Tattoo Parlor Near Me in Greenpoint: Three Kings Tattoo's Daily Walk-Ins

Three Kings Tattoo accepts walk-ins every day at 572 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222, on the Greenpoint block between Nassau and Driggs Avenues. Booked sessions need a $100 deposit for a single sitting. For anyone typing tattoo parlor near me in north Brooklyn, this is where the Three Kings name started in 2008.

Matthew Marcus, known in the trade as Matty Notimes, founded Three Kings in Greenpoint in 2008. The brand has since grown to shops in Merrick on Long Island and in London, and today the Brooklyn and Long Island locations are owned and operated by Chris Koutsis. The motto painted across its materials is Tattoos are Everyone, and the shop pitches itself as a place for first-timers and heavily tattooed regulars alike.

Look up at the front before you walk in: the shop credits its painted windows to Doug Aldrich, and they are the easiest way to spot the storefront from across the avenue. Three Kings has also become a go-to partner for brands. It has worked with Adidas, Adult Swim, Birkenstock, Dockers, Nike, Rag & Bone, Vans and Zumiez, and twenty of its artists once tattooed designs onto guests' Birkenstock sandals live at Cipriani in the Financial District.

The Brooklyn roster lists Lorena Skunkrocker, Simon Velez, Janda Farley, Thom Wayne, Frida Sedgwick, Brenn Cox, Jolie Matthews, Christos Tejada, Nikita Egorov, Niiru Dominguez and Anthony Papallo. There is no single house style. Simon Velez came to American traditional after travelling to Brazil and meeting tattooers devoted to it, Niiru leans into anime and illustration, and Lorena is known for bold animal-inspired pieces and florals.

That range means the first question to ask yourself is what you want the tattoo to look like, then match it to an artist page. Someone after a heavy black panther and someone wanting a soft anime character will be pointed to different chairs. The individual artist pages on the shop website are the fastest way to narrow the list before you phone the counter.

Walk-ins are accepted every day. Phone the shop when it opens and the front desk will tell you who has space; after that it is first come, first served. Arrive with a clear idea and a reference image, and be prepared to wait if several people beat you to the door. Small to mid-size pieces suit a same-day visit best, while full sleeves and large custom work belong in the booking calendar.

Pricing is only given in person. The shop will not quote over the phone, by email or in direct messages, because the number depends on size, placement and the artist. If the day's slots are gone by the time you arrive, the better move is to put down a deposit for a future date instead of hovering in the lobby, or come back the next morning right at opening.

A booked session needs a $100 deposit when the tattoo can be finished in one sitting. Larger tattoos that require more than one session need a $200 deposit. All deposits are non-refundable, so be sure of your date before you pay. The money is applied to your tattoo rather than added on top.

If plans change, you must give 48 hours of notice to move your deposit to a new appointment date, and you can reschedule only once. Miss that window, or ask to move a second time, and the deposit is lost. Treat the appointment like a flight booking: put it in your calendar, plan travel to Greenpoint with time to spare, and message early if anything looks shaky.

You must be 18 and carry proper government-issued identification. The shop cannot legally tattoo anyone who is under the influence, so skip the pre-session beers on Manhattan Avenue. If you bring a friend, they may be asked to wait in the lobby or explore the neighborhood while you are in the chair, and the shop asks that children stay at home.

Three Kings does tattooing only, with no piercing, so plan a separate stop if you wanted both. Eat beforehand, wear clothing that gives easy access to the placement, and bring water for a longer session. Honestly, if you are sensitive to noise, skip a Saturday walk-in and aim for a weekday right at opening, when the shop is calmer and your artist is not juggling a full lobby.

The Nassau Avenue station on the G train is a short walk from the door, which makes the shop easy to reach from Williamsburg, Long Island City or the transfer at Court Square. Manhattan Avenue itself is Greenpoint's main shopping street, lined with Polish bakeries, delis and bars, so there is plenty to do if you are waiting for a walk-in slot.

Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop, a few blocks along Manhattan Avenue, is a Greenpoint institution for an old-fashioned donut and a coffee at the counter before you sit. After the session, walk south to McCarren Park and find a bench away from the running track to let the endorphins wear off. Keep the fresh tattoo out of the sun and away from the park's dust until it has had a few days to heal.

Three Kings Tattoo Brooklyn is at 572 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222, between Nassau and Driggs Avenues in Greenpoint. Walk-ins are taken every day, first come, first served; call around opening to hear who is free. Deposits are $100 for one-session tattoos and $200 for multi-session work, non-refundable, with one reschedule allowed on 48 hours of notice.

Clients must be 18 with government ID and sober. Prices are quoted in person only. The closest subway stop is Nassau Avenue on the G. If you want a dinner spot or a quiet bar in Greenpoint lined up for after the session, ask Karpo in the Karpo APP and it will suggest places open nearby.