Clean space, awesome staff. Shasha at the front is wonderful, and Painless J knocked it out of the park with my tattoo. Also, only a half mile from medical center metro stop, which is awesome for me. HIGHLY recommend this shop to anyone.

Bethesda tattoo is a wonderful shop. The staff are helpful, friendly, outgoing and very skilled. I just got my second tattoo at Bethesda Tattoo and the quality, the artistic skill of the staff and the organized, professional and orderly way they do business really appealed to me. My artists, Liaa Walter, is great to work with. Liaa collaborated with me for months on the artwork and the design. Liaas line work is exceptional and she does the most beautiful and detailed floral work Ive ever seen. Ive gotten many compliments on my ink. I recommend Bethesda tattoo to novices like me and veterans alike.

Erica was amazing! Very professional and knowledgeable. I highly recommend her

James Hughes is a 6ft bearded angel.I received my first tattoo in March of 2021.A tattoo to commemorate my mother, so basically, this was really important to me.The process was explained clearly, I understood everything that was told and I was comfortable the entire time. I didnt feel rushed, they answered my silly questions and responded amply.I asked for a very intricate tattoo and Mr.Hughes delivered exactly what I asked for after a quick chat during my appointment.The shop was clean, the stations were well managed and organized, James harped on the Covid-19 precautions and made sure I knew I was in good hands.My only problem is not leaving my review sooner.

Kai was great. What I wanted wasnt possible, but was consulted on a number of other piercings and left with two great items. Super happy, everyone was so nice :) will be going back

Awesome! Kai did a an ear piercing for me in a similar location to where I got my other ear pierced years ago. That time I almost passed out from it- this time was SO easy. He made it as painless as a piercing can be, talked through the process so you knew what to expect, cleaned and talked through aftercare after doing the piercing to give you time to lay there and make sure all was okay. They don’t have infinite jewelry options but definitely enough to find something suitable for the first piercing and at a nice range of prices. I would definitely recommend.

Bethesda Tattoo will be the only parlor I will go to. The environment is forever interesting in the best manner possible and every artist has their own story tied to their amazing personalities. Looking forward to finishing my arm there.

Kai pierced my cartilage this afternoon and I’m so happy! Have been wanting this piercing for almost a year but it took me a while to get up the nerve to do it. Kai made me feel very at ease and the process was quick. I have a significant fear of needles but didn’t faint or even panic because they were so good natured and chill. Good vibes and good service. Also enjoyed the easy process of completing all paperwork and reservations online for a fast COVID-safe visit.

Thank you for making my real first tattoo experience even better than I had hoped! Bethesda Tattoo is filled with such talented artists doing beautiful work and most importantly thank you James for making my exact vision come to life. James was patient, helpful, and is so talented. I’m so happy with my result!

Went in yesterday for a a simple piercing that I had booked day of. Staff was welcoming and helpful. Kai (sorry if I spelled that wrong) walked me through everything and made it a quick and pleasant experience - just what I needed. Will definitely come back here for my next one!

James is an amazing artist! He is patient, does his homework and is an intelligent man and does his research. His work is so detailed and meticulous! This man is a Genius - he did a tattoo of Shiva on my shoulder yesterday and almost everyone was speechless on how well the detail came out. Thank you James!!

Best experience Ive ever had at any tattoo studio. Painless J is an amazing artist and a wholesome human being. On my last visit Kai pierced my nipple, she was thorough and professional and it was done before I knew it. My friend got ink at the same time and was ecstatic with the results. Would recommend over 9,000

I find Painless J to be extremely unprofessional when booking tattoo appointments. You may or may not hear back from him.

First off, the tattoos are amazing! I got a traditional japanese dragon going on my shoulder and a bit on my chest, and James took what I had in mind for it and made it 20 times better. I could not be more happy with the outcome. Also, most of the places I have gone to during this pandemic I am very nervous inside and dont feel safe. I didnt feel this at all there, which made the process of getting a tattoo a lot more enjoyable than it would have been. Nice people, safe place, great art, Ill definitely be back in the future.

