Empire Tattoo

CHELSEY RUBY:I originally went to Jesters Court and Sean McCarthy did a tattoo for me that I absolutely hated. Alan at Empire was able to not only cover it, but replace it with a beautiful piece. Not all heroes wear capes!

Alan has been my go-to tattoo artist for the past few years, and I cant recommend him highly enough. His skill and creativity are outstanding, making every piece a true work of art. Whether I come in with a detailed idea or just a rough concept, Alan always brings it to life beautifully. Hes incredibly easy to talk to, making the entire process comfortable and enjoyable. Alan’s ability to either collaborate on my ideas or come up with his own unique designs shows his versatility and dedication to his craft. Working with Alan has always been a fantastic experience, and his friendly, approachable nature just adds to his excellence as an artist. If youre looking for someone who can deliver top-notch tattoos and provide a great overall experience, Alan is your guy.

Cannot recommend Zach at Empire Tattoo enough. He was professional, thorough, and precise. He is a very talented artist and puts a lot of effort and care into his work.

I got my eyebrow pierced by Torri on April 30th. Overall the experience was great, she was very nice and it was very quick and easy. I didn’t have any issues with the service itself. However, when I went to clean the fresh piercing that same night, the bottom ball fell off and into the drain of the sink, and the bar went into my eyebrow. I started freaking out and thankfully I was with my boyfriend who also has an eyebrow piercing and said I could either take it out, or we could see if any of his jewelry was the same length and just clean + change it out. I opted to change it out because I really didn’t want to take it out, even though that probably would have been the better option. It’s been doing alright since then, I have a lot of redness and some bruising but since I had to change it I think it’s to be expected. Torri had mentioned that the best way to get a hold of her if I had any questions/issues would be through instagram, which I did as soon as this happened. It was pretty late at night so I wasn’t expecting a response until at least the morning, but it wasn’t until today, nearly an entire week after I had messaged her, she replied asking how it was doing. I was hoping for maybe an apology or perhaps she’d offer to see me and take a look at it or anything (only because of my prior experiences with other piercers who 1. Responded to me promptly 2. Offered whatever they could to help me out) but she didn’t.Like I said, I didn’t have any issues with the experience itself, but my jewelry was either faulty or not properly secured, and Torri’s late response definitely turns me off from ever seeing her again if anything else were to happen.It’s not that I don’t recommend this business or that I don’t recommend seeing Torri for your piercings. Just make sure the jewelry is secured and know that she might not respond to you in a timely manner should anything go wrong.I feel sorry to have to write something like this because I truly enjoyed my experience. I’m just disappointed with what had happened and the fact that I didn’t get a response for nearly a week.

I got my septum pierced here a few days ago and it was such a lovely experience! I was a walk-in and I only had to wait about 10 minutes. I was thoroughly informed about caring for my piercing and felt confident about the cleanliness of the studio. My piercer walked me through every step she was doing which calmed down my nerves. The price was affordable and they even offer a student discount! I was most excited about the fact that I could upgrade the jewelry to gold (not plated) for a small fee. Will be coming back again! :)

Walked in for a small tattoo and they booked me right away! Alan was fast and professional. Enjoyed our conversation too, my guy!

Angel does my tattoos and my husbands and man is she excellent. Like a photocopy of a tattoo every time. Go book an appointment with these guys theyre seriously good, plus the vibe of the place is nice.

Absolutely amazing place to get tattoos or piercings. Very clean and professional gave my son and his friend exactly what they wanted and did an amazing job. If you are nervous about getting your first tattoo or piercing i recomend you please come here. They know how to treat their customers and we will be back again and again.

Thank you so much for helping us. Our dad died Wednesday and we came in on a Saturday to get tats. We were taken last minute basically. Yet the parlor made accommodations for us. My mom, brother and I got a tattoo and my son had a transfer put on in solidarity. His reads Tony as it was a leftover one from moms but he was stoked nonetheless. Hes 12 and wanted to be involved.I should explain about the bullet. My dad had ALS for a while. He was in a lot of pain and wheelchair ridden. He would ask his docs and hospice nurses all the time for a bullet. He just wanted to be done. He died in his sleep Wednesday. He got his bullet (figuratively).

Walked in same day and got the best tattoo from Joshua Taddeo! He was so fast, super clean lines and so fun to hang with! Will definitely be back!

Kelly was absolutely fantastic, and despite the pandemic, she got us in for a pretty last minute appointment (no walk-ins, you need an appointment). Tattoo turned out beautifully, and she was super easy to work with and talk to! Highly recommend!!!

I go to Paul for all of my tattoos! I’ve been going for years now. His work is impeccable. I would travel if he ever moved just to be able to get work done by him!! 11/10 A+++ I highly recommend. His color work is insane & same with his regular work, he just has natural talent! Don’t think twice. He’s amazing!

