Tower Tattoo Parlor

I was recommended this place by a girlfriend who had recently gotten a tattoo done. So excited this place was my first experience with getting a tattoo. I’ve been wanting one forever and have too afraid to commit and these guys made the process so fun that I’d do it again! Super super friendly staff! Got my first tattoo done by Asa Crow and I LOVE it. The whole experience was wonderful from beginning to end.
All the guys in there are very down to earth and approachable, Asa explained the whole process and worked with me to create exactly what I wanted.
The prices are super reasonable and the professionalism is spot on. It’s located above the tower bar in City Heights and it’s freakin awesome. Such a fun spot to check out! Will definitely go back!

Awesome place! Got my tattoo done by «scooter» Conner and it was min but squeezed me in between his appointments. Great prices for San Diego area.

I have been getting tattooed by Asa Lee crow for years now and he is such a great guy and awesome tattoo artist. He has always been understanding, fast, but a great artist. Everyone who works here is super nice and they always play good tunes and share good laughs. They won’t dick you around.

Today was my first time coming here loved my tatt. I didn’t ask the guys name but he was good. (The one with the long beard) appreciated the fix he did to a jacked up tattoo a so called tattoo artised did at ink pusher (steve Martinez) (wackk) thanks, going back soon!

Awesome shop, old school tattoo feel, not like these new shops that are only in it for the money, not the art. Loved this shop, very friendly, clean, and amazing artist. Asa was my artist and gave me exactly what I wanted, with his own artistic style, will recommend this shop to anyone looking for a tattoo. These guys made me feel comfortable, and the shop was clean. Thank you again Tower tattoo.

Went to get matching tattoos with my mom today (her first ever) and couldn’t have asked for a better experience! We got our tattoos done by Pat, who seemed shy at first but quickly opened up. Very EXCELLENT work! Clean place, new needles, very helpful about aftercare, and Pat was very patient. Highly recommend this place!

Go see Pat Bieck, the sweet ginger prodigy, before word gets out & he’s all booked up. Fantastic. Shop is clean, artists friendly & professional. Getting tattooed on the 2^nd floor of a vintage building overlooking University? Awesome. Experiencing pain following your appointment? Just head downstairs for a drink.

Whenever a friend mentions they want to get a tattoo, I always recommend this place. I got my first (and so far, my only) tattoo here with my best friend about two years ago. It’s in a sketchy part of town, so be sure to go earlier in the day and bring a friend. Pat, the tattoo artist, was great, and wouldn’t even accept my tip since it was my first ever tattoo. I gave him one anyway, but I thought it was a nice gesture. It’s a simple «let it be» tattoo on my ribcage, but he made sure the lettering turned out perfectly, and even two years later, it looks like I just got it done. They get busy, so be sure to make an appointment, and keep in mind that the bar opens later in the afternoon if you’re planning on any pre-​tattoo drinks. My same friend went back to get another tattoo here about a year later, and the experience wasn’t quite as positive as the first time. His tattoo was more complicated, so the sketch had to be modified a few times, which I don’t think the artist was too happy about. Both he and the other artist (who was working on a different person) seemed annoyed with us, and we felt uncomfortable sitting there while they bantered back and forward for what seemed like 45 minutes. Despite this, I would still go back if I decided to get another one. I love how mine turned out.

About 5 years ago a few of my girlfriends wanted to plan a group tattoo outting. It was to be my first ever and Iwas a bit nervous. We asked a big time TV tattoo guy who he would reccomend in San Diego and without hesitation he said Dewayne at Tower Tattoo so we set it up. I brought in my very simple idea for an ankle wrap piece and Dewayne came back a few minutes later with a beautiful piece… better than I even imagined. While working he asked if he could add a little more and some color… though nervous I totally trusted him and said go for it… the end result was perfect. To this day I continue to get compliments on his work… all the lines are still crisp and clear. I couldn’t be happier… Planning my second piece now and was looking up reviews to try and decide where to go… nothing but positives about these guys and their shop… I will for sure be going back very soon!

Love, love, love this place! My boyfriend and I got some work done by Steve and he is fantastic! Very kind and as gentle as a tattoo artist can be. I got a large tattoo I designed on my lower back and my boyfriend got a scorpion on his shoulder/​collarbone. He kept asking us if we were okay, if we needed a break, he was very kind. I will definitely be going back to him for more.

great shop. Dewayne and Pat kill it, styles for miles

Awesome me and my wife have gotten a total of 5 tattoos total now including a portrait and every visit is just amazing fair pricing at an amazing quality I would refer anyone here

Got a wrist tattoo from Pat and I love the details he put into it. I came in with a couple of ideas of what i wanted and he drew something up for me that had everything I wanted. This was my first color tat and was kinda bummed when the color was a bit off. I came back 3 weeks later to get the color redone (no extra fees) and its still off. Prolly won’t be back for any color tats here but might try another artist next time. Undecided at this moment. Overall a cool spot.

