Who would’ve thought that Kampong Gelam, a once-conservative heritage enclave would one day be home to some of Singapore’s top tattoo studios? Ahead, we share 7 of Kampong Gelam’s finest studios to get freshly inked.

Singapore Electric by Gimmelovetattoo

If you’re in the market for intricate Oriental-style body art, Augustine Nezumi (aka the head honcho of Singapore Electric by Gimmelove) is your guy. His vast portfolio showcases traditional Japanese-inspired pieces: Hannya masks, koi fishes, dragons and samurai tattoos in all their fearsome glory. The studio has nine other talented resident artists offering customised work in a variety of styles, from manga tattoos by Frankie Sexton to Clifford Wong’s contemporary black ink designs.

Augustine: https://www.instagram.com/gimmelovetattoo/
Frankie Sexton: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHwfCGhPmE/
Clifford Wong: https://www.instagram.com/p/B80LdzsFCSo/

24 Bali Lane, Tel: +65 9672 2347
Opening hours: 1pm – 11pm daily

Wild Paw Tattoo Co.

Expect contemporary-leaning designs with a twist on American traditional tattoo styles at Wild Paw Tattoo Co. Be it minimalistic designs with fine line work or livelier tattoos with Oriental-inspired stylings, these tattoo artists will definitely deliver.

30A Bali Lane
Opening hours: Mon – Sat, by appointment only. Check website for contact details.

Naked Skin Tattoo 

Located at Golden Mile Complex, Naked Skin Tattoo was founded by Alan Q. The studio’s works often showcase rich and vibrant colours against crisp black lines that pop beautifully against the skin. They also pride themselves on providing reasonable prices for their custom-made tattoos.

5001 Beach Rd, #02-28 Golden Mile Complex, Tel: +65 8300 3609
Opening hours: 1pm-10pm daily

Memory Lane Tattoo Studio

Beyond being works of art, tattoos are permanent memories etched on the skin, a philosophy the artists at Memory Lane Tattoo Singapore embody through their work. Helmed by Apple Qu, one of Singapore’s top female tattooists, the family-owned studio specialises in watercolour, calligraphic and coverup tattoos. Each design is custom-made – rates start from $100.

19 Haji Lane #02-01, Tel: +65 8720 9852
Opening hours: 12pm – 12am daily, by appointment only.

Tooth & Nail

Formerly known as The Standard Tattoo Co., the re-christened Tooth & Nail has a versatile crew of tattooists who produce anything from minimalistic hand-poked designs to whimsical, surreal art pieces, and monochromatic realism designs. Each tattoo artist has their own signature style – check out the Instagram page for their diverse body of work.

30A Kandahar Street, Tel: +65 8161 5081
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 2pm – 10pm; Closed on Sunday

Bada Bink Tattoo Firm

Want an old school tattoo done? Bada bink, bada boom – the tattoos created here are classic works of art. The studio specialises in traditional western techniques infused with modern flavour; bold black lines and vibrant colours across various tattoo styles. They often host guest artists from around the globe too, so don’t miss the chance to get inked by these international artists!

45A Haji Lane
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm daily

Featured image credit: Unsplash