This was a great experience from start to finish, ESPECIALLY considering the challenges COVID poses! James took the time to design and refine my idea to exactly what was in my head, and then he executed it perfectly.The shop took amazing safety protocols for COVID - other than client and artist, social distancing was in effect, in addition to the staff wearing N95 masks and the clients being required to wear masks. I also felt extra safe because everyone allowed in was being pre-screened with a touchless thermometer, and only one client was being seen at a time.I have had tattoos at other shops, but this is my place moving forward. The quality, professionalism, cleanliness (again, the COVID protocols were followed to a T and the place was practically sparkling clean), friendliness and overall experience are great. Id recommend to friends & family and I cant wait to see James in the future for more artwork!

I have been coming to Bethesda tattoo for 10+ years and I will never get tattooed anywhere else. The knowledge, quality of work, and friendliness of the staff are amazing. Every artist there does fantastic work but James is truly exceptional. From small dainty pieces to full, complicated and multi-session art, his tattooing skills are off the charts. I get DAILY compliments on my tattoos and I would never go anywhere else.

The tattoo artists are professional, the studio is clean, and everyones pleasant to talk to. I got a cover-up tattoo done there by Painless J. I described what I wanted to him, and a week or two later, he came back with a great design. A few short sessions, and I had my new tattoo done!

I have two tattoos, both of which I have gotten from here. They make it a painless process to set an appointment up, and they really made me feel welcome. On top of that, the precautions they took to keep everyone safe during the corona virus pandemic amazed me. I didn’t feel like I was at risk at all. Everyone there is so nice and funny, I enjoyed it there even when the tattoo hurt. 5 stars worthy. Definitely getting future tats here.

James gave me my first tattoo yesterday. He did an incredible job overall, from start to finish. Aside from his artistry and thorough explanation of the process and after care, his company made me feel completely safe by taking all of the recommended COVID-19 precautions!

5 stars!? Are you kidding me! ? 10 is more like it! Ive seen work from about every shop in the DMV. This shop is CLEAN! ! fantastic ARTIST & GREAT OWNER! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Bethesda tattoo was my first tattooing experience and I couldnt be happier. The staff is friendly and professional. They are always reachable and flexible and the value for my tattoo was amazing. My first ever session of 4 hours was made very comfortable by James (who is just sweet and open for input) and everybody contributes to the great atmosphere at the shop. I already scheduled my next one. I can think of a better place.

This place is fabulous. Spotless, professional, well-run, and everyone is friendly, careful and creative. Piercing experience and followup were just plain excellent.

I recently had my ear lobes pierced at Bethesda Tattoo, and the staff made the experience super comfortable from start to finish. Kai was extremely professional—very informative with a gentle touch. I had no pain whatsoever, not during the piercing or in the days that followed. I even brought my daughter along since she’s been asking to have her ears pierced as well, and even though she opted to wait, I know there’s only one place in Bethesda I’ll take her when she’s ready. I highly recommend Kai and Bethesda Tattoo. Thanks again!

Jermaine was absolutely amazing. Did a great job, easy to schedule. Really helps they are right off of Red Line Metro as well. Shop is very clean and professional. Will be going back.

Never been here just the costumer service seemed genuine when I called for info

I had such a great experience with Kai. I had a lot of anxiety going in and they were super kind and helpful and made me feel really good about getting my piercings. They even helped me with some questions I had about piercings I already had.The shop itself was really nice and clean, and the receptionist was really helpful. They answered all of our questions and were just generally very friendly.I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending the shop to my friends!

James worked his magic and gave me my first tattoo which I always dreamed of having. When I first met him I felt such positive energy and I knew that I was in good hands. Thank you so much.

I have known the shop owner James for over 15 years and we have done over 100 hours of tattoo work on my body. There isn’t a shop within 100 miles that can compare to the professionalism and artistry. Check the shop out, you won’t be disappointed. SKOL

Best place to get a tattoo in Bethesda!

Bad choice. Would never recommend for tattoo.

