10 Best Tattoo & Piercing Shops In Bugis

10 Best Tattoo & Piercing Shops In Bugis | Studios I’d Trust

I have been thinking about a tattoo for a long time.

Something tiny. A little paw print, maybe on my wrist, for Milo. Somewhere I can see it every day. I have not done it yet, but I have spent a lot of time walking into studios around Bugis, looking at portfolios, asking questions and, honestly, just watching people walk out with that happy, slightly nervous glow.

Bugis is a wonderful place for this. Upstairs in Bugis Street, there is a studio that has been inking and piercing people for years. Bugis Junction has a proper piercing boutique. And just a short walk away, along Haji Lane, Bali Lane, North Bridge Road and Beach Road, you will find some of the most creative tattoo artists in Singapore.

A tattoo or a piercing is a little story you carry with you. Choose the person who writes it carefully.

So here are 10 tattoo and piercing studios in and around Bugis, plus everything I learned about prices, safety and aftercare. Every studio was checked against 2025–2026 sources, but small studios change hours often, so always message them before you go.

Table of Contents

Tattoo & Piercing in Bugis, in a Nutshell

Best all-rounder in Bugis: Bugis Tattoo & Body Piercing, Bugis Street
Best for cheap ear piercing: Silver Trade, Bugis Street
Best mall piercing boutique: Stellar, Bugis Junction
Best for fine-jewellery piercings: Mantra Collective, North Bridge Road
Best for first-time tattoos: Nine Eyes Tattoo Studio, Beach Road
Best for custom illustrative work: Crooked Spine Tattoo Studio, Kelantan Lane
Best for street-style cool: the Haji Lane and Bali Lane studios

Quick Guide: Tattoo & Piercing Shops in Bugis

#	Studio	Where	Tattoo	Piercing
1	Bugis Tattoo & Body Piercing	Bugis Street, #02-22	Yes	Yes
2	Silver Trade	Bugis Street, Level 2	No	Ear piercing
3	Stellar	Bugis Junction, #02-40	No	Ear piercing
4	Mantra Collective	772A North Bridge Road	No	Yes, fine jewellery
5	Nine Eyes Tattoo Studio	Golden Mile Tower, Beach Road	Yes	No
6	Crooked Spine Tattoo Studio	23 Kelantan Lane	Yes	No
7	Singapore Electric	24 Bali Lane	Yes	No
8	Wild Paw Tattoo Co	30A Bali Lane	Yes	No
9	Bada Bink Tattoo Firm	Haji Lane	Yes	Yes
10	Ink by Finch	Peninsula Shopping Centre	Yes	Yes

Tattoo & Piercing Shops Inside Bugis

1. Bugis Tattoo & Body Piercing, Bugis Street

If you have ever walked through the second floor of Bugis Street, you have probably passed this little studio, with its walls covered in flash designs and photos of past work. Bugis Tattoo has been a fixture of Bugis Street for years, and it does a bit of everything: tattoos, ear piercings, nose piercings, body piercings, and even tattoo removal.

The artists, Alan and Ah Bee, work in black and grey, plain black and colour, and they also do cover-ups for old tattoos you are not so proud of anymore. It is the easiest place in Bugis to walk in, ask questions, and get a feel for what you want.

Services: tattoos, cover-ups, tattoo removal, ear, nose and body piercing
Hours: daily, around 1pm to 10pm
Address: Bugis Street, 3 New Bugis Street, #02-22
Contact: +65 9834 8930, or message the artists on Instagram

My tip: look through the portfolio carefully and ask which artist did the work you like. For tattoos, ask for the main artist rather than an apprentice if you want a specific style.

2. Silver Trade, Bugis Street

Also on Level 2 of Bugis Street, Silver Trade is a jewellery shop that has become a quiet favourite among students and young shoppers for very affordable ear piercing. It is quick, friendly and cheap, and the staff will explain the process before they start.

Services: ear piercing, with surgical steel studs
Price: around $5 per hole with a piercing gun, or around $10 per hole with a needle
Address: Bugis Street, 3 New Bugis Street, Level 2

My honest tip: if you can, pay the extra few dollars for a needle. Most professional piercers recommend needles over guns, especially for anything beyond a simple earlobe. I explain why further down.

3. Stellar, Bugis Junction

Stellar is a proper ear-piercing boutique, and its Bugis Junction outlet is the most polished piercing experience inside a Bugis mall. It is bright, calm and very clean, and it is popular with parents bringing kids for their first piercing.

Stellar uses a hand-pressure piercing instrument with single-use, pre-sterilised cartridges, rather than the reusable guns you sometimes see at kiosks. You choose your jewellery from their range, which includes surgical steel and titanium for sensitive ears, 14K gold, and diamond pieces.

Services: lobe and cartilage ear piercing, including kids’ piercing
Price: the piercing service is S$45 per earlobe and S$65 per cartilage piercing. Jewellery starts from about S$65 to S$99. Stellar’s own guide estimates S$95 to S$180 in total for a lobe piercing.
Extras: complimentary aftercare lotion and a six-week follow-up review
Address: Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street, #02-40
Contact: +65 6837 0907

My tip: book online ahead of weekends and school holidays, when families fill the slots quickly.

