Defiant Tattoo and Caffeine Bar

I used to love this place Keith tattooed one of my guys arms it was flawless! We walked in and did it right there on the spot! and im like whenever I get my Big piece I will come here just cause my first experience was so awesome
2 months ago or so me and my boyfriend wanted our whole back done so we walked right in and was greeted by a dude who looked very tired wasn’t the nicest person we explained what we wanted and all he can say was «I need more info than what you are giving me!(with a snarl he made)» that’s when im like oh no we starting off bad! he went back in forth with a nice tat artist named Jers and he came up to us and said I will be happy to tat you guys he gave us quotes we explained what we wanted I wanted my whole back done with a Buddha and my boyfriend wanted his arms done with the Virgin Mary Jers gave us his email to stay in contact and will contact us when everything is ready! A week went by nothing half a week we contact him says he still working on it 2 weeks went by says Buddha is done all he needs is the virgin mary well 3 weeks went by and no Jers at this point we got a upset because it seems like he will only contact you if you contact them even tho they say I will contact you when its done! well its 2 months later now and no email back lmao at this point its just funny.
I love there work and everything but it just seems like they are slacking customer service part
I do think its cool they now have a coffee shop back when they was at the other place more close to downtown on second floor I believe the did not offer that

The tattoo doesn’t hurt. I couldn’t be happier with the results! He was very kind and funny, and definitely values his work and takes his time to make sure that the customer is happy. I’ll definitely be going back. The environment is absolutely perfect and comfortable, while also very professional. Overall, I’m very satisfied and have absolutely no complaints. I would recommend Defiant to anyone and everyone who wants what they want and want to be happy with what they get.

Stopped in tonight to just get a feel for things. They had several people in the chair having work done when I arrived at about 10pm — saw some very nice work. I had a coffee (two actually, the soy white mocha was pretty killer) and just hung out suckin up the wifi and chillin. I wasn’t actually going to ask any questions or pursue anything tonight in the way of body art, but one of the artists asked so, I brought up two tattoos I need fixed. He quoted me what I thought was a very reasonable price on the spot, and said just stop back in when I’m ready and they’ll hook me up.
So that’s what I think I’m going to do. More to follow…

So, after receiving my first tattoo from Jacoba, I went back and got a second one shortly after. I am very pleased with both of them and have already gotten several compliments on them (although I really didn’t need them to know that they looked awesome). She is very professional and really pays close attention to her artwork. She just gets into her zone and analyzes the piece to decide her next move, which always seems to be a good one.
I cannot stop staying good things about her or her work (through my experiences). Tattoos on both of my obliques was not the most fun experience I have had. But, it definitely went a lot smoother with such a great artist. All in all, Jacoba is awesome and I really do recommend her without reservation!

Jacoba did a fabulous job on my upper arm. I walked in originally wanting an intricate design as a wrist band, but she advised against it, knowing it would all fade together in a few years. So we blew up the design and put it on my upper arm and now I have an amazing geometric line piece that will last much better. For an artist who says she doesn’t usually do technical line work, my tattoo turned out absolutely amazing. I highly recommend her :) The shop is everything you’d want out of a tattoo parlor as well.

Just stopped By to see Anthony D. Urban for my septum piercing! He’s an amazing artist and can’t wait to have him work on me again!!!
I recommend anyone in the Twin Cities to stop by and see him if they are neding a piercing done!

The shop has a great atmosphere, extremely clean and inviting. All of the artists are highly talented. Its the only place I will go.

I have a hard time writing this review because I have heard nothing but good things about this shop and their artists. The place is cool looking and has a coffee shop inside of it which is awesome too. This review is really more of a rating on common courtesy. I had a consultation scheduled with an artist. I live about 25 minutes away which is really about 35min at 6:30pm. I finally found a parking spot and go inside and I’m told that the artist wasn’t in today because of some family issue. I have a family and I understand, however it would have been nice to get a phone call inside of driving 25−35min each way for absolutely nothing. Common courtesy of a phone call would have brought me back. Instead I’m going to get my $ 1,000 tattoo at a different shop who had great customer service as well as great artists (and parking too!).
Maybe I’ll try this place again down the line… but I’m going to call before I leave to make sure the artist is there.

Very impressed with this place. Minimal «tat-​itude», a beautiful shop, and very reasonable prices.
Very pleased with the work done by Aaron on my shoulders (two large shoulder tattoos, all black). He put a lot of concern into the artwork, the style it was done in, etc. He listened to me when I told him what I was after, and made great suggestions. I also enjoyed seeing the paintings he was working on in his spare time — the sign of a real artist, people!
These people take their craft seriously!