Ive gotten four tattoos from Angel (three this past year). Shes an unparalleled artist (her flash is always killer), colors are so vivid and lines are perfect, healing is a breeze, and I get compliments whereever I go. To top it all off, shes super personable and entertaining (something I appreciate so much as a socially anxious person). I always know Im going to end up with some badass ink when I stop by the shop and cannot recommend her enough. Cant wait for my next piece from her!

This business is very clean and the staff are very kind. The vibes are just good from the second you walk in. Checking in is quick and efficient, prices are very reasonable, and the quality of work is amazing! I felt very safe and comfortable here as a woman who came alone. I worked with Angel and Alan, both were funny, kind, professional, efficient, and did great work. Colleen at the front desk was very kind and helpful. I highly recommend!

I couldn’t possibly be happier with both my tattoos and my experience at Empire.I was in town for an event and decided on a whim that I wanted to get some tattoos I’d been thinking in for years. I called Empire to make sure they had time for a walk-in that day, and they had me email some reference photos and details to help the tattoo artist Angel confirm she had the time between appointments. She gave me a time to come in later that day. She had to adjust the time slightly once, but this was not a problem; I was a walk-in and understand the restrictions that comes with, and would rather have that time to myself than waiting at the shop.Once at the shop, we went back and talked over what I wanted. She had my reference photos on a tablet, and since fingers are such a small space she basically just drew the design in Sharpie directly on them instead of using a stencil. As she went, she would check in and see if there were any parts I wanted to change or remove. Once I was happy with everything, she started tattooing. At the most painful parts (closest to the nail, and some knuckle), she reminded me to focus on my breathing, and was happy to help distract me through chitchat.I had an absolute blast with Angel. She is very into horror, as am I, and was playing an Australian horror movie (Boar for any other horror fans!) on her TV. She had a ton of signed photos, horror trinkets, and best of all a bunch of her designs on the walls. She is a wonderful person, and I was so thrilled to have both a fantastic tattoo artist working on me, and someone whose company I enjoyed so much! It made the painful parts so much easier to deal with. Since I live on the other side of the country it will likely be a long time before I’m close enough to Pittsburgh to have her tattoo me again, but I cannot recommend her enough.

Angel did an excellent job on all of my tattoos! I will definitely be coming back to see her. The shop is clean, efficient, and everyone there is so friendly. 5/5

Alan was so awesome and patient with our group of four. He was very realistic and thorough with his explanation of the process and what to expect and worked with us to finally find a design that worked for everyone. He was so fun and personable and made our experience fantastic! I’ll definitely be back and continue recommending his work!

Originally I had emailed the shop about booking for a tattoo with Angel in December because I know she gets pretty booked up really fast. However, today I got an email from Angel asking if I wanted to come in today and get my tattoo since she had an opening. That being said I came in and all I have to say is, Empire has the best service ever. The staff was super inviting. Angel, Paul, and the two ladies at the front were so sweet and one of them even asked if I wanted something from Starbucks, which was super nice and thoughtful. Angel is hands down the best artist I have ever been to. She was so kind and despite me having other tattoos she still walked me through the process and made sure that I knew that the needles and everything were sterile before we started, which I really appreciated. She even had a horror movie playing for me to watch which I absolutely loved. Angel also was very kind and continued to ask how I was doing throughout the actual tattooing process which I thought was very thoughtful considering other places I’ve been to have never asked. I didn’t get a big piece but I was very surprised with how fast she finished the tattoo considering the amount of detail she put into it. This is by far my favorite tattoo that I have and I will 100% be coming back for more from Angel in the future. And if you want any sort of tattoo I defiantly recommend going to Angel, she’s the best.

Alan was the best! My sister and I got our first tattoos together and he was super friendly and walked us through the whole process step by step. We both absolutely love our fine line tattoos. He truly did such a good job.

Paul DeMarco was super chill and a great conversationalist all while doing amazing work. Super pleased with my memorial piece for my grandfather and already have another appointment.

Paul did a great job on my seriously stupid crab cake tattoo. Fast, good, reasonably priced. Line work is great, best Ive had. Cant ask for more.

I found Paul’s work while trying to find nearby tattoo parlors & I fell in love with it! He is super kind and his talent is unspeakable. He worked quickly and I feel he should charge much more for what he does. I definitely recommend 🫶🏽

Angel is a fantastic artist with rates that you genuinely cannot beat. she gets the job done well and she does it in a timely manner. i have gotten every single one of my tattoos done by angel and i can’t bring myself to go anywhere else. even after almost a year, people still say they look brand new. i get compliments on them all the time at work. if you’re in the pittsburgh area and want a proper tattoo, you absolutely have to book with angel. she also plays movies while you get your tattoo so there’s never a dull moment. honestly cannot imagine getting work done anywhere else!