4. Mantra Collective, North Bridge Road

Mantra Collective, formerly known as Primitive Art Piercing, is where you go when you want a piercing done beautifully, with fine jewellery. It sits on North Bridge Road at the Kampong Glam end of Bugis, about a ten-minute walk from Bugis MRT.

The founder and head piercer, Rinku Sherpa, has been piercing professionally since 2004, and the studio specialises in gold threadless jewellery and implant-grade titanium. It is especially good for people with sensitive skin or piercings that have been stubborn to heal before. Equipment is sterilised in a Statim autoclave, the hospital-grade kind.

Services: lobe, helix, tragus, septum, navel and other piercings, plus jewellery curation
Price: a simple earlobe piercing is about S$70 per ear. Total cost depends on the jewellery, which goes up to fine gold and diamonds.
Hours: Thursday to Monday, 12:30pm to 7:30pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Address: 772A North Bridge Road
Booking: by appointment only, through the website or WhatsApp (+65 8322 4983)

My tip: this is a “do it once, do it right” place. If you have had a bad piercing experience before, start here.

Tattoo Studios a Short Walk From Bugis

5. Nine Eyes Tattoo Studio, Beach Road

Nine Eyes is on the 13th floor of Golden Mile Tower on Beach Road, and it is my top recommendation for first-timers. The studio’s whole philosophy is that you should feel like you are visiting a friend, not a formal studio. Questions are welcome, nervous giggles are welcome, and nobody rushes you.

Each artist has a different style, from western traditional and Japanese-American traditional to ornamental, floral blackwork, dotwork and stippling.

Styles: western traditional, Japanese-American, ornamental, floral blackwork, abstract, dotwork, stippling
Price: from S$150
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm. Closed Sundays.
Address: Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road, #13-07
Contact: +65 9232 0324, or Instagram @nineeyestattoo

My tip: the late opening hours make this great for an after-work appointment.

6. Crooked Spine Tattoo Studio, Kelantan Lane

Crooked Spine was founded in 2021 by artists Gillian and Pei, and has grown into a team of six. It was not planned as an all-female studio, but it has naturally become one, and many people (especially women getting their first tattoo) tell me they love the comfortable, creative atmosphere.

Custom work is the heart of this studio. Designs start as hand-drawn ideas, shaped through conversations with you, and the final sketch is revealed closer to your appointment.

Styles: neo-traditional, Japanese, ornamental, realism, crayon-style, woodcut, colour
Price: from S$150
Hours: daily, 12pm to 8pm
Address: Kim Hoe Centre, 23 Kelantan Lane, #05-01 (about a 10-minute walk from Bugis, near Jalan Besar)
Contact: +65 9224 3081, or Instagram @crookedspinetattoo

My tip: follow them on Instagram for flash days, when all the artists offer pre-drawn designs at friendlier prices.

7. Singapore Electric, Bali Lane

Singapore Electric, run by the GimmeLove Tattoo team, sits on colourful Bali Lane, right next to Haji Lane. It has that cool, street-art energy that the whole of Kampong Glam is known for, and it is open late, which makes it perfect for spontaneous (but well-thought-out) decisions.

Styles: custom work in a range of styles
Price: by quote
Hours: generally from around midday until late. Check their social pages for the latest.
Address: 24 Bali Lane

8. Wild Paw Tattoo Co, Bali Lane

A few doors down, Wild Paw Tattoo Co is a smaller, appointment-based studio. If you prefer a calm, private session instead of a walk-in, it is a lovely option in the Bali Lane and Haji Lane area.

Styles: custom work in a range of styles
Price: by quote
Hours: Monday to Saturday, by appointment
Address: 30A Bali Lane

9. Bada Bink Tattoo Firm, Haji Lane

Bada Bink is a tattoo and piercing studio on Haji Lane, known for bright, bold designs that suit the colourful lane perfectly. It is a fun stop if you are already wandering Kampong Glam and want to chat to an artist about an idea.

Services: tattoos and piercings
Style: bright, bold designs
Price: by quote
Address: Haji Lane, Kampong Glam
Contact: +65 9332 6169, or Instagram @badabinktattoo

10. Ink by Finch, Peninsula Shopping Centre

Ink by Finch is about a 10 to 15-minute walk from Bugis, towards City Hall, inside Peninsula Shopping Centre. It does both tattoos and piercings, and it is known for friendly prices, custom designs and nose and septum piercings. It also uses disposable cartridges and needles.

Services: custom tattoos, cover-ups, nose, septum, ear and body piercings
Price: tattoos from about S$80. Piercings have generally ranged from about S$45 to S$110.
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 1pm to 8pm
Address: Peninsula Shopping Centre, 3 Coleman Street, #04-21
Contact: +65 9623 4477

How Much Do Tattoos & Piercings Cost in Bugis?