Late review but timely in the hope that I can track down the artist responsible for my favorite work and get it expanded and refreshed. I was in twice in early 2006 and was extremely happy on all counts despite the sketchy neighborhood. Got a small single orange lily on my right shoulder turned into a cluster of fuschia tropical flowers with foliage the first time, then returned to get a palmetto on my left thigh reworked/​finished/​colored after an aborted work at a to-​remain-​nameless PB place.
Now I just want to get more – would like to expand the shoulder cluster to bring in more foliage/​florals and a hummingbird if it’s not too gaudy. Will see if I can find the original artist or get another Tower pro to help me out!

I was a walk in last night and I will agree this tattoo parlor is not in the pleasant part of town. But as soon as I walked in I was put at ease. This palor is not only spotless but an amazing atmosphere. I was first greeted by Adam. He had just finished a beautiful tiger lily on a girls upper left shoulder. He was super friendly and set me up with Pat. My personal advise if your going for your first here ask for Pat. He is steady, focused and quick. I had brought in a quick sketch of the tattoo I wanted. (Im not an artist so it was pretty rough looking.) Pat took my sketch and turned it into a masterpiece! I will definitely be asking Pat to do my next piece.

A sleezy tattoo parlor in a sleezy part of town, with some extremely amazing tattoo artists. Not to mention they are located underneath the historical City Heights Tower! (ha)
Have gotten tattooed by Pat a few times, and he’s fantastic. Every time he does a new tattoo, you can see how much better he has gotten. He is constantly improving. I highly recommend him. Plus he’s super niceand isn’t super heavy handed.
I can’t say much about the other tattoo artists, since I don’t have any work from them, but I do have a lot of friends who go to Dewayne and love his work.
Ps– You gotta walk up the stairs to the left (facing the bar in the parking lot) to get to the shop.

I no longer live in San Diego, but when I did, Tower Tattoo was the only place in town I’d even consider being tattooed. I’ve been tattooed by Dewayne several times and it’s always a pleasure. Dewayne’s style and talent is obvious when you see examples of his work either on the walls of the shop or in a tattoo. His script and lettering skills are unparalleled as far as I’m concerned. Everyone who catches a glimpse of the script he did on me is in awe (as I was when he free handed it in about 5 minutes flat!)
The shop itself is located at the top of the historic «Tower» building in City Heights and the atmosphere is great. It’s clean, professional, and comfortable. After your tattoo, make sure you stop in downstairs at the bar and treat yourself to a drink…

While I do agree with Danielle W, that this is the best place to get ink… bar none, I actually have to take the last part back, because there is a bar downstairs. I’m kidding… but seriously… there is a bar.
The first time I got work done by Adam was maybe 8 years ago or so when he was down in IB. I, of course, have had work done elsewhere before and after, no regrets, no complaints, but I always end up coming back to him for more. Not that I have ever been unhappy with any of the other work I have, its just that nothing has ever been comparable to what he’s done. To take a patch work quilt of thoughts and ideas and then turn it around into something tangible is one thing. To do that, but with the style, attention to detail, and expertise he possesses, is f*n amazing.
Having never had work done by Dewayne, I can only attest to what I’ve seen on others, and all I can say is that between the two of these guys, there isn’t any style, they don’t excel at. From Old School to New School, Traditional to Bio, Portrait to Black and Grey, bright vivid colors or intricate shading highlighted by the slightest accents of white, it doesn’t matter if this is your first tattoo, your last, or if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, THIS is the Parlor to go to.
I haven’t had work done in a while, but the time is coming and my ribs are eagerly awaiting their turn. What to do, what to do… So much ink, so little time.
L8r

Another tattoo shop I scoped out when I was looking for an artist. Although I’ve already booked with my other artist, I will be coming to Dewayne for some work in my near future!
I was a little tricked because I thought you had to go through the bar to get to the top, oops, I was wrong. Lol, there’s stairs. All the guys that work there are really helpful, and Dewayne’s work is flawless. So intricate and clean. (And he drives that sick ass car parked outside) Big sense of humor in this joint, I will be coming here for my next ink!

One of the cleanest shops around. All of my work has been done by Adam, besides 2 terrible ones I had done in Orange when I was 18, and actually Adam fixed one and covered the other quite well.
His own style is unique, but he is very talented in ALL arenas (Portrait, black and white, traditional) and uses the best colors. I still have people ask me if I just got work done because the colors are so vivid.
Another great thing about Adam is that he moves very quickly while maintaining sharp and clean lines, and when you are paying by the hour it is very nice to have someone who moves quickly. Good for the tolerance and the pocketbook. Not ONE blown out line on any of my work, all fresh, clean and quick.
Dewayne and Jackie are also quite good, though I have not had any work done by them I’ve seen what they can do. They also have an apprentice who is learning quick and pumping out some cool pieces.
The overall experience is pretty much what you would expect at a tattoo shop, minus the «too good» attitude but not minus the smart ass remarks. Its a tattoo shop, not a nunnery! Nice comfy vintage chairs that were once dentists chairs. TV, Tunes, bathroom. All the staples to make your 2 – 3 hour sit comfy.
Make sure you go in and have a mini consultation before hand or know what you want coming in, no one likes a time waster who sits around and looks at flash for hours before deciding on a butterfly above their cooter. Especially these guys!
5 stars for the shop, too bad the downstairs bar couldn’t keep up with them.