Apollo Tattoo Studio is Santa Monica's premier tattoo shop, located in Santa Monica's Ocean Park, on Main Street between Pico and Marine. Our Santa Monica tattoo shop has served the beachside community for over 20 years, delivering custom tattoos by award-winning artists in all styles. Whether you're looking for fine line work, traditional American, Japanese, blackwork, or any other style, our Santa Monica tattoo artists bring your vision to life.
Walk-ins are welcome at our Santa Monica location, or book an appointment to guarantee your spot. With 500+ five-star reviews and a 4.9 Google rating, we've earned our reputation as the best tattoo shop in Santa Monica.
Book Your Tattoo
5000+ clients 
Santa Monica's trusted destination for custom tattoos since 2007.
Our Santa Monica tattoo artists are carefully selected for their technical skill and client rapport. Each artist brings unique expertise to our team.
Our Santa Monica tattoo shop welcomes walk-ins 7 days a week. Stop by our Main Street location or call ahead to check availability.
From the initial consultation to the final needle stroke, we work closely with you to design something truly yours at our Santa Monica studio.
We use hospital-grade sterilization, single-use needles, and premium vegan inks. Your safety is our top priority.
Our Santa Monica tattoo artists specialize in every major style. Find the perfect aesthetic for your next piece.
Black & gray realism tattoos capture depth and drama with smooth gradients and meticulous detail. Popular choice at our Santa Monica tattoo shop.
Fine line tattoos are the epitome of delicate precision. Perfect for detailed botanicals, dainty symbols, or elegant minimalist pieces at our Santa Monica studio.
Traditional tattoos honor the roots of American tattooing with bold black outlines and iconic imagery. Timeless style available at our Santa Monica shop.
Color realism tattoos bring vivid, lifelike imagery to your skin with stunning accuracy. From portraits to nature scenes at our Santa Monica location.
Blackwork tattoos make bold statements with solid black ink and striking contrast. Popular at our Santa Monica tattoo shop.
Flexible booking paths
Schedule your custom tattoo experience in just a few clicks
Popular starting point
Reserve your tattoo session and let Apollo confirm the right artist, timing, and scope.
Tattoo bookings are a reservation, not the full session length. After you book, we will follow up to confirm your design details, quote range, and the total time needed for your piece so everything fits your vision and the schedule.
5000+ clientsEvery great tattoo starts with a great conversation at our Santa Monica studio. We'll explore your ideas, understand your story, and align on style, placement, and composition.
Your Santa Monica tattoo artist will create a custom design based on your input—nothing goes on your skin without your approval. Revisions included until you're 100% satisfied.
You'll arrive at our clean, welcoming Santa Monica studio where all the prep is already done. Your artist will walk you through every step for a comfortable experience.
Popular placement options at our Santa Monica tattoo shop
Founder Founder & Master Artist
Blue Mason founded Apollo Studio with a vision to elevate tattoo artistry in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in fine line work, photorealistic portraits, bold tribal designs, traditional pieces, and stunning cover-ups.
Artist Artist
Raa is a master of photorealistic tattooing, bringing portraits and nature scenes to life with incredible detail. Clients travel from across Santa Monica and LA for his signature hyper-realistic style.
Artist Artist
David brings classical artistry to modern tattooing at our Santa Monica studio. Trained in fine arts, he excels at capturing emotion and likeness in portrait work.
Jr. Artist Jr. Artist
Hannah brings fresh energy and meticulous attention to detail to our Santa Monica studio. Specializing in delicate fine line work, script, and minimalist designs.
From consultation to aftercare, we're dedicated to delivering the tattoo of your dreams, while making your experience smooth, inspiring, and unforgettable—right here at our Santa Monica studio.
A stunning tattoo deserves exceptional care. After your session, you'll receive detailed aftercare instructions specific to your tattoo, ensuring you know exactly how to care for your new piece. Our team is always available by phone, text, or email for any questions throughout the healing process.
Proper aftercare is essential for beautiful results—follow the guidelines, and your ink will heal beautifully.
Book AppointmentKeep bandage on for 2-4 hours. Gently wash with unscented soap. Apply thin layer of aftercare ointment. Expect redness and slight swelling.
Light peeling and flaking is normal. Don't pick or scratch. Continue moisturizing. Avoid swimming and excessive sweating.
Outer skin heals. May appear slightly dull—this is normal. Full healing takes 4-6 weeks. Continue sun protection.
Every Apollo tattoo uses 100% vegan ink — Fusion, World Famous, and Dynamic brands. No animal products, no compromises on color or longevity.
See What Our Satisfied Clients Have to Say
"Best tattoo shop in Santa Monica! Blue did an incredible piece that exceeded all my expectations. The studio is immaculate and welcoming."
"I've been to several tattoo shops in Santa Monica and Apollo is by far the best. Professional, clean, and amazing artists."
"First tattoo ever and I couldn't have picked a better Santa Monica shop. Hannah made me feel so comfortable."
"Walked in for a flash tattoo at their Santa Monica location and walked out with art. David's work is museum quality!"
"The attention to detail at this Santa Monica tattoo shop is unmatched. Hannah's work brought my vision to life."
"Clean, professional, and incredibly talented artists. Apollo is the gold standard for Santa Monica tattoos."
5000+ clients
Santa Monica, CA
Apollo was founded by Blue Mason in 2007. With 20+ years of body art experience, Blue brings master-level expertise to every piece. Read Blue's story →
Common questions about our Santa Monica tattoo studio
Yes! Walk-ins are welcome at our Santa Monica tattoo shop. For guaranteed availability, especially on weekends, we recommend booking ahead. Call (310) 331-0605 to check current availability.
Our Santa Monica tattoo shop is located on Main Street with street parking and nearby parking lots available. We're easily accessible from all parts of Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area.
Our Santa Monica tattoo shop is open 7 days a week, 8AM to 8PM. Walk-ins are welcome during all operating hours, or book an appointment online for guaranteed availability.
Apollo Tattoo Studio is widely recognized as the premier tattoo shop in Santa Monica, with 500+ five-star reviews and a 4.9 Google rating. Our award-winning artists specialize in every style from fine line and realism to traditional, blackwork, and Japanese tattoos.
Our Santa Monica tattoo artists specialize in all major styles including fine line, black and gray realism, color realism, traditional, neo-traditional, Japanese, blackwork, dotwork, geometric, watercolor, tribal, script, and minimalist tattoos.
Apollo is a working studio on Main Street in Santa Monica's Ocean Park — Blue Mason, Raa, David DaVinci and Hannah Newman in the tattoo chairs; Bunny Vogt running the piercing room. Implant-grade titanium, solid 14k and 18k gold, and a portfolio you can browse in person before any needle starts.
Walk in or book ahead — we hold same-day slots most days. The sentence is the tattoo. The images are only how it looks.
Apollo sits at 2625 Main St in Santa Monica, a block from the beach and easy to reach from anywhere on the Westside. Here's roughly how long it takes to get to us for tattoos and piercings:
There's metered street parking on Main Street and Ocean Park Blvd, plus a public lot on 2nd Street a short walk away. We recommend giving yourself an extra 10 minutes to park on weekends — Main Street gets busy with the farmers market and beach traffic. If you're running late, text us at the studio and we'll hold your appointment.
Book your free consultation at our Main Street studio today.
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