The best tattoo experience in my life!!! Thank you so much Joe for this awesome piece and a great chat. You are an amazing artist a great professional and a very nice person! Totally will be back for another piece. Read Less

Been meaning to come here for a few years and finally made it for their Halloween special!  I chose from Isis' flash!  Man she is amazing!  Very detail oriented and light handed.  She made sure to check in and see how I was doing often during the session!  I can't wait to go back and have her do more work on me!  Everyone there was very warm and welcoming! Definitely a comfortable shop with great artists!  Go check them out! Read Less

I called and booked an appointment with Leah and paid the $100 deposit. I showed up and showed her what I wanted with a few subtractions and one added element. She was able to draw up what I wanted and executed the delicate line work flawlessly. The shop was clean and everything was set up with the utmost hygiene and safety...very professional. I'll definitely be back. Read Less

My artist was Isis.Super loved her I found her through Instagram and asked if she was available to do a tattoo like 2 days later and lucky she did have room. I got No Face(spirited away) which she knew exactly who that was so I was in heaven and it came out so nice can't wait to get more tattoos from her Read Less

I hate leaving reviews but I have to share. I had a scheduled appointment with Joe (OWNER) I asked him if he can "possibly" charge $150 per hour instead of $170 per hour on my piece. He then left me a voicemail saying he doesn't like to be hagged with his prices and he's cancelling my appointment and to find another artist. NOW...this is the only problem I had. It was just a QUESTION! If he was to say "NO" I would have still came. As a business owner you should be able to ask questions to your customers. Not get in your feelings about your prices. We are customers you can say no...it's simple. I guess it was hard for him to do. Little do he know I was still willing to pay the $170 hour or found a piece that fit my budget.....But instead he "BLOCKS" me from IG. Great job business owner! Read Less

This is the second time I've been to Joe and had another AMAZING experience. I got my first tattoo with him 4 years ago and knew I would be back! This time I went with a really good friend of mine and I had told her so much about Joe and raved not only about his work, but also about him as a person. And let me tell you, he went above and beyond. The entire time we were there from the moment we stepped in to when we were finished, we weren't disappointed about a single thing. We both got thin delicate tattoos of words and Joe was able to make it happen exactly the way we wanted them. Joe is INCREDIBLY kind, patient, a perfectionist, talented, personable, and anything else positive you can think of! He is very honest and will tell you about how your design will likely hold up in the future, which is super important to me. No one knows for sure how the skin will change, but with his experience and expertise, I know he guides me to a good decision. I don't just want it to look good now, but I want to be as sure as I can be to know that the design will hold up as the skin changes over time. I trust his feedback 100%. He gives his professional advice and without pressure, leaves it up to you to decide how you want to proceed. His shop is clean, well designed and such a comfortable place to be. I was impressed all over again and my friend couldn't believe how much she loved her experience and was so happy (basically giddy) she came with me to get her first tattoo with Joe. She was speechless when it came to how patient he was with her and described everything he was doing to make her feel at ease. It was a flawless experience and I'm so happy she will remember it as such.I am already super excited to go back in a few weeks for another one! And needless to say, my friend is also considering another tattoo and has vowed only to go to Joe! On our 45 minute drive home, she was smiling the entire time (and of course, so was I)! We couldn't have asked for a better experience!! Thank you Joe! Read Less

I was looking for a high quality shop in Oakland and a tattoo artist interested in personal connections and found both at Bell and Iron. Joe did a beautiful tattoo for me on short notice and with lots of generosity and flexibility. I'm already psyched to get back to Bell and Iron for more work! Read Less

Everything about this shop is pristine!!! Joe Paul has the lightest hand and the cleanest lines. You all have a gem of a tattoo shop here in Oakland. I will be back, whether it be just traveling (again!) from TN or if I move back to the Bay. And everyone in the shop is lovely; it has a real family vibe!!! I highly, highly recommend this shop. Read Less