Ive known James for years, throughout his career at different places...Ive always been pleased with the work hes done on me, and the recent work he did of my dog left me speechless...Ive been in shops where the artist and customer dont talk to each other much...all I heard was friendly talk and laughter between the artists and clients...theyre professional, very covid conscious, yet at the same time its a warm friendly environment. Their receptionist, Shasha is a sweetheart. Everyone whos seen the recent work James did are raving. I will never go anywhere else.*Once again James has done a phenomenal job...this is adding to my last post. Let me start out by saying that many years ago, more than 20 years ago, I had an eagle that looked like Chaka from the Land of the Lost and Sigmund the Sea monster got drunk together with Godzillas wife one night and decided to pro create. James was the only guy I went to who was honest with me and wasnt throwing me malarky to make $. I was so pleased with the cover up and still am. Yesterday, he did beautiful work of a writers quote it gaelic. When you walk in there, the vibes are always positive. People are always laughing, and the artists check each others work out. Shasha the receptionist was a sweetheart as usual, and all of the artists are so friendly. Ive never seen anyone walk out of there looking disappointed. Its the kind of place I wouldnt mind just hanging out at because the vibes are so good. Diverse music playing. My experience yesterday was a great topper to my birthday. I always tell people about how great this shop is. Thanks Guys!...Youre the Real Deal!

Awesome shop!! Go see Painless J

I LOVED this place, everyone was so nice and professional!

Kai is a fantastic piercer! Last year I got a curated ear (cartilege, forward helix, and conch) and Kai explained everything step by step and did such a beautiful job! I came back after healing to change out my jewelry and brought my sister along to see Kai work their magic on her too! I cant wait to get more piercings here, the front desk staff is also always kind and helpful.

I got my nostril pierced by Kai. They artfully placed it to compliment my other nose piercings. They explained the entire process and aftercare process, so eloquently. I would recommend Kai to anyone looking for any kind of person. Excellent piercer/artist. :)

This was the best tattoo/piercing experience. The receptionist was incredibly sweet, patient, and helpful. Adam did all 3 of our tattoos and did a fantastic job. We decided last minute to get a piercing too and they were so cool about it. Every employee was nice to us. We ended up chatting with everyone in there and laughing all afternoon. I highly recommend them!

Adam was amazing to work with for a 2nd time. His patience and amazing attention to detail made it a pleasure once again. Looked out for my needs thru the full process., Making sure it was done correctly and to my wants. Thank you!!!

I personally got a tattoo from Painless Jay. Jay is a fantastic artist who walks you through his process, is very open about his communication, and caters to the details you want. Beyond that, every other artist Ive met there is incredibly friendly and all have an impressive array of work. This is a highly professional and friendly shop, I definitely recommend going her for a tattoo or piercing.

Ive been to many tattoo places, even in other states. This was by far the worst place Ive been to. The receptionist was rude and was not helpful what so ever and when I mentioned why something wasnt disclosed to me over the phone, she said and I quote thats not my job, but told me when I got there, so which one is it?Is it not your job or are you just lazy? She was probably just trying to rush me off the phone. Im in customer service and would not dare act like she did, the person at the front desk should be pleasant and helpful, even if its at a tat shop. The piercer was some trash too. It was almost like I was bothering them by being there and asking questions. They did not seem interested in helping me. I called another tattoo place in the area and they were beyond helpful and even recommended something to me that Bethesda Tattoo did not. Whatever you do, dont waste your money at this place. There are so many other tat places in the area. This place SUCKS!!!!!!!

I went here to get my first tattoo a year ago. Just a simple Crest and it was quick and affordable and the lines are amazing. Seriously. Every wonders how the lines have stayed so strong and clean. It was worth every penny. High quality artists, ink, and tools.

Liaa Walter is fantastic! Started a sleeve today and cant wait to see where it goes. Shes creative, clear, interesting, and has terrific interpersonal skills. Cant recommend highly enough --

I got my first tattoo done with Victoria last year. The design I wanted done wasn’t anything too flashy or fancy; it’s a small symbol on my wrist that’s filled in with black. While my tattoo’s content isn’t something people would usually comment on, I have gotten A LOT of compliments on it, particularly because of the line work and how clean it is. Most people comment on how well done it is! Even a year later it still looks like new! I am so glad I decided on this shop and artist for my first tattoo! It’s given me high expectations!Also, I should add that the shop was very clean, the staff was friendly, and they had great music!

