Guide to Stockholm's best tattoo studios

The name's a bit of a giveaway, but it bears pointing out anyway – this is a really classic tattoo studio, where those who tattoo (mostly) do it in a classic style. Among the tattoo artists here are Emilia Westerström, Max Stålhammar and Sebastian Murphy. The studio is located on Södermannagatan, very close to Lilla Blecktornsparken.

Behind a small, anonymous door on Upplandsgatan, Jack Ankersen and William Fjellman (better known as Pastilliam) mark people for life. They tattoo in widely differing styles, but both are extremely popular among Stockholmers and people who travel far and wide to get tattooed here.

Rock icon Slash got tattooed here on a visit to Stockholm, and both Fabbe and Emilia took part in the show "Master Ink" which was shown on Swedish TV in 2012. At Catapult Tattoo you can get a tattoo in all different styles, but the studio experiments a lot with watercolour motifs and does gorgeous portraits.

At StaDemonia Tattoo, Sara and Soledad have created a free zone and cultural space for queers. In addition to their own tattoo studio on Slipgatan, they also arrange various queer cultural events, where they combine tattooing, music, performance, poetry and art.

East Street Tattoo may just be the oldest tattoo studio in town, having opened in 1993. Robin tattoos in Japanese, old school, and neo-trad styles, while Isak works in Japanese and old school. The studio is at Ölandsgatan 50, where they not only tattoo but also sell tattoo equipment and accessories.

A group of tattoo artists work at this Södermalm studio, offering various styles including old school, dotwork, and many more. The dream team consists of Niklas Hallberg, Tusch-Arne, and Zashay Tastas, the trio that owns the studio.

On Birkagatan you'll find Imperial Tattoo, which opened in 2011. If you're looking for a particular motif, they specialise in Japanese and mandala styles, to which they add their own personal touch. You can count on an experienced, skilled team of tattoo artists who can carry out everything from small and large tattoos - everything's possible.

Olle Alm, who previously worked at East Street Tattoo in Skanstull, can now be found plying his trade at Kollektivet Hvitan on Södermalm. Olle works in various styles, but the emphasis is primarily on traditional types of tattoos.

The tattoo scene in Södermalm has its fair share of studios, and one of the classics is Evil Eye Tattoo. They are real veterans in the field and have been tattooing people since around the turn of the millennium. Their repertoire is extensive and ranges from realism to neo-traditional and minimalist designs.

Susan Nygren (known as Mrsuz on Instagram) is one of the tattoo artists working at Bläck in Gärdet. She has also run the studio since 2011. Lots of people go to here for her special style, with motifs of everything from portraits to animals and nature. 

At Carma Ink, the possibilities are endless – they tattoo various styles such as Japanese, black and grey, realism, and more. Walk-ins on weekdays, booked clients on weekends. The owner, Carlos Hoyos Arenas, has won several awards for his realistic tattoos.

Saša Tkalčević, who runs this studio on Sigtunagatan, is an experienced tattoo artist who specialises in realism and freestyle. As well as tattooing, he's passionate about painting and you can see his works hung on the walls.

The tattooists at Narval in Sandsborg only works with vegan ink. Styles vary from tattoo artist to tattoo artist, from simple lines to larger pieces. The popular tattoo artists who work here include Dorotea Easter and Junora Ink, as they're known on Instagram, and if you prefer, they also do stick and poke tattoos. 

At Pink Shrimp Tattoo, owner Rique Corner tattoos his clients for life. He grew up in El Salvador but moved to Sweden to fulfil his dream of having his own studio. He specialises in old school.

Sanctum is a classic street shop that takes both drop-ins and booked appointments. Tattoo artists include Alex Widell, Tatiana Sandberg, Skuggan, Nille Samuelson, and guest tattoo artists. Thanks to their wide range of artists, they can offer all different styles, and Lady Fade has also been working here for some years, offering tattoo removal with laser.

At Villa Ockult studio in Zinkensdamm, a handful of artists tattoo, each with their own personal styles. They're all equally skilled and ready to take on the next project, big or small.

Huckleberry describe themselves as a friendly studio, with a strong core belief that everyone is equal and a zero tolerance attitude towards racism, sexism and homophobia. Several tattoo artists work here, all of whom have their own unique style. Huckleberry is basically a street shop, but also welcomes bookings.

Just a few minutes' walk from Gärdet underground station is In Drone, which caters to those with a passion for heavy music, dark aesthetics, and alternative styles, but everyone is welcome – as long as they're kind. No drop-ins, only bookings.

Oscar Strand previously worked at Villa Ockult where he built up a loyal customer base. He then started his own studio in Västertorp, where he continues to draw in customers with his well-crafted tattoos.

Venezuelan Allegra, who has extensive experience tattooing both in Sweden and abroad – she has actually tattooed people in over 25 countries, tattoos clients at Tattoo Studio 75. She specialises in traditional styles and blackwork.

Inside the Westfield Mall of Scandinavia, Notorious Ink has a wide range of tattoo artists from different parts of the world who work to make customers' dream tattoos a reality. They specialise in hyperrealistic tattoos and are constantly updating themselves on news in the industry.

An experienced gang of tattoo artists works at Ritus in Gröndal. One of them, Stockholm favourite Kim Ottogea often creates detailed, fairy-tale motifs. But the combined skill and knowledge at the studio provides a wide range of styles, from colourful motifs to portraits in black and gray, often slightly darker motifs.

If you're looking for something a bit different from the classic tattoo styles try Deepwood Tattoo in Björkhagen, just a few minutes outside Södermalm. They work with innovative and creative motifs and all their tattoo artists have their own unique style. Book via email or via each tattoo artist's personal Instagram account.

Iren Shotidi, the tattoo artist at Beyond Ink, specialises in unusual anime motifs. Thanks to her extensive experience, she's also skilled in other styles too, including fine line, minimal and old school.