I just can't say enough good things about this shop. Really happy with all of the four tattoos I've had done there, ranging from simple flash to more complex pieces. Morgan was awesome, really took the extra time and care to modify and execute an intricate design I brought in to him. I'm also really happy to have worked more recently with Gabriel who did an awesome job making my Panthor tattoo look great on my arm, including some much appreciated advice on size and placement. In fact everyone there is easy to talk to and very laid-back but also passionate about their work. Being a small shop means they give you personal attention from the time you walk in the door to following up after you get your tattoo (if you want). They've always taken the time to answer all of my questions and make sure I got exactly the tattoo that I wanted. They will set up an appointment, of course, but also do drop-in customers if they have the time. If you have any desire to get a tattoo I would strongly recommend checking out Bell & Iron. Read Less

I was in Oakland visiting my sister. After seeing good reviews about this place I called and spoke with Joe. He was awesome and actually managed to get me an appointment with Morgan for a small Bearded Dragon tattoo. Morgan was great... not heavy handed, listened to what I wanted, made a few changes to make my tattoo even better. They even gave a care kit after. If I lived closer, I'd be back for more. Highly recommend them! Read Less

I went in on the Valentine's day flash sale with my wife and I couldn't have had a better match than Morgan, since I picked a Star Wars design (princess Leia holding her laser gun) and when I got assigned to Morgan, he was wearing a Star Wars stormtrooper t-shirt!He did an excellent work, and it was quite fast and painless. I got it on my left shoulder. Morgan was so nice and sweet all the time, making sure I was comfortable. I really recommend him and the shop and I'm even planning to come back for another bigger piece with him.BTW my wife also got a piece on the same day, with Elle, and later on she came back for more tattoos with Elle and Joe. We really love the energy of the shop, we feel very welcomed here since everybody is so pleasant. Read Less

I went in on the Valentine's day flash sale with my wife and I couldn't have had a better match than Morgan, since I picked a Star Wars design (princess Leia holding her laser gun) and when I got assigned to Morgan, he was wearing a Star Wars stormtrooper t-shirt!He did an excellent work, and it was quite fast and painless. I got it on my left shoulder. Morgan was so nice and sweet all the time, making sure I was comfortable. I really recommend him and the shop and I'm even planning to come back for another bigger piece with him.BTW my wife also got a piece on the same day, with Elle, and later on she came back for more tattoos with Elle and Joe. We really love the energy of the shop, we feel very welcomed here since everybody is so pleasant. Read Less

These guys were great. They immediately responded to an email inquiry and were able to get me in for a consult the next day. I just wanted a small addition an existing tattoo, so they were actually able to do the tattoo immediately following the consult. I'm really happy with my results and will definitely be back if I decide I want another tattoo. Read Less

I did a walk in for some flash on a Saturday and Elle made time to give me two small tattoos. She was patient with me and worked on a quick design for one. They both turned out great. Everyone at the shop was really nice, and I was in and out quickly. Thanks! Read Less

Really loved this tattoo parlor! Great customer service, super friendly artists that are respectful and guiding to help you make the best choice for you and your body art. My husband and I walked in and were tattooed by Elle, and my husband booked a future appt with her to do a cover up. Really great spot - also they take cards here! I suggest taking a look at the artists' insta accounts to get a feel for which artist you would prefer. Read Less

My best friend and I got matching tattoos from Elle Web. She  blew us away with her work! She's so sweet and talented! You should really check out her  work on instagram "Ellewebbtattoos". I want to come back already!! Just need to figure out what else I want. :)Go to Elle!! You won't be disappointed! Read Less

Heyyyyy guess what? My cat died. Ok, ok it was like a year and half ago but you know what? It literally ruined my life and then of course there was a series of probably very avoidable unfortunate events post-mortem that didn't help with the downward spiral but like, I miss my little dude and I'd been wanting a little forever something of him for a long time. I finally decided it was time to make the perma-mark and I spent some time looking for a FEMALE tattoo artist because just not a fan of being touched by strange men and all my tattoos to date are from women, sooo sticking with that 4evs. I found Elle Webb at Bell & Iron through Yelp, checked her out on insta (@ellewebbtattoos), and knew she was my gal. I got to get in the very next day to get my little guys name written in my Dad's handwriting on my arm next to my heart because, ya know, just like Whitney and Sasha Velour, I sometimes get so emotional, baby. The tattoo came out perfectly and she was 1000% the least judgey or attitude-y tattoo artist I've met. Sweet.As.Pie. Plus she's an animal lover and does amazing black work which is all like in terms of tattoos. My tattoo was perfect, quick, and actually kinda painless. Was I a little drunk? Yah maybe. Probably just buzzed but the entire experience was outstanding and she was even able to give me a little something extra with 10 dots on my fingers that I'd also been wanting for a hot sec. Love her, can't wait to go back, and highly recommend her to anyone in the market for a bitchin' tattoo. Read Less