Service	Typical Price	Where to Look
Basic earlobe piercing (gun)	Around $5 per hole	Silver Trade
Earlobe piercing (needle)	Around $10 to $70 per ear	Silver Trade, Bugis Tattoo, Mantra Collective
Boutique ear piercing with jewellery	Around $95 to $180 per lobe	Stellar
Cartilage, nose or body piercing	Around $45 to $200, depending on jewellery	Ink by Finch, Mantra Collective, Bugis Tattoo
Small tattoo	From about $80 to $150 minimum	Ink by Finch, Nine Eyes, Crooked Spine
Larger custom tattoo	Quoted per piece or per session	All tattoo studios

Most tattoo studios have a minimum charge, even for tiny designs, because the setup, sterilisation and single-use materials cost the same whatever the size. So a tiny heart may cost almost the same as a small flower.

Needle vs Gun: What I Learned

This was the thing that surprised me most.

Piercing guns push a blunt stud through the skin. They are quick and cheap, and fine for many people’s earlobes. But professional piercers generally do not recommend them for cartilage, because they can cause more trauma to the tissue.
Needles are hollow and very sharp, so they make a clean opening. They are the standard for professional piercers and are usually recommended for cartilage, nose and body piercings.
Single-use cartridge systems, like the one Stellar uses, sit in between: pre-sterilised and disposable, designed for ear piercing.

My rule: for a simple lobe, any clean, reputable shop is fine. For anything else, go to a professional piercer who uses needles.

How to Choose a Safe Studio

Look at the portfolio: real photos of healed work matter more than fresh, shiny photos.
Ask about sterilisation: good studios use single-use needles and sterilise reusable tools in an autoclave. Do not be shy to ask.
Watch them open new needles: needles and cartridges should come out of sealed packaging in front of you.
Check the jewellery: implant-grade titanium, surgical steel or solid gold are best for new piercings, especially if your skin is sensitive.
Check age rules: most studios require you to be 18, or have a parent or guardian with you. Bring ID.
Trust your gut: if the space feels dirty, rushed, or the artist will not answer your questions, walk away.

What to Expect on the Day

If it is your first time, the unknown can feel scarier than the needle. Here is what usually happens.

Getting a Tattoo

Consultation: you share your idea, references, size and placement. The artist suggests what will work best and gives you a quote.
Deposit: many studios ask for a deposit to book your slot, which comes off your final price.
Design: for custom work, the artist draws your design. Small changes on the day are normal.
Stencil: the design is placed on your skin as a stencil, so you can check the size and position in the mirror. Speak up now if anything feels off.
Tattooing: a small piece may take under an hour, and a large piece can take several sessions. Take breaks if you need them.
Wrapping and aftercare: the artist cleans and wraps the tattoo and explains how to care for it.

Getting a Piercing

Choose your jewellery: the piercer will help you pick a safe material and the right size.
Marking: the spot is cleaned and marked with a pen. Check it in the mirror before you agree.
The piercing: it is over in seconds. Breathe out slowly as it happens.
Aftercare advice: you will get instructions and often a cleaning solution. Ask about follow-up checks.

My Tips Before You Go

Eat a proper meal first: low blood sugar makes people feel faint. Bugis has plenty of food nearby. Try my guide on what to eat at Bugis.
Sleep well and skip alcohol: alcohol thins the blood and can make you bleed more.
Wear comfortable clothes: make sure the area you are getting done is easy to reach.
Bring a friend: it is nice to have someone to hold your hand, and to take a photo afterwards.
Think about placement: consider your work dress code and how the area will age and stretch over time.
Avoid the sun beforehand: sunburnt skin cannot be tattooed or pierced safely.
Sleep on it: if you are not sure, wait. A good studio will never pressure you.

Aftercare: How to Heal Well in Singapore’s Heat

Our hot, humid weather makes aftercare extra important.

For Tattoos

Keep the bandage on for as long as your artist tells you.
Wash gently with clean water and mild, fragrance-free soap, and pat dry.
Apply a thin layer of the aftercare cream your artist recommends.
Avoid swimming pools, the sea and long sun exposure for at least two weeks.
Do not scratch or pick at the peeling. Let it heal on its own.
Once healed, use sunscreen on your tattoo to stop it fading.

For Piercings

Clean with sterile saline solution, or the aftercare your piercer gives you.
Do not twist or play with the jewellery.
Keep hair products, makeup and phones away from fresh ear piercings.
Be patient: earlobes often take around 6 to 8 weeks to heal, while cartilage can take many months.
If you see spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus, see a doctor.

My Final Note

I still have not got my little paw print. But every time I walk past a studio in Bugis, I think about it a little more. Maybe this year.

Whatever you are thinking of getting, a first ear piercing, a tiny tattoo, or a big piece you have dreamed about for years, take your time. Look at the work. Ask the questions. Find the person who listens.

Because the best tattoos and piercings are not the trendiest ones. They are the ones that still mean something to you years later.

travel. vacation. explore

info@visitbugis.com

October 21, 2026

10 Best Tattoo & Piercing Shops In Bugis | Studios I’d Trust