Yesterday I got an email from Angel saying she could take me today so of course I jumped on the opportunity! I could not be happier with how my tattoo turned out. Angel did an amazing job at an amazing price. Everyone there was incredibly kind, and overall it was a great experience. Highly recommend this place!!

I was amazed at the welcoming and comforting environment in the store. Angel was so great to us. She was very upfront about the costs and professional about her work - not to mention easy to talk to.I really appreciated her transparency, honesty, and how she set the expectations for my appointment. She took the time to make sure we had the best experience possible. If youre looking to get a tattoo in the Oakland area, I would highly recommend stopping here first and having a conversation with these guys. Thanks again!

I had an amazing experience getting tattooed at empire. Extremely easy to schedule, fantastic artwork, incredibly professional and clean environment and taking all appropriate measures to keep everyone safe right now. My tattoos are gorgeous! Angel does amazing work. From photorealism, beautiful black n gray, to watercolor designs she can do it all.

Empire tattoo is hands down the best parlor in Pittsburgh. All the artists are super friendly nice and personable. Specifically my tattoo have all been done by angel and her work is absolutely impeccable. Her lines are so crisp and clean and her techniques and skill with color are superb! An amazing artist. Ive left happy with every piece of work done on me!

I came here to get an earlobe repiercing done, and Torri did a wonderful job! She was super friendly, and the piercing was painless! She also gave me a very reasonable price, which I appreciated. (I had checked out another place, and the cost they were going to charge me was over 4x as much!) I left a very happy and satisfied customer.

Ive gotten 3 tattoos from Megan. Shes great!! She does better as an apprentice than other people I have gone to at other shops. The other artists are very supportive and the designs I have seen from them are awesome as well. Pricing is very reasonable and they are very accommodating.

I spent about 15 months searching for a tattoo artist before I found Paul. Best decision Ive made in a while and it was well worth the wait! Im very picky and he has literally given me exactly what I wanted. In addition to their great artists, the shop has a relaxed and friendly vibe and they take hygiene/safety seriously. I cant wait to go back for my future sessions! Ill post pictures whem my work is finished.

Lovely folk at Empire Tattoo! Angel was super nice and did a fantastic job on my tattoo (black/gray traditional). She was a pleasure to collaborate with and has a great sensibility about tattoo design, size, and placement. The shop was clean and the whole crew there is friendly. Pricing was super reasonable and Angel was very transparent about costs. The overall experience was awesome 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

My husband and I have been going to Angel for a few years. She is amazing. We give her ideas of what we want or in my case a crappy picture and she always makes it 1000 times better than I hoped. We are currently scheduled for our next round of tattoos with Angel of course. The shop is very clean and the atmosphere is relaxed. All of the artists seem to be a great bunch. We highly recommend Empire Tattoo(Oakland, PA) to anyone looking its definitely worth the drive.

So I’ve come to Empire for the vast majority of my tattoos and honestly, I love this place so much. Angel has done my entire arm sleeve (which is awesome and horror themed) and I pretty much can’t have anyone else tattoo me ever again (Don’t get me wrong, all of the other artists there are super talented as well) because she’s fantastic. As a queer/trans person, Empire has felt welcoming, non judgmental, and safe. They’re awesome. Give them your money.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! My husband and i have gotten tattoos done here several times and we are beyond happy with the art and how professional they are! We love Angle! She is always helpful with helping us design what we want and has always impressed us with her skill! We highly recommend Empire Tatto! 💚

The whole staff was great! My friend and I came in as walk one and the service was fantastic. Allen did our tattoos and was exceptional. He was crazy friendly, but also very informative throughout the process. The pricing is very good as well! I would go back here in the future.

Got my earlobes pierced on Sunday. Staff was great help in making a same day appointment. Torri, who did my ears, is wonderful. It was quick and painless. She also gave me some helpful advice on proper post care. Highly recommend!

Angel did my friends tattoo today - Woooo! Its beautiful!Please go support your amazing local artists! They deserve it!

Angel and been doing my boyfriend and my tattoos for about 2 years now and she is just amazing! We’ve never been disappointed at all! She’s an amazing person great to talk to and incredible tattoo artist! I always get nervous when I’m about to get a tattoo but she’s so great with taking her time and making me feel comfortable! If I could give her higher than 5 stars I would!

I had never gotten a tattoo before, so I was a bit nervous, especially since the one I wanted was quite detailed. However, my artist, Alan, made sure to make my design as close to my referencw drawing as possible, but change it enough so it would come out great. He walked me through the whole experience, showed me everything was clean, and told me what he was doing as he did it. He was very friendly and talked to me the whole time to take my mind off the process. In the end, he gave me great care instruction and the final product looked amazing. No regrets. Thank you Alan, and Thank you Empire Tattoo!