Never go here for piercings i am 19 and they denied me at first then were raising their voice at me for touching my piercing after it was already fully healed.

THE place for tattoos! Jason is awesome. This is my third time there and Im sure Ill come again. Great vibes, wonderful tattoos

The website says that “We also have a large selection of gold and gem jewelry available for purchase.” This is totally false. They have 3 half empty boxes sitting on a counter. That’s it.edit: your receptionist pointed me to your limited selection and I asked is that it and they said yes. We have vs we custom design/we order are very different; instead of sorry not sorry crabbingat me for being unhappy, you might consider modifying the language on your site to better reflect your business. For posterity, I have added a screen shot of your response.

I called to make an appointment and they scheduled me for 12pm the next day. I arrived on time but the artist wasnt there. He is on his way, I was told. 15 minutes later I inquired again at the front desk and again I got He is on his way as an answer. At 12:30pm I inquired again and I was rudely told (no apology or anything) that I can either wait (he is running late) or reschedule (its up to you, the front desk person said). I decided to leave. I found this behavior disrespectful of my time and of me as a (potential) customer. (Also, they could have called me to apologize - they have my name and phone number- but they did not do so. Overall a very poor display of customer care and a disappointing experience.)UPDATE (4/11): I was pretty rude, the owner says in their sorry but not sorry reply. I did notice a pattern of blaming the customer in their replies to negative reviews below, so I guess I am not surprised that they have reserved me the same treatment here.

If I could give this place a 0 I would!!! We live in Frederick, MD, so we called first to make sure they take walk-ins. We were advised that they take walk-ins and to come in. So we drove to Bethesda arriving at 4:40...mind you they dont close until 8pm and we just wanted lettering. We walked in... everyone was standing around with only 1 person getting a tattoo finished up. The young man at the desk tells us that they arent taking walk-ins today....of course we are now confused...so we told him we called earlier and he told us they were taking walk-ins. He then says...Oh, sorry the person that does the walk-ins left already. REALLY!!!! So why the hell didnt you tell us when we called that u only take walk-ins up until a certain time. What a waste of my time! You have 10 plus tattoo artist and yet you only have 1 person doing walk-ins on a Saturday and they leave at a certain time. DONT WORRY...Im sure another tattoo establishment will appreciate our business. Be honest with your patrons.

Went twice to get to different tattoos. I had two different tattoo artists taking care of me. Both were amazing, the entire staff is extremely welcoming and the energy of this place is unique, just feel like home the second you get in!Would definitely recommend!

I went here for my septum piercing last June along with my sister who had her eyebrow pierced. We were really impressed with how clean, professional and knowledgeable the staff was! Our piercer answered all of our questions and they provide you with everything you need to take care of your piece as it heals. She even called me a few weeks later to ask how my piercing was healing, and if I had any additional questions. I have 12 piercings and this studio was by far the best experience Ive had to date. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get a piercing in the DC area.

Great experience! All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Fun and welcoming atmosphere and convenient location. My tattoo artist, Cas, was super friendly and talented--knew what I wanted before I could even put it into words. I will definitely be coming back again, and I recommend it!

This is my favorite tattoo/piercing shop in DC Metro area. They have excellent customer care, i.e. theyre thorough, friendly, and make sure youre happy with their work. I highly recommend them.

Everything was done professionally and with skill. I got a small piece on my forearm by Tina, who I recommend very highly as a wonderful artist and someone to make the process comfortable and fun. Would definitely go back for more!

I love Bethesda Tattoo. I love James, he’s done two memorial tattoos for me. Also love Adam, de did a floral piece for me. Professional and friendly place. Calling soon for my next appointment.

Absolutely amazed and super pleased with the tattoo I got at Bethesda Tattoo Company!! The studio is clean, the artists are professionals and the level of talent/experience speaks for itself.. The pricing was fair and the atmosphere was very upbeat. I couldnt be happier with what I got. I will definitely be coming here for my next one!