Elle gave me my first tattoo this week and did an excellent job. I brought her a rough image that I wanted and she consulted me in ways to make the design as flattering on my skin as possible. I loved the changes she made to my original design and am very happy with the final product. Read Less

Joe is seriously the best, I've known him for a couple years now and he's amazing! Super sweet and always takes his time with his work. I always feel like he's fully invested in the piece that I'm getting. He will always work with you until you're 100% happy with the outcome. Love his ideas and the vibe at his shop. Definitely stop by if you have the chance! Read Less

Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Elle Webb was my artist, professional and communicative from beginning to end. Excellent work, customer service, and cleanliness. I have definitely found my new go-to studio. I'm in love with my new ink and overall delighted with how everything went. Read Less

Nick Wallin did an amazing job with my tattoo. I got a branch with cherry blossoms going across my upper back. When I stopped in to explain what I wanted, Nick was encouraging and optimistic that he could do what I was looking for. I gave him a photo of a tattoo I liked, and he sketched something unique and that matched what I wanted. I set an appointment for a week later. The whole process took two and a half hours, less than he'd initially predicted, probably because I sat like a rock and didn't ask for breaks. Really happy with the result, especially since this is the largest and most intricate tattoo I have yet. Nick did just the right amount of checking in to make sure I was doing okay. The shop is small and clean, right on Grand near shops and restaurants. All the staff I've met are chill, nice people. My husband will be getting his own tattoo there in two weeks, by Elle Webb. Read Less

Nick was great.  Since this was my first tattoo, it was great to have him explain each step of the process.  While it was a simple tattoo, I couldn't be happier with his work!  Highly recommend Bell & Iron! Read Less

Great, clean atmosphere, cool shop! Elle did my awesome Bart and Lisa tattoo, and she was very sweet! She was also very reassuring! I will definitely recommend Bell & Iron Tattoo. I know I will be returning! Read Less

I brought my dad to see Joe Paul at a former place of business-- I checked out many other artists work and compared his skill level with other spots around the bay. Eventually we decided on Joe Paul and gave him a visit to his shop. I brought my dad in not actually thinking Joe would be able to accommodate us before my dads soon to be flight out of town. Luckily he fit us in and even came in early to accommodate us. Joe was completely professional and yet very fun and talkative when my dad wanted to geek out about various topics. The process was fantastic and the final product far exceeded our expectations-- seriously breathtaking. I'm going to add a picture in the next few days after it's completely set. Definitely check this guy out. Read Less

Great artists, my tattoo was very simple but I could tell that they care about the individuals opinion and their goal is to make sure you are completely happy with the design before starting to tattoo. Elle was willing to work with my schedule and I will go back! Read Less

Great artists, my tattoo was very simple but I could tell that they care about the individuals opinion and their goal is to make sure you are completely happy with the design before starting to tattoo. Elle was willing to work with my schedule and I will go back! Read Less

I had a lovely, delicate sweet pea tattoo on my forearm done by Nick. I appreciated how well he collaborated with me and the idea that I brought in. The tattoo is just beautiful!The vibe at Bell and Iron is a chill, positive one. I would highly recommend this neighborhood gem! Read Less

I have had such a wonderful experience at Bell & Iron. Everyone at the shop is so friendly and welcoming. I had a great conversations with the clients and artist. They made my birthday really special! I would recommend this place to everyone. Morgan has done such a great job on my piece so far and bringing my idea to life. I can't wait for it to be finished. Read Less

The tattooist who's done ALL of my work, about 40 hours worth, left the state and I was in a panic about going to a new artist. A friend referred me to Joe Paul and I couldn't have been happier. He was really sweet and understanding with my chatterbox nervous energy and made the process really easy for me. So happy I found him. Highly recommend! Read Less

