They say the best moments, especially during traveling, are all in one’s memory. But we also know the best of times can be worn on our skin — forever! More and more people are embracing the art of tattoo and as the wanderlust of this generation is at an all-time high, tats that remind one of a place (or a person met on the road) are becoming a thing. Wondering where you can get inked when and while in Manila? We’re rounding up the best tattoo shops in the metro:
Vice Coffee and Ink
http://www.instagram.com/p/nQoLGyH4dz/
This is where the aroma of coffee and the smell of ink meet. Welcome to Vice Coffee and Ink, a household name in the tattoo industry as well. It doubles as a coffee shop and lists top local celebrities as loyal patrons. The main artist is Marlon Capuno, celebrated for his technical approach leaving clients in awe for such a straight design and clean work.
http://viceinktattoo.com/ | 7838 Makati Ave., Makati City
Katribu Tatu
If you’re looking for a more personal session and a personalized ink on your skin, Katribu Tatu is the shop for you. Run by a husband-and-wife tandem Jonathan Cena and Jean Sioson, they specialize in Filipino hand-tapped tattoos and often create designs inspired by Philippine traditional symbols and tribal art. It is said they have even received blessing from Apo Whang-od herself, the famous and legendary traditional tattoo artist up in the mountains of Buscalan (read her story here). While they are known for doing the art by hand, they also do tattoo gun works.
http://www.facebook.com/katribu.tatu | San Guillermo Avenue corner A. Santos, Buting, Pasig City
55 Tinta
A growing community of tattoo enthusiasts patronize this shop, which is regarded to be a brainchild of OPM band Kamikazee’s members. 55 Tinta is becoming the go-to place for tattoos especially in the northern part of Metro Manila. With music fueling the place and great resident tattoo artists at the helm, 55 Tinta is surely one rocking place to get your skin inked while in the metro.
http://www.facebook.com/55TintaPilipinas/ | 55 Maginhawa, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon, 1101 Kalakhang Maynila
P&P Tattoo
Probably the most popular tattoo studio as it has local celebrities as their regular clientele, P&P Tattoo guarantees a smooth and superb job on your skin. Hygiene and sanitation is of utmost priority here and reason why it has become a household name in the Philippine tattoo industry. Skills are topnotch, too — their artists earning awards in and out of the country. Their main branch is located in Polaris Street, Makati (just walking distance from Z Hostel) and they have opened up branches in Eastwood City and in the islands of Boracay and Palawan.
http://www.pandptattoo.com | Makati: Unit G8 Bel-Air Soho Condo, 45 Polaris Street, Makati | Eastwood: Unit G1-C, Eastwood Citywalk 2, Eastwood Quezon City, Metro Manila
Gigie Santiago
If clean lines and precise skin work are your thing, Gigie is the person to go to. Even at a relatively lesser time in the field than more celebrated tattoo artists, Gigie has already made a mark precisely because of her elegant and graceful designs which make tattoos