Black Heart Tattoo
177 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 431-2100
- Hours:
Thu-Sun 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: Yes
27 reviews
Neighborhood: Old Oakland
"Frigging awesome place, Neat Clean, cool tunes and even cooler people. Got 2 small pieces done by Andrew and my wife got 1. The guy new what…" read more »
70 Reviews for Black Heart Tattoo
I was a little scared at first because I never had one before. Decided to get a butterfly on my ankle. The artist was very patient with me and calmed me down and reassured me that everything would be OK. The tatoo turned out great! And it didn't even hurt!
Scott Sylvia works there, it must be good. I went there only twice: to accompany my boyfriend for his backpiece and then I went there myself to get my bows done by Jeff. I didn't even need to make an appointment because everybody in town were at the Body Art Expo (which I avoid like the plague. Can you imagine a bunch of bloody, drippy, sweaty people?)
All in all, it was a pleasant experience. Jeff is super talented and really nice so I might go back there.
Does it hurt? The million dollar question that is asked by all non-inked folk. My obligatory reply is YES! After visiting BHT's website a couple of times I decided to get my next piece from Nick Rodin. I wanted a piece in memory of my grandma. Two weeks before my appointment, I met Nick, showed him the picture I wanted (my grandma from the 20's?) he copied the picture and, two weeks later... his interpretation was amazing. I absolutely love it. Nick is very cool, I liked him a lot. As far as the shop, each artist has his own little room that can be made private if you close the "Black" curtains. Lots of stuff on the walls to take your mind off, well, you know... I recommend this shop 100%. These guys are the best of the best.
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I got a fabulous tattoo from Nick this spring. He is exceptionally talented, professional and easy to talk to. Which is good since we spent 6 hours together and he was incredibly patient with my squirming and grimacing! He does great work with color and has a nice eye for detail, and is very open to working with you until the design is just right. In fact, the entire staff here is friendly and unpretentious, and the shop is clean, cozy and fun. My man has been tattooed by Nick and also got an amazing tattoo from Tim. Go on, fulfill that hipster fantasy of yours and schlep on over to Black Heart for a piece of permanent art... you won't regret it (well, unless you're getting a portrait of your ex across your forehead or something).
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I wanted to add a wicked piece to this story ...
i went to get my appointment on March 22 (9 months after my father passed away), after discussing with Tim that i wanted a small piece in memory of my dad he asked Maya to give me an appointment, when she did, she said: "How about April 4th?" --- April 4 was my fathers birthday.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/05/2008
It was a big deal to add a piece to my existing tattoo in memory of my father -- thanks to other… Read more »
Respet the Maya or a wind to blacken the sky, gaaaahhhrrrr
It takes a lot to put my corporate world ladder to the side, walk into a tattoo shop and tell them,"Will you do this right here please..up the front of my entire arm". Everyday for the rest of my wonderful, happy life I will see what I have done. That is... what Nick Rodin at Black Heart did. By the way, its amazing. I did a lot of research, really its true, before getting it done. I wanted color and a lot of it. Feminine colors, not I just out of prison and I got a hold of some crayons at the Dollar Tree color. When I saw his work, just knew he was the one. My one and only..tattoo artist. Spend the money, its well worth it. To be honest, its a damn steal for what your getting. Jump on it before the wait is 3 months for a consultation.
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Scott Silvia is one of the best artist to ever sling ink on my body. The Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday portraits have won countless awards and appeared in a hard cover book. I can't say enough about one of the best in artists in the Bay area. The the shop as a whole has some of the best in the area and their talents speak for themselves. Yes there is a waiting list but it is well worth the wait!!!
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Tim Lehi! Holy Crap. 6 months is a long time to wait but to say he is worth it is a HUGE understatement. He is a gentle giant, with no attitude and no judgement. I have not seen better asian themed work in S.F. I researched for 6months and then had a consult and waited 6 more months. My Hubby and I both got our super dope tattoos started on Sunday and i could not be more pleased. Spend the money, wait for him.