I got 3 piercings by Torri Lynn in one sitting and it was the best Piercing experience Ive had! She was professional and informative and had a great attitude and energy! She made the experience so fun! I will definitely be going back to her for future piercings!

Excellent from top to bottom. Clean and orderly, as well as great artist. I had Allen, my tattoo is very good. Clean lines and nice color, it also wasn’t as hard on the wallet as I expected. Book an appointment you won’t be disappointed.

I recently got a tattoo from Empire Tattoo and the artist Paul was awesome, he is very professional, space is very clean and all together a talented artist . I would recommend Paul to anyone that’s trying to get a tattoo, you will not be disappointed.

I’ve had work done by both Angel and Paul. They’re fantastic artists, very professional and super clean. I get compliments on my tattoos ALL OF THE TIME. The shops vibe is so on, top. :) their work is seriously incredible and the ink they use is just VIBRANT and perfect for all skin tones.

Alan does top work. Looking forward to going back.

Two friends and myself walked in at 8pm (when they close at 9) for a walk in tattoo. Two of us intended to get pierced elsewhere, but Paul asked us if we wanted him to do it and gave us a student discount. Angel tattooed my friend and Paul pierced myself and my other friend. They were both AMAZING. They were very personable and kind. Paul was hilarious and made my friend (who got her nipples pierced) feel very comfortable. We ended up keeping them past 9, but they were so kind to us and did not seem to mind at all. 11/10 would recommend! I will definitely go back to Empire (Oakland location) for any further piercings or tattoos.

So professional, clean and just great. I got a piece done by Brian, who was very conscious about cleanliness and safety, something Ive never experienced at a Pittsburgh shop before. He did exactly what I asked for, and it is beautiful. He was very patient, respectful, and a lot of fun. I will definitely be returning to this shop for all future tattoos and piercings.Thank you!

Ive been getting tattooed by angel for a little over a year now and every tattoo Ive received has been amazing. She takes her time, is very meticulous and makes you feel comfortable while getting a tattoo. She is personable and reasonable. I would recommend this shop to anyone who is looking to get their first or even their 20th tattoo, Id give them 10 stars if I could!

I’ve been tattooed and pierced by everyone that works at Empire (Angel, Alan, Paul, and Torri) and have never had a bad experience EVER. Always very clean, professional, on time, and super friendly. They all have amazing talent and there’s a reason I keep going back whether it’s custom tattoo work, something picked off the internet, or to get more piercings. I will always suggest them as a place to definitely get in with.

The service is extremely good at empire—a very nice, funny, and personable experience. My girlfriend and I went for a walk-in appointment and ended up with Paul who was incredible. He did an extremely well done job on some thin cursive writing for her and normal lettering for me. Very crisp lines and also a good time chatting. Definitely plan on returning.

I can’t say enough amazing things about Angel at this location! Every time I say “this is my favorite”, the next time she out does herself. She’s fun to work with, light handed, and will guide you through design choices that will not only be more aesthetically pleasing, but will exceed your original idea. I tell everyone about this shop and Angel, you should come check it out to see for yourself! Not just Angel though, Paul their piercer and tattooist, is also amazing, funny, and an all around great guy. There is a reason this shop was voted top 4 places to go in Pittsburgh!!!!

My husband and I were visiting family in PA and wanted to get tattooed. It was short notice (about 4 days notice) and we both wanted decent sized pieces. When I called Empire, they were extremely accommodating and willing to fit us in. Alan Dippold spent all day with us and did both of our tattoos (about 7 hours of tattooing in total). He is amazing! He was funny and down to earth. Best of all, he is a great artist! He designed both of the tattoos with very little reference material. Alan made it a great experience. Our next trip to PA will include a stop at Empire to get more tattoos.

Ive had my tattoos done by a few people here and they always do amazing work..the staff is cool, and really down to earth. They let me pick music to connect to listen to while theyre tattooing me, and they have great prices. I always recommend them because theyre my favorite shop in the city!

I had a few days off from work and decided to message Empire tattoo to see if they had any openings, they replied quickly and set up an appointment. It was my first time there so I got an artist at random and was incredibly lucky to get Alan D. I sent a few pictures and Alan was able to draw up what exactly what I wanted. The session went great (about 5 hours) he absolutely knocked it out of the park, by far my favorite tattoo yet. I cant wait to go back.

Amazing experience as a last-minute walk in with a friend who was getting pierced (I was getting tattooed). The guys can be a little grumpy at first, but warm up really quickly! Im incredibly impressed, and I cant wait to go back and get another piece there. Definitely one of the best options in Pittsburgh, and 100% the top shop in Oakland!

Best tattoo place in Pittsburgh. Everyone here is friendly and know what they’re doing. I o go to Angel every time! I don’t think there’s a better artist in the city! I went from being referred and getting a small tattoo to one of her regulars!

Tori was AMAZING. I was extremely nervous walking into the shop and she calmed my nervous quickly. Very clean, quick, and precise. One of the best piercers I’ve ever been to.

