Ocho Placas Tattoos

Best tattoo shop in South FL. Been coming here for years and will continue to do so. Javier and John are the shop owners. Javier specializing in black and grey work. Always beautiful work. Very worth it. Like i said best tattoo shop in South FL in my opinion.

I had the most pleasant experience getting tattooed at Ocho Placas. My tattoo artist was Pooka, and she was great. She made me feel very comfortable, and I absolutely love my new tattoo. Thank you so much!

This has become my go-​to tattoo shop! I have now been tattooed by both Javier and Pooka and they both put out amazing quality work I’m extremely proud to display on my body. I often get stopped in public by strangers who compliment my tattoos! The shop is nice and clean and everyone I’ve encountered there is friendly. I’m heartbroken that I’ve since moved 6 hours away from this shop but I will continue to make appointments to get work here when I’m in town! I can’t imagine getting work done anywhere else.

When traveling I always have quite a task of finding a quality shop to go to. I almost gave up and didn’t get tattooed while on vacation and then I found this shop on Instagram. The selection of tattooer’s is definitely better than some of the other shops I found in the area. I was especially impressed with their American traditional designs. The shop is very small but the music selection is cool. They make you pay before the tattoo though which is something different than what I’m used to. I don’t really care, but some people might. You can pay with a credit card which is a bonus.

Loved my experience here!!! My boyfriend and I went in to get two tattoos. The lady at the front was so nice! We both got tattooed by Marco. He really makes the experience enjoyable. So nice and funny! We love our tats!!!

I went there on Sunday 11÷08÷15 afternoon to ask some questions and to see the store. When I arrived and said Hello to the person that was there in the front desk «Steven», He told me Hello, I’m closing the store right now, so I don’t have too much time. It was at 3:45 PM. (I thought the store was open form 1 to 10 on Sunday)
I said Ok that’s fine, I just want to ask a couple of questions because It was going to be my first tattoo, so i just want to be informed. He answer was: Ok, if is not a bigggg question I can answer it, also he told me: keep talking while I’m closing my stuff in the computer, so actually I was talking to nobody. So I did my NOT TOO long question for him: I just want to know how is the healing time and process and he replied. There is a paper near the door with all the explanation anything else? I was so impressed of his rudeness with a customer. (he didn’t answer my only question)
I cannot say anything regarding Javier Betancourt Job or any other artist there, I was going there because a friend told me about him and I really want that my first tattoo was it done by Javier. Unfortunately with Steven customer service I don’t want to go there anymore. And I would not recommend this place with this kind of customer service. You should take care more of future customers.

Disclaimer: This review is solely based on my experience with my artist.
Where do I even begin?
I was shopping around for an artist around this same time last year to start my sleeve up when my girlfriend tagged me in a post. Her Instagram name read «Pooka» and I was instantly intrigued. We exchanged a few emails and made an appointment to meet.
The day comes and upon meeting her aura just flooded the air. I can’t even properly explain how happy this made me. Just makes you feel good and confident about what you’re about to do. I mean, cmon’ tattoos are for life and if you’re artist isn’t dishing good juju, something ain’t right.
The best description I could give you of Pooka was like a fresh rosebud on a summer day. Freshly picked mint for your mojito. She’s just the coolest sailor scout on this side of Calle Ocho.
We spoke for a bit, no rush at all even though she had a few people waiting on her. She made me feel like I was important to her. She listened, we exchanged ideas. She told me about her life and her interest. Her passion really shines. She was honest about what would work and what wouldn’t, but most importantly she respected my vision. That’s something to respect in an artist. Most places in Miami will give you shotty work for a $ 100 shop minimum and call it day. I’ve never felt that vibe here, the pieces that come out of this place are masterpieces. I mean this is a quality tattoo place that puts the bullshit aside and outputs some great shit man.
Needless to say, I booked my appointment and anything this woman has put on my body has only made it that much better. I look at my tattoos and don’t question whether or not they belong there because it’s almost as if they’ve always been. Being tattooed at this shop and by Pooka has been a pleasure.

Jerry is the man!!! This place is a affordable, clean, legit and honest place. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants any ink. Thanks for the ink and see you next time.

Great overall experience. Could not have asked for a better one. Steven was on the ball. And made me feel so at home. I gave him an idea and he gave me his honest opinion. My original idea didn’t work well but he came up with something I couldn’t be happier with. This was for my dad. And he did us good. If I had 3 thumbs that’s what I’d give this shop and Steven.

Michael St. Vincent is awesome!
He did an amazing job and made me feel at home.
I chose him because I saw his great work on the website. I met with him to talk about the design of the tattoo and he drew up a great design for me. We made a few adjustments and I scheduled a time to do the tattoo. I was extremely nervous because this was my first tattoo and he made me feel comfortable. Embarrassingly, I almost passed out from the pain and Michael was patient and caring. He even offered me some of his fruit juice to drink!
The price was super fair and my tattoo looks amazing! I’m a happy girl.

Well still no word. Now the tat looks even worse. You may read good reviews on this site but you will find out that a majority of the people who wrote reviews are friends of friends. The tattoo artists and I use the term lightly do speak high of this little hole in the wall restroom of a place they call a tattoo shop. No really it is a toilet. Basic tats no fading just outlines a 12 year old could do. Again just letting you all know bad tattoo artist still exists out there.

Went here on 4÷26÷15, my husband wanted to get a tat done. The place was inviting and the customer service was good. It was just a 30 min tattoo, so I really can’t say that much about them. The tattoo artist «Tea Pot» was really friendly and did a exceptional job of the tattoo my husband got.