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I concur with the other reviews here. You could almost eat off the floor in this place. I just got a tattoo from Jeff, almost a half sleeve, it took a couple sessions and hides nicely beneath a short sleeve polo. He's an amazing artist, and good to work with.
Scheduling can be a bit rough and rates are a bit spendy but for something that is going to be a part of you for the rest of your life the challenges are worth it.
one of the collectively best shops on the fukking planet. period.
With a name like Black Heart, how can you go wrong? I received a referral from Yohko back in the summer of '06 that Jeff Whitehead was the man to go to, if I wanted some quality work. I was in dire need after learning that my previous artist had moved away. So I strolled down to the shop because I was at a new stage in my life and wanted some ink to tie my memories to.
I was a little nervous (as always when I meet a new artist) but Jeff put me at ease and designed the phoenix that I had been dreaming of. We discussed it/made an appointment, and I wound up only waiting about 2 weeks. When I returned, the design was smaller than I had really wanted; but he assured me that it would be more symmetrical (and it was). He worked really quickly... total of 3 hours over 2 appointments because of my inability to sit for very long.
Once it was all over with I had a gorgeous new piece on my back with colors that seemed as though my phoenix was going to spread it's wings and take flight. It's now been close to 2 years and the color is still quite beautiful (of course they never keep that ultra gloss) and I still get so many compliments whenever I happen to be in the mood to show some skin.
Judging from what I saw at the shop, there is a solid amount of talent here. I continue to recommend BHT to any of my friends who are shopping for a new tattoo.
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If you want a GREAT tattoo, this is the place to go. True artists! Scott Sylvia is thee man!
OK, so I only have "one" tattoo, which I got this spring and Nick was the artist, but it is a beauty and I can't imagine I would have had as good as an experience as I did.
Getting a tattoo here is not as simple as coming in, plopping down yer green and saying "scrive me up"! At least not if you have something elaborate, as I did (do!). I first went in and Maya was very patient and helpful as I described what I wanted - she set me up with an appointment with Nick later that week. When I arrived back, I brought some pictures and described for him what I wanted (which went from upper arm to upper chest and then also around to the upper back. Nick asked for 2 weeks to complete a sketch and I dutifully came back with my deposit (cash only here!). Nick's initial sketch was impressive - not too cartoony, but certainly animated enough to meet my idea. With that, I came back 2 days later for what would be my first of 2 appointments. My tattoo took approximately 5 hours over two sessions: the first being the outline and black and then later filling in all the color. Along the way, I appreciated Nick's artistry and attention to detail and already have an idea for another tat!
If you're going to bite the bullet, this is the place to do so and Nick's the man to be your artist!
+10 billion stars
i came innnnnn, and wanted something. Kinda young I am. So now I'ma wait. but there shxt is BEAUTIFUL. You'll never go wrong here whatever you want, whatever you need. Tre Belle. When I'm ready I'm gonna get my peacock done here :] neck down
I saw Nick Rodin last week to add onto one of my pre-existing tattoos. He did an fantastic job of taking all of my ideas and creating a great upper arm piece. He added some lettering that looks awesome and the shading in the letters is outstanding. I was very happy with the overall experience at Black Heart and will definitely be going back to Nick for more work. I highly recommend you do the same.
Jesus (not to bring up the Lord's Name - believe me, I'm not the kind of creep to get a cross or a pic of baby jesus tattooed on his ass), these guys are talented.
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TIM LEHI Rules!!!! I have given him 50 hours of my life thus far for a lifetime of happiness with his work. What can you say about a place that is a huge part of your lifestyle? Black Heart Tattoo is by far the best SF shop with the ultimate set of talent. Tim Lehi is my man.
This place is very clean and beautiful. I started getting a sleeve by Tim and he works quick. Great colors, very creative and nice. This shop is not intimidating at all. I will have to put some pix up soon but his blue green fading into black is so breathtaking. I had to wait a bit to get an appt. but I made it while I was moving back and forth so it wasnt too big of a deal. I am going to have the hottest bloody arm in the bay area.