I went a couple weeks ago for a piercing and the guys that work there made me feel so comfortable and not nervous at all. They have great prices and are very professional and knowledgeable. They gave me aftercare products and its healing really well! Since then, Ive been recommending this shop to all of my friends. If I ever want to get another piercing, this is where Ill go!

I have been going to the shop and getting tattooed by Angel for the past 2 years & just had work done tonight! I am planning on getting many more from her too! I would recommend the shop to anyone and have been spreading the word about the place.. its a great atmosphere, great experience, and they are clean, sterile, and as well as professional..

Everyone there is super nice, quick to response, answering all questions and concerns, and very patient. The place is super clean. Got both a piercing and my first tattoo here. They make you feel super comfortable and reassuring. Looking forward to coming back again for more!Piercing done by Torri. Tattoo done by Angel.

Super great place, got my nipples done here. Really affordable, especially with the nice college discount. Phenomenal service and very professional considering how awkward I felt going bare tittied in front of a stranger. Paul was super nice and talked me through the whole thing. 10/10 would go for another piercing, and will definitely be going in the future for a tattoo.

Went for a tattoo with Greg, and he did a fantastic job and totally exceeded my expectations. The shop was very clean, and everyone there was professional and cool. My tattoo turned out amazing and I will definitely go back. Very reasonable rates and good atmosphere, I would highly recommend this shop.

First tattoo at 58 years old. Had a great experience

I just got my first tattoo and I went to Paul. The store was very clean and he also explained how everything worked-I.e that the needles and other materials were single use and he helped make me feel at ease about the pain. Not just that-the tattoo turned out exactly as I expected and envisioned and I was very very happy with it

I really recommend this place. Awesome shop with awesome artists. I am in town for work for a short time and my wife came out to visit me with even more limited time. We explained our situation and the want to get matching tattoos. They easily worked out an appointment for us that would work with our schedule. Angel did amazing work for my wife and I. If I ever make it back out to this area, I will be going back.

Paul demarco is doing a whole leg sleeve on me, so far I’m 100% impressed. He’s one talented dude and always charges fair prices. Everyone I’ve talked to who works there are pretty nice, I’d highly recommend them to anyone! I plan on getting all of my tattoos from now on from Paul!

I came in yesterday for two simple tattoos, two black cats from a vintage French print with small text beneath them. Alan was able to squeeze me in and did a FANTASTIC job. Really funny guy to talk with and I am incredibly impressed with the quality of his work, my design was not very difficult but nevertheless the small things like the letters, the whiskers and some hash marks as shadows all look very distinct and crisp. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome. At first the text for la joie was centered with the cat not the center of my arm and I asked Alan to move it to the center of my arm and he did so immediately and made sure I was happy with everything before starting, really made me feel comfortable.I also previously had my nipples pierced here by Paul and he was awesome about talking you through the whole process and making the painful process as easy and quick as possible. Great results as well, perfectly centered.Overall Ive had nothing but great experiences with this shop and will definitely be coming back for more tattoos or piercings in the future.

Got my tattoo done at Empire nearly 2 years ago by Alan and I still absolutely love it. I also have had multiple piercings done here as well, and the staff that I have interacted with are very kind and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Empire for both tattoos and piercings!

Paul recently pierced my septum, and I dont have a single bad thing to say about the experience. I have many piercings and Paul is absolutely the best I have encountered. In addition to being quick, (almost!) painless, and professional Paul was fun and friendly-- He absolutely knows his stuff and seems passionate about his trade-- I wouldnt recommend going anywhere else.

I get traditional style work done by Angel here and she does a killer job. Shes a very quick worker and has a light hand which everyone looks for in an artist. The shop has a little parking lot out front which, in Oakland, is hard to find and much appreciated. May be a small shop, but its very clean and there are 3 semi-private rooms in which the artists work in (which I prefer over one big work space with multiple stations set up next to each other like other shops Ive been to) so strangers arent watching you. One of my favorite shops so far in the area... Would highly reccomend!

Got a tattoo done here by Matt Doherty. The whole experience was AMAZING. Everyone was super personable and friendly. The place was very clean and welcoming as well. The tattoo I got is far more than I ever expected. The skill and precision put into it is out of this world. I honestly couldnt be happier. I wont get another tattoo from anyone else..ever. Lol. Not only is Matts work absolutely stunning, but I actually had a good time sitting there with him for 8 hours. Very down to earth and a fun, genuinely nice guy. I cant say enough good things about Matt and this place.

My dog of 18 years passed away and I wanted his paw print on my arm. Alan was able to take my sweet boys actual paw print and tattoo it along with Shadows name. He brought what I had envisioned to life. I am so incredibly happy and pleased with how well Alan did. Will definitely be returning for more tattoos in the future!

