5 Best Tattoo Shops in Winnipeg for Ink You’ll Never Regret
I remember when my friend rushed to get his first tattoo: a small crescent moon on his wrist. A week later, that moon looked more like a smudged letter C—complete with blurry lines and uneven placement.
Watching him regret it made me realize how important it is to find an artist who knows their craft, not just someone offering a cheap deal.
That’s why I put together this guide to the top tattoo shops in the Peg. These are the spots for clean lines and amazing artistry you can proudly display on your skin.
How much do tattoo artists charge in Winnipeg?
On average, tattoo artists in Winnipeg charge $120 to $180 per hour for experienced artists, though top-tier ones may charge $200 or more. Smaller tattoos with simple designs start at $80 to $100.
1. Living Canvas Tattoo
Address: 1328 St James St
Phone: +1 204-255-4465
Business hours:
- Mon – Thurs: 10 AM–5 PM
- Friday: 10 AM–6 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM–6 PM
Living Canvas Tattoo is owned by two country kids, Jeff and Abby, who decided to open their own tattoo studio over a decade ago. And with over 40 years of combined tattooing experience, their team genuinely loves what they do.
In fact, this spot is home to some well-known local talents like Gunnar Quispe, Chris Tait, and Harrison Ortega. Each artist takes the time to listen to your ideas and turn them into something meaningful and unique.
Tattoos are done by appointment to give every client the attention they deserve. But if you’re feeling spontaneous, you can drop by for Walk-In Saturdays—a fun tradition that regulars love.
Sadly, they’re closed on Sundays, so if you’re only free during weekends, you’ll have to go there earlier to beat the walk-in customers.
Made my daughter’s first tattoo experience the best
“Went to living canvas with daughter today it was the best experience. Chris did an amazing job. Handled everything with ease after I explained my daughter has disabilities. She went above and beyond to make my daughter’s first tattoo experience the best. Also love mine as well. Thanks again. Will definitely will be looking at getting another tattoo on my next visit to Winnipeg from here.” — sandy pero, Google Review
They stayed after hours to fit my schedule
“The team at Living Canvas Tattoo are an amazing bunch! They stayed after hours to fit my schedule and were very accurate in designing what I was looking for. They are very talented and I highly recommend getting your ink done here.” — Sheldon Keats, Google Review
2. Metamorphosis Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing
Address: 290 McDermot Ave #101
Phone: +1 204-942-1565
Business hours:
- Mon – Sat: 11 AM–7 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM–6 PM
Metamorphosis Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing has been a trusted name in Winnipeg’s tattoo scene since 1998. The name was chosen to capture that sense of transformation that happens when you commit to an image for life.
This spot is known for custom tattoos—you can grab a photo, sketch, or screenshot of our inspo and let their artists bring it to life. The team has a mix of styles and specialties, so choose your “fighter” wisely.
Co-owner Nadine is known for her incredible black and grey shading, while Eleni is an expert on fun, nerdy tattoos (anime, Star Wars, etc.). For darker themes or freehand designs, Valentine’s your guy.
While their team’s talent is undeniable, we did hear a few reports of rude artists—something to look out for.
After getting your tattoo, make sure to book your free touch-up within eight weeks.
This is an amazing place to get tattoos
“This is an amazing place to get tattoos. I’ve had a tattoo done by one of their artists, called Artem, some 8 months ago, and he did a brilliant job! I’ve already booked another tattoo with him. All the other artists at the shop are also really friendly. The whole place is always squeaky clean and has a positive vibe. I’ve felt really comfortable being there throughout my sessions.” — Debjyoti Thakur, Google Review
My tattoo is a stunning masterpiece
“My experience with Eleni was amazing! My tattoo is a stunning masterpiece! She is incredibly talented, and I feel extremely lucky to have gotten a tattoo from her. She made sure I felt very comfortable throughout the entire process, answered all my questions, and gave me great advice about aftercare. The shop itself was sparkling clean, all staff were very friendly, and I didn’t feel overwhelmed or intimidated. The space is beautiful, and each artist’s room is reflective of their personal style. I strongly recommend both leni_ink and Metamorphosis if you are interested in getting a tattoo.” — Misty Ruckl, Google Review
3. Soul Survivors Body Art
Address: 118-B Osborne St
Phone: +1 204-284-1173
Business hours:
- Tue – Sat: 11 AM–7 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM–5 PM
Soul Survivors Body Art is located in the uber-hip Osborne Village. Their team has been tattooing locals for over 20 years.
They use single-use sterilized needles, medical-grade pigments, and full barriers to make sure every session is as safe. Plus, their digitally controlled tattoo pens and traditional electric machines give them total control over every detail.
As for style, their lead artist, Shawn, is known for his incredible use of color. He’s a master at layering shades to create depth and emotion in each piece.