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Miss Kelsey Parker, and all Miss Parker wanted in the fleeting shadows of life was to blaze a path of awesomeness for her fellow kindred spirits. Aye, I can safely say that Miss Parker radiates the sheerest, pristine levels of AWESOMNESS because..she simply just is! 🤘 Read Less

Joe Paul has been tattooing me since my very first one, back when he was at One Shot in San Francisco. He is a profoundly talented artist! (Check out his prints, great art for your walls!) I have 7 tattoos by him now, each one is dear to me. He is not just a supremely gifted artist, he is also a genuinely nice and interesting person. He is so good at his craft that I have, on several occasions, gone in to have a piece tattooed sight unseen. I've sent him a pic of a sculpture... of mine, discussed with him what I imagined, then he's drawn a beautiful design in his own style. I trust his taste completely. So much so, that I arrived for my session, still yet to see what was about to be tattooed on me. One look at it, and I knew I wanted it on me forever! Whether you're an old pro with Tattoos or going in for your first, Joe and his fellow artists will treat you like an old friend. None of the newbie shaming that some shops exude, making you feel out of place and uncool if you are not yet tat'd, Joe doesn't go in for that nonsense. He treats everyone with kindness, openmindedness, and genuine warmth. Come for the tattoos, stay for the new friends you'll make. See More Read Less

Just got a very special Oakland-centric tattoo from Joe and I can't speak highly enough of him or his amazing work. He's not only a great artist, but a super-cool and nice person who I enjoyed collaborating with on the design. We had a lot of common interests and I definitely chose the right guy for this job. This piece meant a lot to me and he knew understood the significance of it. I highly recommend Joe and the other fine artists in his shop. Read Less

dope space! such a great addition to the neighborhood.got a real awesome piece with Joe and I just LOVE it. he was real thorough with the consult, listened to what I wanted, and incorporated his own artistic vision to create something that speaks to me. very professional and made sure to give me a run down of proper care. being in the service industry that is also artistic, I commend those that take so much pride in their work. Your passion for your art shows and I am so grateful!!thank you so much Joe!! also, I would post a pic of the piece...but then I'd have to charge you so just take my word for it Read Less

I have been meaning to come here for a bit b/c my friends have been and loved it plus its in my neighborhood...I had a really unique experience and I loved it. I went with my girls to do the Valentines day flash which already was awesome!  I got Morgan for mine and while he was working we were chatting and it turns out he had actually done a piece on me before only somewhere else TALK ABOUT SMALL WORLD! Any way this place is great and the people who work here are all so friendly and awesome.Thanks guys I'll be back!! Read Less

I've been getting tattoos since I was 16 and now I'm around 3 times that age. Been tattooed by big name people in the industry and I have to say that my favorite is Joe Paul. One of the things I appreciate about him is that he checks his ego at the door. He is more than willing to skillfully guide you with your own idea, but he doesn't try to force his own artistic agenda on your vision. THAT is important when you are considering having something on your body for life. He is super chill and yer focused on attention to detail. I am currently getting a half sleeve finished and looking forward to getting some more real estate decorated by this artist. I have also recommended him to friends and they have thanked me profusely. You will be happy. Read Less

Not a good experience. I had Morgan do my tattoo, which was super simple and should have come out great. Well I was wrong. The tattoo looked good right after it was done but as soon as is started to heal it started looking worse. Some of the lines were not straight and the colors did not stay anywhere near as bright. To top it all off, he scarred a portion of my arm. It formed a hard scab and was very painful long after the rest of the tattoo stopped being painful, probably a couple of weeks which is very unusual. I have several large tattoos and never had this problem. The ink also bleed outside the lines in that area and didn't hold the color. My arm was bruised in the damaged are, which I can still see remnants of the bruise and I got the tattoo in early December 2016. When I contacted Morgan during the healing process he said it looked fine and that the healing issue was because I probably rubbed up against something when sleeping. Really, instead of admitting his error he tries to blame it on my aftercare techniques. I've never had an issue in that area before. He did offer to fix it once it healed but I wasn't very confident in his abilities after this. Upon talking to other artists they said his needle probably bent and wouldn't put color in the skin well and he still kept going over the area trying to get the ink to stick. The tattoo looks like I've had it for years. I got it touched up to try and correct his errors but it still looks bad. Now I have to spend even more money to get the whole thing covered up. I will definitely not visit this shop again. Read Less