Very professional and nice. Went w my daughter to get her nose pierced and the piercer was v knowledgeable. I wasn’t thrilled about the nose piercing but I felt good about it being done at Bethesda Tattoo.

Walk in today with Josh went fantastically. My first tattoo and I decided to get 2. Very personable, professional, and had a lot of great input to make my design look the best it can be. Highly recommend the place!

I just wanted to say thank you so much to Kai, the piercer who pierced my septum, they were so talented and caring! I was really scared but they calmed me down and reassured me that it would be ok. And thank you to the tattoo artist Painless J, he was so funny and talented, he made my first tattoo experience so special and amazing! I would recommend anyone who wants a quality tattoo/piercing experience to come to bethesda tattoo :)

Victoria is a true artist and you are her canvas. She will add what you love on the inside to your outside. So glad to be one of her devoted clients

I got a cartilage piercing and did exactly what they told me to do to take care of it, but it still got so infected that I had to go to the hospital and get it removed. I have never experienced so much pain in my life, my ear grew over the piercing and the doctor had to rip through the skin to get it out. It was a huge waste of $110 which is so expensive anyways, plus the cost of going to the hospital.

My viking brother James did an amazing full back piece on me years ago and he has been my one and only artist for years now. If you want a great conversation about all aspects of life, James is your man. You will leave the shop with exactly what you wanted and more. James and I have worked on my body for years and I couldnt be happier. We have an understanding that I respect his work so much, that I give him an idea and he creates a masterpiece. Only problem is we are running out of space. My next art work from James will be a picture of my grandfather from when he was young on my chest. Its going to be sick. Bethesda Tattoo, hands down best shop in DC!Scottie Viking D

Love James he is amazing! Hes done about 4 of my tats and I will keep going back for more. The portraits he did if my boys are unbelievable! This is the place to go if you want your tat done right!

Received a beautiful cherry blossom tattoo, covering up an old tattoo, from Adam today. Wonderful experience, putting you immediately at ease. Tattoos are expensive, but you get what you pay for, and in comparison to other places, the prices are competitive. Would definitely return and not consider going anywhere else.

I went here for my second tattoo. Loved how clean it was! My favorite thing about Bethesda Tattoo is that you can tell the artists care about their art and are genuinely interested in giving you the best experience. For only doing tattoos professionally for 4 years, Adams work was extremely impressive. It was great feeling that I can go in for my tat and trust that the artist totally understands what I want, especially since my design was a little complicated. I love the end result and I had fun during the process of getting my tattoo. My boyfriend recommended the place after going to Steve, and both he and I are going back to Bethesda Tattoo for more later this year.

Victoria is an amazing artist. And Jay is great too. They make the tattoo experience amazing.

This is mostly a rating of Liaa Walters work, though Cas and Jermaine are both amazing people&artists and the rest of the staff has always been wonderful whenever Im in.Liaa has done seven of my eight tattoos, and man, that eighth tattoo wouldve been that much better if shed done it instead. Ecstatic for the ninth.(The other artists here are amazing! Do not misunderstand. This shop is an unreal collection of talent.)

I had the pleasure of working with Liaa Walter on my new beautiful flower tattoo. She was kind and professional from beginning to end. She patiently listened to my ideas and translated them into a piece that I’m very proud of. I look forward to working with her again in the future! Thanks Liaa and everyone at Bethesda Tattoo!!!

They always provide fantastic service. Kind, helpful and knowledgeable about piercings, care, jewelry, etc.

Worth the wait. Kevin is a great artist and so easy to work with. Everyone there is polite, professional but also laid back and fun.

Do not come to this location is you are a walk in. Called first to see if walk in are welcome before driving from Frederick only to find out when I got there no one was available for walk ins. However several artist standing around and doing absolutely nothing . Complete waste of time and gas . TRUST YOU LOST A LOT OF MONEY !!!!

Very clean, very professional and the artists really know what they are doing. Christian gave me a great barn star. Its a little more expensive here that some other places, but you get what you pay for and two big things about tattoos...You want a perfectly done tattoo because youve got it for life...and you dont want to have any infection/medical risk...Bethesda Tattoo gets an A plus on both scores.

