---
type: best_category_state
name: "Best realism tattoo shops in California"
category: "realism"
state: "California"
abbr: "CA"
shops: 34
url: https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism/california/
---

# Best realism tattoo shops in California

34 shops in California that reviewers mention for realism and portrait work, each with at least 25 Google reviews.

## How this is ranked

Shops are ordered by a Bayesian-adjusted rating: (n × rating + 320 × 4.79) ÷ (n + 320), where n is the shop's Google review count, 320 is the median review count across the directory and 4.79 is the directory-wide mean rating. Only shops with at least 25 reviews qualify; ties go to the shop with more reviews.

Ordering is computed at build time from two facts per shop — its Google rating and its Google review count. One listing per street address, and nobody paid for a position.

## Ranked shops

| # | Shop | City | Rating | Reviews | Reviewers mention |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Sailor's Grave Tattoo Gallery](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/sailor-s-grave-tattoo-gallery.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 889 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line |
| 2 | [The Honorable Society Tattoo Shop](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/west-hollywood/the-honorable-society-tattoo-shop.md) | West Hollywood | 4.9 | 1,700 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Script / Lettering |
| 3 | [Mantle Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/mantle-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 4.9 | 909 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line |
| 4 | [Costello Tattoo & Piercing Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/sherman-oaks/costello-tattoo-piercing-studio.md) | Sherman Oaks | 4.9 | 512 | Minimalist / Micro, Fine Line, Geometric / Mandala |
| 5 | [Rock Bottom Tattoo Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/rock-bottom-tattoo-studio.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 491 | Fine Line, Geometric / Mandala, Black & Grey |
| 6 | [Funhouse Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/funhouse-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 481 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey |
| 7 | [King's Head Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/king-s-head-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 145 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Japanese / Irezumi |
| 8 | [Superior Ink Tattoo and Piercings](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/downey/superior-ink-tattoo-and-piercings.md) | Downey | 4.9 | 429 | American Traditional, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 9 | [Vism Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/vism-studio.md) | Los Angeles | 4.9 | 393 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 10 | [Zenith Tattoo \| 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/zenith-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 5.0 | 124 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Piercing Services |
| 11 | [UFF Tattoo & Piercing San Diego](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/uff-tattoo-piercing-san-diego.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 116 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line |
| 12 | [TATTOO HOUSE](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/tattoo-house.md) | San Francisco | 5.0 | 115 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Fine Line |
| 13 | [1904 Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/1904-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 95 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Script / Lettering |
| 14 | [Tattoo Temple](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/tattoo-temple.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 81 | Fine Line, Japanese / Irezumi, Geometric / Mandala |
| 15 | [Dream Masters Custom Tattoos Sweden](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/dream-masters-custom-tattoos-sweden.md) | San Francisco | 4.9 | 191 | Fine Line, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey |
| 16 | [Propaganda Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/propaganda-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 177 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line |
| 17 | [Villains Tattoo Collective](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/villains-tattoo-collective.md) | Los Angeles | 4.9 | 131 | Script / Lettering, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey |
| 18 | [Masterpiece Tattoos](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/masterpiece-tattoos.md) | San Francisco | 4.9 | 108 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Cover-Up Tattoos |
| 19 | [Ink Monkey Tattoo and Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/ink-monkey-tattoo-and-piercing.md) | Los Angeles | 4.8 | 1,176 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 20 | [Cleopatra INK Tattoo & Piercing Berkeley Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/berkeley/cleopatra-ink-tattoo-piercing-berkeley-studio.md) | Berkeley | 4.8 | 404 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Piercing Services |
| 21 | [Reservoir Tattoo Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/reservoir-tattoo-studio.md) | Los Angeles | 4.8 | 195 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 22 | [Remington Tattoo Parlor](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/remington-tattoo-parlor.md) | San Diego | 4.8 | 179 | Realism / Portrait, Cover-Up Tattoos, Custom Tattoo Designs |
| 23 | [Castro Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/castro-tattoo.md) | San Francisco | 4.8 | 130 | Fine Line, Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait |
| 24 | [Idle Hand Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/idle-hand-tattoo.md) | San Francisco | 4.8 | 115 | American Traditional, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 25 | [Tattoo Boogaloo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/tattoo-boogaloo.md) | San Francisco | 4.8 | 87 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 26 | [UNDRGRND](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/undrgrnd.md) | San Francisco | 4.7 | 50 | Realism / Portrait, Custom Tattoo Designs, Guest Artists |
| 27 | [Everlasting Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/everlasting-tattoo.md) | San Francisco | 4.7 | 52 | Japanese / Irezumi, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 28 | [Studio City Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/studio-city/studio-city-tattoo.md) | Studio City | 4.7 | 564 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products |
| 29 | [Metropolis Tattoo & Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/metropolis-tattoo-piercing.md) | San Diego | 4.6 | 141 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey |
| 30 | [Fresno Tattoo & Body Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/fresno/fresno-tattoo-body-piercing.md) | Fresno | 4.7 | 590 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 31 | [Eye of the Tiger Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/eye-of-the-tiger-tattoo.md) | San Francisco | 4.5 | 100 | Script / Lettering, Fine Line, Japanese / Irezumi |
| 32 | [Blind Nobility - Tattoo & Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/la-habra/blind-nobility-tattoo-piercing.md) | La Habra | 4.6 | 211 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Fine Line |
| 33 | [City of Angels Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/city-of-angels-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 4.4 | 99 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome |
| 34 | [Buzzbomb Tattoo And Body Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/buzzbomb-tattoo-and-body-piercing.md) | Los Angeles | 4.4 | 183 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey |

## Related

- [Realism tattoo shops by state](https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism.md)
- [Tattoo shops in California](https://www.localtattoos.com/california.md)
- [The best tattoo shops in California](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/best-tattoo-shops.md)

---
*Source: [LocalTattoos.com](https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism/california/). Markdown alternate of the page at that URL.*