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just had a tatoo done by nick R, and really i can't even tell you how happy i am with his work. Nick has an amazing skill and makes the tattoo experience mellow and easy. highly recommend black heart and Nick. Manuel
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Of course this place is going to have 5-stars. After all, you cant get a bad tattoo at this place, every single artist is great at a variety of styles and despite the waiting list, if you want a good tattoo from a great artist be prepared to wait, and its worth it. I got my ribs done here by Tim Lehi, and although hes not the most light handed guy around, he is fast and hes great.
I live in Orange County and I fly out to San Fran to get tattooed, it is definitely worth it! Nick Rodin is the best, i have 5 tattooes and counting from him. He has done all my favorite tattooes (I have 14)! All the guys there do amazing work so I would be happy with any of them! And Maya the "shop girl" is super sweet!
The shop is extremely clean, big, and open.
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This place just makes me happy.
Scott did some amazing work for me, the kind that causes people to gasp. He seems to be particularly adept at fitting tattoo designs into the flow and shape of a body, resulting in something that's in it's very own class. The guy's great, I'll likely be back for more. Oh, and he's quick.
The shop's nice. Obviously extremely clean, each artist has his own station which he can close with curtains if that's necessary, and the folks are relatively nice considering how in demand the artists are. But seriously, these guys are so good I'd get tattooed by them in a prison messhall.
Super happy from the start. They book up far in advance, but since my design was pretty quick, I was called by Maya for the next available time slot which was a day away. Nick did the honor of bestowing me with my first. It was simple and quick. Thank you to Nick =) The place was clean, the staff were really entertaining and from what I was seeing, very very talented. I would recommend this place to anyone. My research payed off!
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I just got my first tattoo done at Black Heart, by Jeff Rassier. I did extensive research before finally choosing a place, and I was lucky enough to book an appointment only a couple of weeks after I dropped by the shop the first time. I brought in a picture and Jeff sketched up a design and made it a bit more interesting, and changed around details with no attitude or sullenness whatsoever. I would highly recommend this place, and Jeff if anyone is thinking of getting tattooed. He isn't too talkative, but very professional and friendly. I posted a picture of the cherry blossoms I got!
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I can't say enough about my favorite tattoo shop. Scott Sylvia has done basically all of my upper sleeves and chest and once I can make the commitment to have full sleeves, he is definitely the man for the job. I got my first tattoo from him at 222 Tattoo, then at Temple Tattoo in Oakland, and now he is partial owner of Black Heart. Not only is Black Heart an aesthetically pleasing shop, it's a clean and friendly environment. Feel like having some privacy? Every artists' area has curtains that can be drawn around it.
Looking for an amazing artist who will lay ink that you'll still appreciate ten years from now? Go to Black Heart and check out their portfolios.
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having so many friends who are tattoo artists makes it extremely difficult for me to go to a new shop. first, i don't know anyone there at first and knowing people in shops comes with so many benefits. tattoo shops are always like second families when you get to know the people there. second, although i hear good things about the work they do, it's always a trust factor to get something permanently etched into your skin by someone you haven't met before you're handing over an $80 non-refundable deposit.
with that said, i can comfortably say i will return to black heart. when i first walked in, on a whim as i happened to have a spare $200 i'd rather have blown on a tattoo rather than bills, and asked when the soonest i could get an appointment was, i was surprised to find out i could get in the next day. i paid my $80 deposit and dreamt that night of how awesome the newest addition to my skin would be.
i showed up to meet with nick rodin, he took the design i wanted, drew up a transfer, and we got to work. i must say, i'm extremely glad to have taken the leap of faith because i will be back to see nick for another piece very soon. the work i got had a lot of fine lines to which he stayed very true to.
overall, the shop looks very clean and i really like all the artwork up around the joint. filling a shop up with flash says one thing. creating custom art to fill the space says another. and i'd much rather trust my permanent artwork to someone of the more creative sort.