Angel has worked on multiple of my tattoos and I have always left with a great piece of art. Very friendly shop super talented people!

My girlfriend and I came in to get septum piercings done and the guy who did them was super sweet and really professional. The whole thing took like 10 minutes for both of us and was practically painless. Also, they have an amazing student discount that basically cuts the price in half! Would highly recommend :^D

Had two pieces done here over the past two months by Brian Hooker, guy is amazing. All the guys though are absolute professionals and are very passionate about their work. They make the experience very enjoyable. I recommend Empire Tattoo to anybody that is looking for a new place to get work done. Youll never want to go anywhere else.

Got a lip vertical labret today and absolutely in live with her work. She made it quick and virtually painless unlike the last time I had it done. Very informative and tells you exactly what she is going to do before even touching you with the clamps. I am so glad I ended up going here as I was looking at a few other places. Definitely will be coming back for future piercings.

Ive gotten both my nose and rook pierced here and had a great experience both times! Torri makes sure to clearly explain how it will go, and makes you feel safe. The whole place is very clean, the prices are good and the wait is never long.

I drive nearly an hour to get tattooed by Paul at Empire Tattoo Pittsburgh. He is incredibly talented! Everytime I am in this shop I am so relaxed and content, the atmosphere is super chill. I have gotten several different pieces now with plans for many more to come. :)

I have had several tattoos inked by Megan, she does great work. Shop vibe is good, plus one of the rooms had a tv and a well-curated horror selection, I was able to watch In the Mouth of Madness and several Twin Peaks episodes during my sessions.

Ive had three tats done here and one piercing. Always a great experience! Theyre affordable, especially as a student with their piercings being $30! I love the staff and i feel so welcome there always.

I spontaneously decided that I wanted to go and get my first tattoo and ended up choosing Empire. Needless to say, Angel and the staff there made me feel very calm and comfortable. I wanted to get a couple but being an 18 year old, I dont have a lot of money to work with and Angel made me realize that it was irresponsible to spend over my budget. Empire cares about the client, not about the money. I will definitley make sure to reccommend them to anyone. Very calm and chill vibe. Sterile and clean as well. I will be back and I also can guarantee that friends of mine will be coming here too!

I have been getting a sleeve from Paul since June. I am very happy with the results so far and it looks incredible. Highly recommended this shop to anyone. He could charge way more if he wanted for the quality of the work but hes kept his prices low.

I’m getting my half sleeve done by Paul and it’s looking amazing so far! Still have a session or two left but I will recommend this place to anyone and everyone. I also got my septum pierced & another tattoo back in October and those are amazing as well

I recently went in to get my first tattoo and found that all of the staff were very easy to talk to. They answered all of my questions and told me about the process to make sure I knew what I was getting into, and in the end I got a great well-done design from Angel.

Meghan is phenomenal. If you are looking for permanent makeup, I cannot recommend her enough. I was made to feel welcome from the moment I walked in the door. She took her time to give me exactly what I wanted.

Empire is the best! Love all of the workers! I got my first tattoo and piercings here in college and have gone ever since and recommend them to all of my friends and family. You should definitely go!

Angel is amazing! She pays attention to detail and gives honest advice on tattoos. She won’t let you get something that isn’t going to last. Looking forward to my next appointment with her.

Cannot recommend enough! Everyone here is super talented and professional, great vibe and great art!! I got a tattoo from Megan and it was a great experience and healed beautifully. Will definitely be going back!!

Love love love Empire Tattoo. Ive gone there for 6 tattoos and 6 piercings over the past two years, and Ive been 100% satisfied with everything theyve done. Everyone is extremely nice and talented, and I dont think that Ill ever go anywhere else for tattoos or for piercings!

Got a tattoo today by my dude Paul. I can’t recommend him enough to my friends and anyone I know thinking about getting a tattoo. Absolute master of his craft and genuinely awesome person. Thanks for the good time and hangs! Oooo weeee!

I did a walk-in with Alan for a small tattoo and it went smoothly. Very clean line work, and also super friendly — I almost didnt realize that I was getting tattooed! Definitely recommended.

I have literally recommended this place to everyone today!!! I got a piercing by torri and she was the greatest. It was so quick and she made me and my friend feel so comfortable. Will definitely be returning to get more piercings :)

Angel is awesome. She worked with me on scheduling, when she didnt have to. Her talent and skills are amazing... my tattoos look wonderful. I cant wait to go back.

I’ve been to Empire tattoo twice and was not disappointed! Paul is currently working on a half sleeve of mine and I absolutely love it already! The place is always clean, everybody is super friendly and the atmosphere is super chill.

Angel is the best. I had a photo of what I wanted, but had some tweaks which I explained to her. She nailed it. Her line work is great. Plus she is a cool person and I was happy with the price.