Great place great artists. It was such a laid back and friendly atmosphere.

I have been to two places in the DMV area for tattoos here and Fattys. Bethesda Tattoo is the place I will continue to go to for my tattooing needs. The receptionist was helpful and very nice, she seemed like she wanted to help you. The artist I booked with was named Jason or painless j and he was really great, super professional, and personable. The tattoo hurt way less then my previous one because he took his time instead of digging into my skin and rushing. I would highly recommend this place for your tattooing!

Great place--loved my tattoo. It was super clean and thorough!! Would recommend.

Highly skilled and friendly artists here!

Got a very large coverup from Matt here and am totally happy with it. Love the crew and vibe here. Everyone was amazing. Lots of different artists with different styles. Very diverse crowd from a 65 year old woman getting her first tattoo to serious inkheads

After walking the wrong way, I found Bethesda Tatto Co tucked away, and Im so glad. I could not have asked for more professional or friendly people. Since it was my first tattoo I was a little nervous but they worked with me and made sure I was comfortable and that I knew there was no rush if I needed to take a break at any point. I would highly recommend Bethesda Tattoo Co for anybody getting a tattoo.

Corinne was so great while piercing my four year olds ears! Very clean and welcoming!

I walked into it like it was a restaurant. They came and they served my table. They are very polite and they are there for you, for the things you want. If its tattoos, theyve got it. If its pirceing, theyve got it.

Best customer service and really talented artists. The price is also reasonable

A fabulous shop with a variety of amazing artists. I cant recommend Cas Loll highly enough!

Victoria is amazing. Scheduling can be a bit rough. And their shop prices are a bit high.

Awesome! I love my tattoo and the artist made me feel very comfortable

Great staff, amazing artists.

Great staff. Over priced. Lacking in realism. I would not recommend this place. I left feeling ripped off and very disappointed.

My first tattoo is a piece of art caringly placed on my thigh by Leam. It is nearly perfect, we will add necessary touches in a few weeks. Highly recommend using something designed by Leam if youre into surrealism and nature.

Awesome piercer, and about to start working with a tattoo artist there. ill certainly update this when we start the work

I drove to Bethesda to reserve my appointment and have a consultation. They told me the artist I wanted was out that day so I couldnt have a consultation. So I booked my day for the tattoo a couple months in advance and scheduled my consultation with Leam. I came back for my consultation and I had my design already. Leam seemed to half listen to me. He told me to go home and put black outlines on my design (a watercolor tattoo) and to imagine it a lot bigger. (Its a radish and 3 short words) I went home and edited the design and even photoshopped it onto my arm to show size (half my forearm), and emailed it in. I got no response. I called the parlor and asked if they had gotten my email. They said they had and had forwarded it to Leam. They said if he had not responded then it was fine. I show up today, Leam asks me why Im here, Because I have an appointment with you? He says he sent me an email saying he couldnt do the tattoo today, looks at his phone, and says darn it didnt send! I took 4 hours off work! So did my husband! We ask why he cant do it, its such a simple tattoo! and he says because of our interaction! I have been nothing but sweet this whole time! Then Leam says because Im not a tattoo artist and think everything is simple. I was completely distressed that going there again and again and again left me with nothing when other tattoo artists had looked at my design and called it simple, easy, and straightforward. What a waste of time, money, and gas.

Very clean and Professional. Christian does good work.

Terrible service; the tattoo artist i chose (Bajek) rejected to tattoo me because i didnt like what he drew up for me and when i asked for a different artist the owner, James, said that i forfeited my $80 deposit because of the time Bajek had spent on TRACING the tattoo.So even though the employee refused to provide me with service the owner literally said that it was my fault for not liking the drawing. He said that i clearly didnt know what i really wanted and that i wasted their time and if i wanted to be tattooed by another artist i had to pay another $80 deposit.

The best!

Amazing team....I love Bethesda Tattoo

I went during business hours (6:30 pm on a Wednesday) and door was locked and call went to their voicemail.

Great service

What age limit do they reqiure

Best place

Can we say sleazy.......