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Mike's the Man....and his mustache is insanely sexy. but in all seriousness am an artist, so i walked in there with a detailed design and expeced to hear "i have to change this and that..." he didnt change a thing and did an awesome job
I'll just thro my 2 cents, as everyone already knows how great this place is. I had my leg piece done by Nick and, well- not only didi it come out FANTASTIC! but people everywhere stop and ask me where and who all the time. He put his own bit flair to my originbal design and, well- I couldn't be happier. Even Mom likes it!
ThanX.
If you're gonna get some ink, you gotta go here. As far as the price guage, it doesn't really apply. A tattoo is not something you shop for the cheapest price on. Ya dig?
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great place to get a tatto covered up. The dude did a nice job on covering up a bad decision I made years ago with a name i wont mention here.
After good reviews on Yelp, a friends recommendation, and Everlasting tattoo having a 6 month wait i thought i d give black heart a try. Called their store to make an appointment with Jeff because my friend got a sick tat by him but the lady on the phone said that Jeff doesn't do those kinda of tats so i didn't know if she was telling the truth or was trying to give someone else the business.
So i call back half an hour later only to get the same explanation which disappointed me again. So i decided to go to the dude she was referring me to which was Mike. I met up with him told him my basic idea and he said it would be easy to sketch. I pay the lady at the front my 80 dollar deposit and ask her when i could see my picture. She replied a week before you get it.
Time flys and a week before my appointment i call her up to find out the its not ready and to call back in a couple of days. I did and when i get there to see my design it wasn't ready. I called back the same night and ask if i could see the design tonight because he himself said he could probably show you more of it tonight. I call and she starts screaming at me saying not to worry and every ting will be fine which i thought was very rude. I decided not overreact.
The day comes when i finally am going to get it and the design was exactly as great as i thought it was be but i decided to go with it anyway. Mike was a cool dude and it made me even more comfortable to find out that he was religious.
In conclusion its definitely not the best place for first timers. I give 3 stars to Mike just because he was cool dude but if this place is supposed to be one of the best in San Francisco they should hire a new lady at the desk.
Everything you need in getting a tattoo.
- Clean
- Safe
- Varied artistic styles in each artist
- Enthusiastic artists
- Experienced
- World renowned
- in San Francisco
This is where people should go to get a tattoo. While not cheap, you'll never have to worry about the quality of the work. They will work with you to design or create exactly what you are looking for, no standard flash art here. The "artists" are more than just tattoo experts, they dabble in paints, and sketches, etc. The whole team is relaxed and all about the work. Appointments are necessary and worth the wait. Chances are anyone who knows tattoos will know one of the artist from Black Heart, especially if you live in S.F.
Now go get some ink.
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11 years ago some friends and I went out for a girls night. We decided to get tattoos. I went first (must be the Aries in me). They chickened out. Tattos really are permanent! It didn't turn out quite like I'd imagined it in my head. I've been wanting to fix it ever since. A friend referred me to Mike. He did an awesome job! We still have a little more work to do but I love the results so far. The parlour is really mellow and everyone is so friendly.
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Ok obviously if I'm going to go back and have them tattoo me again I'm going to give them five stars... cause that shit's permanent.
Anyways I went in to get some background clouds around some older work I'd had done by Sunny Buick. I picked Scott Sylvia based on numerous recommendations (he's tattoo'ed a few folks I know) and the fact that he did gorgeous american traditional and japanese work which was more up my alley. It must have been a relatively easy job for him albeit time consuming but he did a gorgeous job. Got it just the shade of lavendery blue I wanted and it compliments my older work quite well. He also added in some cherry blossoms around some older work on my chest and around the rest of the piece on my arm. He has a really nice light touch and tells some pretty funny stories.
I have a friend getting a bunch of work done right now by Tim Lehi that's amazing. I also have an ex that had work done by Jeff Rassier that's also incredible. Screw it, all the guys in there do incredible work. In my mind Blackheart is one of the best shops to get a tattoo at, if not the best. These guys have been in the business a long time and are pretty well known. The shop itself is really cool as well. They blast rockin' music and have a nice sense of style in terms of decor. I particularly dig Scott's collection of tattoo guns he has on his wall.