Super cool atmosphere in Ocho Placas. Got my tattoo done by Steven Rodriguez, came up with a design together. Absolutely loved his line work and craftsmanship, also the nicest dude. Felt super comfortable in the chair, everyone in the shop complemented me when they got the chance, making me feel awesome about my tattoo. Will definitely come back, no doubt.

…I came to Miami for the first time and wanted to get a memorable tattoo … Something feminie, sexy, cute. And after visiting several tattoo parlors Ocho Placas TAtoo was the one… Danny Ortega worked with me and the 1^st thing he drew for me I loved (& I’m difficult to please)… My brother went back to him the very next day to get his 5^th tattoo cause he loved his work. Great place great artist reasonable prices! Will recommend him to anyone

I think the most critical point on getting a tattoo is to live with it your whole life.
I started to think about getting a tattoo 3 years ago and when i finally came to Miami i already had in mind what i wanted to get. I have been to 4 different tattoo shops, all of them located in Miami county and i can tell… its not that easy to find an artist who really takes the time for you to get to know you and figure out what you are trying to get on your skin.
My first appointment was with Jerry Blades at Ocho Placas Tattoos and i showed him my draft. He told me, he is definitely not gonna do it the way i wanted it. In the beginning i was shocked about it because i thought i will go there tell the artist what i wanted and make an appointment, but then he started to explain and to tell me his opinion about it. I also felt that it is his passion to do it and not just to get the money and thats it because he told me he is gonna try to create the draft as good as he can with combining my ideas and style with his, but if i don’t like it, he doesn’t have a problem to not do it because the most important thing is that i like it because i have to live with it my entire life.
I really appreciated that in the end. After i met him i went to other tattoo shops and they didn’t really care about me and my tattoo, they just asked when i want to get it down and if i wanna do it today… you really don’t wanna hear that when you get your first tattoo. So I finally decided to let Jerry handle this and create the draft and it looked perfect. We made an appointment and it took 5hrs to get it on my skin, he really did a great job with everything and i felt well while getting it. People keep telling me that this is one of the best tattoos they have ever seen.
Jerry is really honest, nice and relaxed person and focused when he is tattooing. I really appreciate his work and I´m happy with my tattoo, all I can do is recommend him, especially if you want to get your first tattoo, he is the right guy to talk to because he will exactly find out if thats gonna fit to you or not and he will be 100% honest to you and thats a character skill that is the most important for me.
I will def. come back soon! Thank you Jerry!

Got my first Miami tattoo here for my birthday and couldn’t be more pleased. After a year, it looks like I had jus gotten it last month. My artist, John Vale, was great. He worked around my idea and gave me a couple drawings to choose from. Definitely going back here for my birthday this year.

My favorite tattoo shop in Miami! The artist that work here are professional. John Vale is the owner/​artist and he’s just amazing. He’s done work on me and my boyfriend and everything has come out great. He’s friendly and funny and keeps the conversation going while you sit there in pain. Lol
I love how they decorate the shop. It has art everywhere!
Look on their Instagram page to see how great their tattoos come out looking
@ochoplacastattoo

Where to begin? This is more a review about my artist than the shop. I first met Jerry Blades at another shop in ’08. He did work on a friend of mine which came out superb. After he was done with a piece on my left forearm, I kept that name tucked away in my subconscious as I knew the time would come to call upon him again.
Fast forward to November 2012 and he wasn’t at that other shop anymore. Using the internet, I was able to find him again at Ocho Placas. I was less than ecstatic after a previous run in with the Ocho Placas crew, but having Jerry there meant nothing was stopping me. I emailed him and he called me to get an idea of what we would be doing. I went in to chat and drop off some art so that he could draw it out and we set a date for the initial session.
Jerry is a professional in every sense of the word. A tattoo artist has to have exceptional work ethic in order to touch a needle to my skin. I came in and he had suggestions as far as what needed to be changed and he’s honest about what looks good and doesn’t. At the end of the day its the clients’ decision what gets done but he will tell you his honest opinion and, trust me, he knows best. We ended up cropping and enlarging the original idea to make it work for the tattoo since watercolor art doesn’t exactly translate to needles.
It took three sessions due to time constraints (and $$$, of course!) but I was able to finish my piece a year later and am now waiting for it to heal so that I can photograph it. I’ll put it up once it does. I’m more than happy with the outcome and recommend Jerry Blades fully. You can see his work on Instagram @jerrybladestattoo.
P. S. In case you were wondering, my tattoo is an adaptation of one of Yoshitaka Amano’s concept art sketches of Terra Branford, the main character in Final Fantasy VI. I know that means nothing to you, but I wanted to answer your question before you asked.

Ocho Placas turned my humble back into a work of art! My artist, Steven Rodriguez, took my vision and turned it into a reality. I can’t say enough about his talent and bedside manner. He is a class act and does beautiful work. I know there might be some of you out there who care more about the quality and artistry of your art than a showy location — this is the real deal. I was leery at first, and feeling self-​conscious because I felt too old to be getting a tattoo (at 44!), but I needn’t have worried. The process from start to finish was a pleasure — I felt really comfortable and at ease the whole time. I’m already planning another one! This place is spotless, the staff friendly and funny, and they do spectacular work. Who could ask for more?

The place is clean and the artists are sticklers about having people in the tattoo area that are not being tattoed. I do appreciate that. Steven designed my triple 7 tattoo with 2 dice. I loved the 7’s but was not thrilled with how the dice came out. I wanted them to be white (or skin color) but there was entirely too much shading in my opinion and one of the corners of the dice was blown out. It’s not in a spot many will see so I don’t particularly care but still. I know it could have come out a tiny bit better. My fault for not talking to my artist and asking more questions and assuming the dice were going to be white. However, I would have liked to know the dice were going to be shaded.