. Pitch Black is an old-school shop with black walls, heavy music and walls of flash art. It's one of several strong Rutland shops in a neighbourhood that is often overlooked.

The catch: the shop sticks to its style. Requests for soft pastel watercolour or micro-portraits are usually referred elsewhere.

Evil Genius

Evil Genius Tattoo
191 Asher Rd | $$$$

Best for black and grey realism, from portraits to surrealism, and the strongest choice in town for photographic realism. The large Rutland shop is on Asher Road near the transit exchange and has a strong roster of artists.

The catch: it's expensive and slow. Realism takes many hours, so it doesn't suit a tight budget or timeline.

Pharaoh

Pharaoh Tattoo Studio & Body Piercings
191 Asher Rd | $$

Best for cover-ups. Warren Kirschner runs the shop, on the same stretch of Asher Road as Evil Genius, and his background in special effects makeup shows in his biomechanical and horror-themed work. He's the one to see about a large, dark tattoo you want covered. The shop also does body piercing.

The catch: the interior is dated and dark compared with the newer boutique shops downtown. The value is in dependable work, not the waiting room.

Flashpoint

Flashpoint Tattoo Company
301 Hwy 33 W | $$

Best for versatility and convenience for Rutland and Black Mountain residents. The busy street-level shop in Plaza 33 has a rotating roster of reliable artists who do strong line work, traditional and script, and they're easy to communicate with. Walk-ins are often possible in winter.

The catch: it's in a strip mall next to a grocery store, without the character of an independent studio or the polish of downtown. Parking is free and plentiful.

Inkroom

Inkroom Tattoo Studio
1771 Harvey Ave | $$

Best for clean, straightforward pieces: geometric designs, lettering and medium-sized blackwork. The modern shop near the Parkinson Recreation Centre has one of the easiest online booking systems in town. Artists work quickly and the linework holds up.

The catch: the parking lot is hard to reach from Harvey Avenue at rush hour. A missed turn adds about ten minutes.

Boneyard

Boneyard Tattoo
1559 K.L.O. Rd | $$

Best for traditional and neo-traditional custom work. The shop is in the Mission, east of Okanagan College's KLO campus, and is relaxed, professional and well connected in the local community.

The catch: K.L.O. Road backs up when college students are commuting. Allow an extra fifteen minutes for the intersection and parking.