I recommend every artist in this shop. Everyone is very knowledgeable, professional, and the shop is very clean! Ive had two of my tattoos done here and I dont plan on going anywhere else anytime soon!

Walked in one evening to get a tattoo for my dog who recently passed, got me right in and gave me exactly what I wanted. It’s perfect and the price wasn’t bad for it. Super friendly, clean, told me every step he was taking. I’ll definitrly be back for further tattoos!

I got my first (two) tattoos done here on the same day while my fiancé also got two pieces done. Great senses of humor all around, cool people, VERY clean and carefully done. Also went by fast too which was a plus! Tipped in cash AND Five Guys fries. He deserved it, haha

I got my ear pierced here and two of them fell out after two weeks. I was told by another piercing shop it was because the earrings were too short and didnt account for swelling and at that small of a gage they shouldnt be threaded. On top of that the piercer told me I was getting a keloid and I should squeeze it, I called a place for a second opinion and they said I shouldnt never squeeze it. Lastly, I went to get my other two piercings redone and apparently the only one left was so crooked that they recommend I take it out and just redo all three.Tl;drI paid to get three piercings, it didnt go well, I have to pay to get them redone all over again.

Got my nose pierced today. Paul is fantastic. Super cool, quick, attentive, & knows his stuff! Made me so comfortable! I highly recommend this establishment and staff.

Gotten multiple tattoos/ nose piercing done here. Excellent staff. Some of the nicest people on the planet, endlessly creative. Wouldn’t choose any other place for my boredom-fueled tattoo whims.

This place has the best artists in oakland. Theyre also really reasonably priced and their get to know you deals are awesome- $50 off a tattoo?!?! Im not one for pricing but their jewelry selection has me rethinking it...

Super clean, friendly, and overall lovely. The staff is excellent! They are inclusive and respectful of all walks of life and have never fallen short of total professionalism. Highly recommend!

Paul is amazing. This shop and so clean and professional.my boyfriend and I are repeat customers and will continue going back to see him until were covered. Very polite and talented.

A really nice place. Everyone there was kind and helpful, especially Paul the owner, who did my piercing. I got an industrial and it went great, also the prices are great! Would definitely reccomend.

Me and my sister got tattooed by Angel and shes amazing!!! I am going back with my fiance to get our wedding tattooes done by her as well. I am so excited to be tattooed again by one of the best in the area!!!!

Megan is a absolute delight and is a amazing artist that I plan on coming and seeing over and over again! She is such a sweetheart and made sure I was comfortable and feeling safe, thanks again!!

This is the best tattoo shop ive been to in the Pittsburgh area. The cleanliness is that of a doctors or dentists office. The artists are by far the best and also very friendly and educated on their craft!

Honestly once a slay, always a slay. Been here a hundred times over the past ten years and never had a single problem. Professional, fun, well done work.

Angel did a super magical She-Ra tattoo for me. It was awesome. Every one was nice, the establishment was extremely clean, and I cant wait to go back!

I work for Uber and I pulled up in front of the tattoo location dropping someone off not even two minutes pass as I was putting in address in my GPS for the next ride this gentleman came out real aggressive talking about move because they’re about to leave I purposely stayed an extra 10 minutes and no one came out I have video and audio equipment attached to the car show aggressive you was

Love Empire Tattoo and everyone that works there! They’re so helpful and friendly. The work Angel does is amazing, my husband and I both refuse to go anywhere else!

Angel is the best! I’ve been going to her for 7 years now and couldn’t recommend her enough…

I brought in a print out if what I wanted. They scanned it, re-sized it to fit my wrist, and tattooed me in about 15 minutes. They were very easy to talk to and get along with. Everything was sanitary and every precaution was taken. Wouldnt have gone anywhere else.

I’ve been going to Angel for about 6 years now and she is amazing! I love all my tattoos by her she understands what I want and makes it 10x better!

Super cool environment, relaxed and professional. Was in town for a few hours and they fit me in. And were awesome about it. Highly recommended.

Gregory Tepper did my tattoo and he made it a great first experience. Very welcoming and happy to work with my ideas and the changes I kept making. Highly recommend!

Angel is a true artist and professional. I could not possibly be happier or more satisfied with my experiences at Empire. Dont go anywhere else for ink or piercings!

Weird that the hours say this shop is open till 9pm, and the person I spoke to on the phone says rhis shop was open till 9pm. Here I am, having spent money on an uber to get 30min before the shop closes for a simple tongue piercing, and the doors are locked and the lights are off.Why even post business hours?

Angel fixed my memorial tattoo for my husband and she did a GREAT JOB! Very nice place... very clean and really nice people... I found my new tattoo place! Thank you :)

Amazing shop! Top notch work done. They have some amazing artists working here! I highly recommend you stop in if your in the market for a new tattoo!