It also seems that they've updated their website (finally) and it's really really nice. So if you haven't been by lately take a look. And to echo someone else's review, they take credit cards which is a huge plus. They do require an $80 cash deposit to hold appts. My rate was $150.00 an hour and my total cost was very reasonable with tip. Be prepared for a long wait for an appt though. Mine was over 3 months for Scott and my boyfriend has a 6 month wait for Tim that he's still working on.
*Edit:* My friend and I just got matching pieces done below our elbows by Scott. He did such an awesome job on the color and shading. I'm now pondering what I should get done next by him!
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Another 5 stars for these purveyors of bloody skin doodling. The overall atmosphere and location of this shop speak to the quality of work - it's clean and nice and well-appointed, and that means the artists are providing the kind of top-notch work that let's them charge more than enough to pay the rent and feed their pets.
Speaking of pets, Jeff Rassier has a cute little dog with one of the stubbiest, waggiest tails I have ever seen. Jeff has done a cover-up, touch-up, and most of the sleeve on my right arm, and his work is great. I especially appreciated his work on the touch-up and cover-up; these are generally disliked by tattooers, from what I understand, but he handled both happily. His original work on my right arm is equally delightful, with a capital rad. Personality-wise, he's not the chattiest artist in there, but he has a good sense of humor and makes one feel at ease.
One of the most important elements of a tattoo shop is the music they play; this place does not disappoint, as the music is generally loud, fast, and hard, like a screaming boner of lightning, or something to that effect. Anyway, it's the kind of music that makes sense to listen to while tattooing is involved.
If you are concerned about how much a tattoo will cost, you shouldn't come here; you should start fucking tattoo artists, as that's the only way I know of getting great tattoos cheaply.
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This place is amazing. I can't wait to go back. I did not feel this place was pricey for the work I got done. 14 colors, 3 hours for a 3" x 9" tattoo for less than $350 with tip! The staff is really nice. They made sure I felt safe and comfortable. All in all; I would say it was a great experience.
One of the perks is the location! After you ink is done, you can go next door to zeitgeist and elevate your endorphin high with a cold beer and a burger.
5 stars from me
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I had a tattoo done by Scott Sylvia last Thursday. I had waited to see him since March and it was worth the wait. I originally had a hibiscus flower on the back of my left shoulder. I wanted to put that hibiscus on a vine that crept over my shoulder along with more flowers. A month ago I went in to speak with Scott about my ideas. Although I had a few pictures and a general idea, I really wanted to see what he would come up with. The piece I ended up with is a little more substantial than I originally thought I would get but it's absolutely gorgeous. Although substantial it's extremely feminine which softens it. I love it!
Scott, along with the other owners of Blackheart, are incredible artists. Scott is a great guy. He was very funny right off the bat telling me he doesn't like people. But once he's working he's very talkative and fun. Then once you're done, he's done. Hilarious! But what is most important is that he does beautiful work. I am excited to have him design a tattoo I've had in my head for 7 years. I know he will do a great job as he is a true artist.
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When it comes to the cream of the crop of tattoo artists and shops, this is it!
If you ever get the chance to make an appointment or stop by the shop to check it out - you should. It's a beautiful shop with amazing and professional artists.
I've personally been tattooed by Jeff Rassier and the piece is did on me is still by far one of my favorites. He works fast and efficient - the man clearly knows what he is doing and boy, he is GOOD at doing it.
Everyone is very nice and gracious and the front counter girl is wonderful!! Every experience with this shop I've had has been a great one.
If you're looking for a quality custom tattoo by a tattoo artist who knows what they are doing, go here. You can't go wrong with any of them!
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Definitely the dream team of artists working here. I have both upper arms done by Tim Lehi, the left one when he was working under Ed Hardy up in North Beach, the right one more recently at Blackheart.
These artists are the best of the best, and they specialize in large scale custom work. They're only going to do work on you if they're into it, and the wait is at least a few months... two signs of good artists.
I'm going back to Tim soon to extend the right arm to a full sleve, can't wait!
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