You could also browse through the work of their other artists, since they all have different styles. Just keep your fingers crossed when booking because we heard some of their artists can be a tad arrogant.
Unlike other studios that operate strictly by appointment, they’re happy to take walk-ins when time allows.
Worked pretty fast to give us excellent tattoo work
“They were able to accommodate three of us on relatively short notice. Victor and Sheldon were the artists, and they both worked pretty fast to give us excellent tattoo work. The vibes of the place are great. Very comforting atmosphere. Private rooms were nice.” — Aaron Lynds, Google Review
Fabulous at accommodating our nitpicky tattoo design ideas
“Absolutely lovely, beautiful, cozy parlor with such a sweet vibe. All the people I’ve interacted with (whether in person or email) have been delightful, and of course, shout out to our artist Ocean, who has been fabulous at accommodating our nitpicky tattoo design ideas, and who’s got a great conversation while tattooing! If I get another tattoo idea, I’ll surely come back. And I will definitely recommend this parlor.” — caadeau, Google Review
4. Albert Street Tattoo
Address: 62 Albert St #200
Phone: +1 204-799-2399
Business hours:
- Tue – Sat: 11 AM–5 PM
If you hang out around Winnipeg’s Exchange District, you’ve probably heard of Albert Street Tattoo. It’s led by Jodie Wentz, who’s known for her adorable pet portraits.
Don’t worry, that’s not the only style her studio delivers; there’s someone here for almost every aesthetic. Before booking, it’s smart to browse their online portfolios to see which artist fits your style best.
Color realism and illustrative tattoos are a forte for those who prefer bold hues and culture-inspired designs. Their black-and-greyscale artists are top-tier, too, mingling intricate detail with smooth shading.
Once you’ve found your match, you can set up a consultation to chat about your design and budget. They also accommodate walk-ins when artists are available, usually between 11 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
It would be wise to confirm your booking before showing up, since we heard about double-booking issues.
I am in love with the design she came up with
“I couldn’t be happier with the incredible service, and you can really tell that the artists have a passion for their work. I went in for my second ever tattoo, after having my first done by a family friend, and was quite nervous about finding a new tattoo artist since tattoos are a very personal form of self-expression for me, but even just the atmosphere of Albert St tattoo already made me feel much more comfortable and at ease with my decision. And Crista Liana was absolutely amazing, and I will definitely be going back to her in the future. She prioritized making me feel comfortable and was super amazing to work with, and I am in love with the design she came up with and the tattoo in general. All in all, I highly recommend Crista Liana and Albert st tattoo in general and will be recommending it to friends and family in the future.” — Brianna Giesbrecht, Google Review
Made me feel extremely comfortable during the process
“Karen is amazing! She took her time to listen to me so we could collaborate on my ideas. She made me feel extremely comfortable during the entire process. I highly recommend anyone thinking of a tattoo to come see her. I’ve been to other studios and I’ve never had a good experience. Grateful to have finally found the right one. Thanks Again, Karen!” — Levi Johnston, Google Review
5. Ink Noir Tattoo Studio
Address: 117 Fort St
Phone: +1 204-231-1711
Business hours:
- Tue – Sat: 10 AM–5 PM
Ink Noir Tattoo Studio offers custom tattoos that are as cool as its name. It’s owned by Johnny, who is a pro in stylized realism, illustrative, geometric, and pointillism.
To get the right artist for you, simply browse their online portfolio or take their fun Artist Match Quiz, which helps pair you with the tattooer who best fits your design vision.
They offer playful options for spontaneous tattoos, such as their tattoo Gumball Machine. Pop in a quarter, turn the knob, and get a random tattoo design (from $150 to $200).
They also have a Spin the Wheel game—whatever number it lands on, you choose a design from that section on the flash board.
We do have to point out one hiccup; we heard about artists cancelling appointments abruptly.
Made my son’s first, very important tattoo flawless
“Amazing group of people, accommodated a short notice, same day appointment for me and my son, in honour of my husband, who has stage 4 cancer. Seong Ho did amazing work, put together a tattoo design on the spot, he gave us everything we wanted and more, he is so talented. We would definitely get more of his work for future tattoos. The ladies at reception were welcoming, friendly, and caring. You can’t ask for a better place. They made my son’s first, very important tattoo flawless, emotionally and physically. Every single person we met while there was welcoming and supportive on a very emotional journey for me and my son.” — Jodie Hare, Google Review
Unbelievably professional, fast, and did meticulous work
“Josh Murdock was unbelievably professional, fast, and did meticulous work on my tattoo, and he got a ton of coverage for only 2 1/2 hours. Also very good conversations to help distract from the pain 😂 can’t wait to get more work done here! Whoever designed the shop did an amazing job, no doubts about how clean it is and well spaced out.” — Brittany Kristalovich, Google Review