Awesome tattoo shop, I saw Paul DeMarco and his work was exceptional. He and the staff were also very personable and made both sessions enjoyable

Paul Demarco is AMAZING. Great rates, chill atmosphere, all the employees are very welcoming and friendly. 10/10 coming back again and again til Im covered

Very great experience overall. Made my piercing experience pleasant and quick. Very clean studio and would definitely come back.

The place had a really chill vibe and the piercist was super nice and she was very helpful with aftercare instructions.

I went for a dermal and the place was very clean, everyone was polite and knowledgeable. Im nervous by nature but @torriholes made the experience awesome. 10/10 will recommend and return 💘 also the prices were appropriate and affordable 😊

Paul tattooed my forearm a couple of months ago, and Im still stoked on the piece. His tattoos are incredibly clean, and hes super cool.

Bestest best people ever. Love all the employees 🖤 they always make me feel welcomed and their work is amazing 10/10 will go again.

Very professional, clean environment, friendly staff that doesnt make you feel out of place! I usually go to Paul, but every one of them has great work!

BEST TATTOO SHOP IVE BEEN TO!! Customer service was great. Alan is great! Very personable. Will be going back again

Kelly was amazing!! The entire staff there was superb. They are the premier tat and piercing shop in Pittsburgh

Tori did an amazing job, and they were so sweet and charismatic!

Angel does stellar straight-line work. She’s able to make disjointed ideas come to logical artistic fruition. A+ for Angel.

Me and my friend got a nose piercing here and i love it!!! and the price was awesome... i will definitely recommend to anyone!!

Very clean place. receptionist was really nice. I got a piercing. He was professional explained everything would highly recommend.

Beautiful work and very fast! Kelly was great!! A pleasant experience overall - well be back!

Best experience you could ask for. Torri was knowledgeable, professional, flexible and kind. 100/10, highly recommend!

Angel did such amazing work. I would highly recommend to literally everyone looking for a tattoo.

Only take appointments by email. Don’t respond to emails. 2 days and waiting… Great business model.

Amazing artists pricing is fair great work ask for Allan tell him Marvin sent you!

Best shop in town! The crew is awesome and makes everyone feel comfortable. Highly recommend.

Everyone there was really friendly and funny and werr not actively annoyed at mine and my friends shenanigans. Greg is great!

Everyone was friendly and the artists are amazing they connect with you on a personal level and make you feel comfortable

Angel is awesome. Very friendly staff, would recommend to anyone. Angel does amazing work

Great work from Kelly. Everyone is nice and talented. I think Ive found a parlor for life!

Amazing art! Turned a super ugly tattoo into a beautiful piece of work! ❤️ Very pleased!

Got a last min appointment while in town and couldn’t be happier with the work! Great quality and price.

Very professional, clean and talented artists, theyre all nice people, great prices for amazing work

Love Alan... He did a wonderful job on my side piece

Amazing experience, clean and beautiful work !! Go see Paul you will not be disappointed!

Empire made my first tattoo experience awesome. Id definitely go back again.

I I love this place the people who work here they are so kind and nice I just have my first section with ANGEL oh my God shes amazing the place is pretty clean and they are the best I really recommend this place to anybody ANGEL she is the best I love my tattoo I can wait to go back for my next section thank you I love you I give this place 100 Stars 😍😍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My wife and I had a great experience. They are professional and do fantastic work.

Best spot for a tattoo in Pittsburgh see Paul hes the best takes his time and it shows in his work

Love this place! Will definitely be coming back for more tattoos

Angel is an amazing artist! I highly recommend.

I went there to make an appointment.he was busy and careless.emailed them but no response.dont like them.

So satisfied with Tori! Amazing job!

Came here while visiting. Loved it. Very clean. Will be back in the future

These guys rock . Always a great experience

Thanks Alan for your hospitality on your day off!!Carpe Diem !🤘

Alan was great. He answered so many questions.

Angel is amazing! She is an artist! Period.

Got my tattoo here. Love them and Love it...AMAZING JOB

Amazing place! Great pricing & wonderful work

Amanda did it again awesome day thank you beginning something awesome

Very well done tattoo, already going to go back for another

Best tattoo spot in burgh. Greg is a beast

Place rocks ..prices are fair. Great work.

Best tattoo shop in Pittsburgh area.

Awesome place to get a tat. Real professionals

Super friendly staff with extensive knowledge

Friendly help. Great experience at the shop.

Very friendly and accept walk ins!

Who the Hell gave a One Star for Empire Tattoo!?

Amazing experience every time!

Great work by great people!

Loved my tattoo going back for another

Amazing!!

NEVER LEAVING

Alan was amazing! He was super kind, very light handed (which was much appreciated) and very knowledgeable.

Alan was amazing! My tattoo was simple but he was so understanding and corporative! I went as a walk-in with my bridal party for my Bachelorette Party and he was awesome working with all 4 of us!