I had read about Bell & Iron on Yelp.  My daughter saw it as we were driving down Grand Avenue and I had to check them out.  I was drawn to Morgan's work because he had done a few Asian pieces.I told Morgan that I wanted something that would represent my parents.  They have sacrificed for me and my mother is battling cancer.  I knew that I would be saying goodbye to her and I needed to make sure that no matter what - I had her with me at all times.  I left a deposit with Morgan and followed up with a couple of screen shots of my ideas.A few of weeks later, Morgan emailed me his design.  It felt right.  I connected with the artwork immediately.  The only small change was to add my father and mother's names to the tattoo.Our first session was about 4 hours.  The next 2 sessions were about an hour a piece.  The last session was about 2 hours total.  The entire piece covers about 80% of my back.  It's positioned perfectly so that if I wear a tank top - you wouldn't know it was there.  I'm not sure if Morgan planned it that way - but it's exactly where it needed to be.  I didn't get it because I intended to show it off.  I got it because I need to have both my parents close to me at all times - and the art work that Morgan did symbolizes them both perfectly. I feel fortunate to have met Morgan and entrusted him with this.  He stuck it out with me..and we took breaks - because let's be honest - it did hurt.  Just as soon as our lives settle down a bit - I'll get another one.  Watch out...because despite the pain and the healing process - you WILL want another one right away!  :)Thank you Bell & Iron - Thank you Morgan! Read Less

Had a great experience here with the owner Joe. My wife and I came in for small geometric tattoos and he treated us with the care and attention I would expect mostly for larger, more substantial pieces. He took his time and made sure they were perfect rather than just cranking them out. His straight lines were on point, and his touch was so light we barely felt anything. Everyone else working in the shop was super friendly, and made it a great atmosphere to hang out in. This place is definitely a gem! Read Less

I'm so thrilled with my experience at Bell & Iron with Morgan.  He rendered my photo into a design that I like even better!   He finished the tat in much less time than anticipated.  It was my second tattoo from someone else 13 years ago.  Somehow, the pain was considerably less than last time.  The shop is super clean, including the bright red bathroom.  Everyone in there is super cool.  Morgan was also responsive to my asking for some chill music rather than the hard core electronic stuff when I came in.  Also, I came in to check them out at around 5pm.  Came back at 6:30 for the tat and left at 7:30.  Really effortless and I'm just delighted. Read Less

The artists here are some of the most talented and friendly that I have worked with in the Bay Area. The artists here represent a diverse skillset, and are always welcoming to visitors and longtime clients alike. I highly recommend this shop to anyone who wants quality work and a fun, inviting atmosphere. Read Less

Joe is so ridiculously talented. I told him a fairytale I wanted on my arm and he drew it as if he'd pulled it out of my mind. It's perfect. Can't wait for the color. It also bears noting how cool everyone in the shop is. It's easy to reach them and set up appointments and it's a really fun place to be in pain for a few hours. Wouldn't go anywhere else. Read Less

I walk into bell&iron with a tattoo appointment with a woman named Kelsey. When I walked in I was welcomed by two very friendly people one being Kelsey. She introduced herself and we got down to the details of what I wanted to get tattooed. I gave her some pretty vague ideas and she went to work. Came back with two drawings and absolutely knocked it out of the park! I got both of them tattoos and he absolutely went beyond my expectations. I love my tattoos and constantly get complimented on them. I couldn't of asked for a better experience. I'll definitely be coming back. Read Less

My roommates and I stumbled upon this shop while out for a walk, and are so glad we did!  My partner got a water bear by Morgan, my roommate got a wolf girl by Kelsey, and I went for an arm piece, a sloth patronus, by Joe.  The process couldn't have been easier or more transparent, everyone in the shop was not only skillful and amazing artists, but friendly as well! They are a new shop, so getting an appointment sooner rather than later was a breeze.  HIGHLY recommend. Read Less