Tattoo Parlor Near Me in Kampong Glam: Yugto Tattoo Studio, Arab Street

Yugto Tattoo Studio is up a flight of stairs at 60 Arab Street, #02-01, Singapore 199757, and you get in through the back-alley entrance rather than the shophouse front. It opened on 23 November 2023, it is open daily, and it takes both walk-ins and appointments, which is rarer than you might think among Singapore studios. Prices start from S$80 for the tiniest tattoo, such as a single dot or a 1 cm heart. For anyone in Kampong Glam typing tattoo parlor near me between a Haji Lane coffee and a plate of murtabak, this is the studio closest to hand.

The studio defines its name as a chapter, a change or transition, a stage in life, which suits a place where plenty of people come for their first tattoo. It was founded by a husband and wife who share a passion for creativity and tattooing, and it describes itself as a small community of young artists who want to change how people see tattoos. Its About page notes that Female magazine listed it among Singapore's young rising tattoo collectives in June 2024.

The roster has range. Ela works across two personas: cute, cartoony animal and pet tattoos as @inkkoela, and dark realism, surrealism, florals, fine line and anime under @inkbyela. A lifelong cat lover, she also runs a tattoo fundraiser for neglected animals. David draws quirky illustrative designs in a sketchy hand, and in 2019 he won the Grand Prize at the CANNEDVAS beer label competition, so his design ended up on Brewerkz cans across the island. Renee, Aaron and Royson complete the line-up, with an apprentice, Lee, learning alongside them.

Each of them has a clear lane, which makes choosing easier. Renee does black and grey illustrative dark work, best known for gory yet pretty skewered heads with a gothic and punk edge, and she crochets when she is not tattooing. Aaron specialises in cat and pet tattoos, sweet or punk, and designs stickers and merch for local cat groups. Royson, known as Roy, works in bold black and grey with sharp red accents and gothic, occult and surreal imagery, and he likes big canvases such as backs, chests and full limbs. Lee, the youngest, works mainly in fine line and playful ignorant style.

Yugto is unusually open about pricing. The open-needle price starts from S$80. Tattoos under 5 cm usually cost around S$80 to S$180, and pieces of 5 cm or more start from S$100. Full sleeves, legs and backs are charged per piece or at S$150 an hour. The studio stresses these are rough estimates and recommends an in-person consultation for an exact quote, and consultations are free.

Payment is cash or PayNow only, and the policies page says no haggling. Touch-ups on tattoos done at other studios start from S$50. Cover-ups need a consultation in the studio first, and the new design usually has to be bigger than the old one. Very dark or bold old work may need laser lightening before it can be covered well.

Walk-ins are welcome every day, but a booking guarantees an artist and a time. Deposits are required for appointments. They are non-refundable but stay valid for six months, so you can move a date as long as you follow the rules.

Rescheduling needs at least 48 hours' notice. Arriving 30 minutes or more late forfeits the deposit, and rebooking then requires a new one. The studio asks clients not to cancel last minute, since an artist may have spent hours on a custom design and blocked out the slot for you.

Nobody under 18 is tattooed unless they come with a legal parent or bring a valid consent form. Numbing cream is not used, because the studio says it affects the quality of the work and wears off after about an hour anyway. Expect it to hurt, and know that everyone's pain threshold is different.

You can bring a friend, and there is a small lobby where they can wait. The studio does not pierce and does not do henna or temporary tattoos, since everything it does is permanent. Its list of dos and don'ts is worth reading in full: choose an artist whose work you trust completely, listen to their advice on size and placement, come rested and fed, and follow the pre-tattoo and aftercare instructions to the letter rather than a friend's tips.

The studio sits in one of Singapore's most walkable heritage districts. Sultan Mosque, at 3 Muscat Street, is a few minutes away, and its golden dome is the landmark to steer by. Haji Lane, a narrow strip of independent shops, bars and murals, runs close by, and Bussorah Street makes a pleasant pedestrian walk lined with palms and shophouses, and it leads straight to the front of the mosque.

Arab Street itself is known for textile and carpet shops, so allow time for browsing. Bugis MRT is about a seven-minute walk away, on the East-West and Downtown lines, and Nicoll Highway on the Circle Line is a similar distance. If your piece is fresh, keep it out of the afternoon sun while you wander, and skip the pool or beach until it has healed.

Yugto Tattoo Studio, 60 Arab Street, #02-01, Singapore 199757, back-alley entrance. Established 23 November 2023. Open daily, walk-ins and appointments welcome, though exact hours are not published. From S$80 for tiny pieces, around S$80 to S$180 under 5 cm, S$150 an hour for sleeves and backs. Free consultations. Cash or PayNow only, no haggling. Deposits non-refundable, valid six months. 48 hours' notice to reschedule. Under 18 only with a parent or consent form. No numbing cream, no piercing. Nearest MRT: Bugis and Nicoll Highway.