--- type: best_category_state name: "Best American traditional tattoo shops in California" category: "traditional" state: "California" abbr: "CA" shops: 29 url: https://www.localtattoos.com/best/traditional/california/ --- # Best American traditional tattoo shops in California 29 shops in California that reviewers mention for American traditional tattooing, 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 | [Mission Beach Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/mission-beach-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 726 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Piercing Services | | 5 | [Funhouse Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/funhouse-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 481 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey | | 6 | [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 | | 7 | [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 | | 8 | [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 | | 9 | [TATTOO HOUSE](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/tattoo-house.md) | San Francisco | 5.0 | 115 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Fine Line | | 10 | [1904 Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/1904-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 5.0 | 95 | Minimalist / Micro, American Traditional, Script / Lettering | | 11 | [Black Gold Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/sacramento/black-gold-tattoo.md) | Sacramento | 4.9 | 206 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Flash Tattoos Available | | 12 | [Propaganda Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/propaganda-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.9 | 177 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line | | 13 | [One Shot Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/one-shot-tattoo.md) | San Francisco | 4.9 | 84 | American Traditional, Black & Grey, Walk-ins Welcome | | 14 | [Ocean Front Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/ocean-front-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 4.8 | 152 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Piercing Services | | 15 | [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 | | 16 | [Seven Seas Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/seven-seas-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 4.8 | 112 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Custom Tattoo Designs | | 17 | [American Electric Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/american-electric-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 4.8 | 102 | American Traditional, Fine Line, Walk-ins Welcome | | 18 | [Frisco Tattooing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/frisco-tattooing.md) | San Francisco | 4.8 | 38 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Aftercare Products | | 19 | [North Park Tattoo Parlour](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/north-park-tattoo-parlour.md) | San Diego | 4.6 | 64 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Flash Tattoos Available | | 20 | [Timeless Tattoo & Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/timeless-tattoo-piercing.md) | Los Angeles | 4.7 | 241 | American Traditional, Fine Line, Aftercare Products | | 21 | [Traditional Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-luis-obispo/traditional-tattoo.md) | San Luis Obispo | 4.7 | 283 | American Traditional, Black & Grey, Aftercare Products | | 22 | [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 | | 23 | [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 | | 24 | [Mad Dog Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/bakersfield/mad-dog-tattoo.md) | Bakersfield | 4.6 | 495 | American Traditional, Aftercare Products, Piercing Services | | 25 | [Superfly Tattoo & Body Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/superfly-tattoo-body-piercing.md) | San Diego | 4.4 | 160 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Aftercare Products | | 26 | [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 | | 27 | [Tinta Rebelde hardcore tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/los-angeles/tinta-rebelde-hardcore-tattoo.md) | Los Angeles | 4.4 | 194 | American Traditional, Piercing Services, Custom Tattoo Designs | | 28 | [Haight Street Tattoo and Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-francisco/haight-street-tattoo-and-piercing.md) | San Francisco | 4.4 | 210 | American Traditional, Walk-ins Welcome, Piercing Services | | 29 | [Finest Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/california/san-diego/finest-tattoo.md) | San Diego | 3.9 | 205 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line | ## Related - [Traditional tattoo shops by state](https://www.localtattoos.com/best/traditional.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/traditional/california/). Markdown alternate of the page at that URL.*