This is a review for a nose piercing. I called ahead of time to check on prices for a single nostril piercing. I was told it would be $ 60 for a single nostril piercing with jewelry included. When I asked about jewelry with a gem she said they could indeed do that for $ 60. I found a Unilocal coupon for $ 15 for $ 30 and decided to purchase it before heading to the store.
Later in the store, when discussing jewelry with the piercer he did not question me when I said I was told earlier I could get the jewelry with the gem for $ 60. The piercer was great other than not introducing himself. He was quick and efficient. It was obvious he had done many nose piercings before. I made sure to tip him $ 5. At check out he only took off $ 15 instead of $ 30 for my coupon. After I had left I realized the mistake and called back. I was asked to come back in to sort out the problem.
When I went back to the store the man who I presume to be the owner came storming out of the back. As he pulled cash out of the register he told me «I’m giving you the money to make you happy but, you’re the one ripping me off. The piercing should have been $ 80. You should be paying me $ 5 right now but I’m giving YOU money instead» He also told me he had taken the Unilocal coupon down and would never put another one up. He made me feel as though it was all my fault when in fact it was his staff’s mistake. If I was really trying to rip them off would I really have given the piercer a tip? He was rude, arrogant, and treated me very poorly. I will definitely not be returning. I doubt that I would even be welcomed back even though I apologized profusely.
I would have given a 4 star rating had I received acceptable customer service. It would have been a 5 star rating had the staff I encountered introduced themselves to me over the phone and in person.

Holly is amazing. She is a true artist. She does clean lines and beautiful color blends. She is a professional and a great person.

I got my first tattoo in Los Angeles where I go to school, but I was looking for a shop for when I was home for the summer. Defiant was recommended to me by a friend and they far succeeded expectations. They are a wonderful shop. I didn’t have an appointment, but called in advance and Holly said she’d happily fit me in her schedule and do my small tattoo. Her work was beautiful and I get complimented on it all the time. The price was much better than my shop in LA, and the work done was better too. I look forward to getting another tattoo at Defiant.

I was recently tattooed by Holly. She was super patient with all of my modifications and was so positive and easy to work with. Her piece turned out great, the detail is so precise. I definitely had a positive experience.

Aaron of Defiant is such a talent! His work is absolutely stunning, he is skilled with the needle — my tattoo went so smoothly, his depth perception is right on & the healing process has been much smoother than in the past.
Go see Aaron, his artistry and attention to detail are impeccable!

This place is fantastic. Great staff, plus it’s very clean and professional. I have gotten my ears pierced multiple times by Anthony who has done a stellar job. I would definitely come here again and would recommend Anthony and Defiant Tattoo to any of my friends considering getting a piercing.
UPDATE: I think I owe these guys a review on their caffeine bar. It’s superb and the atmosphere is very nice! I’d actually go as far as to say it’s my new favorite café in Minneapolis. I go there frequently now to get lattes and coffee, both of which are usually done perfectly. The coffee is never burnt tasting. The caramel mochas and peppermint mochas are also extremely tasty. Finally, if you’re not into lots of caffeine, the hot chocolate and chai are delicious alternatives.
Basically, Defiant’s Caffeine Bar is a hidden gem of a café in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis and I recommend checking it out.

Keith is a dear friend of mine and has done all my tats but two! My last one was done by Mr Mathews! It is awesome as well! I had two of my recent piercings done there as well by Jimmy and he is very good at what he does as well! Anyone would be crazy to go anywhere else!

I just got my first tattoo here after switching shops. The new building is awesome, everyone that works there is super cool. Keith did my tattoo and he put a ton of thought and time into designing my idea. The end result is a better tattoo than anywhere else I’ve ever been. I will only recommend Defiant to my friends, no other shop.
Thanks again, guys.

I went to Defiant for my first tattoo on a Sunday night at about 9:00. I was tattooed by Aaron, and I had a great experience. He worked with me to create a design and I am thrilled with the results. I will definitely be going back!

Scot @ defiant tattoo is by far hands down an awesome and all around cool guy who is just not an artist who can copy existing designs but a real artist who can come up with a masterpiece you’ll fo sho be proud to show off.
It doesn’t hurt that he is an intellectual that can carry all sorts of conversation too, everything from the ugliness of man and the absurdity of today’s society to how the rock & roll hall of fame committee should be disemboweled for not yet voting in Rush.
The prices are worth the quality, check him out, you won’t be disappointed.

I recently celebrated my 18^th birthday and my mom took me to this great place we’d heard about (Defiant), because of reputation and convnience, for my first ink.
My friends, it did not disappoint. We had made an appointment with Aaron, but when we arrived, he was tied up with another customer (giving her a MASTERPIECE), so he turned me over to a friendly woman named Holly. She was very relaxed, and the price was very reasonable for what I wanted ($ 150 for ‘when the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace” on my forearm).
Only con is that the whole place smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. Other than that, I’ll be back!

I live in NYC and have been on vacation here in mpls for the summer. For months I had been looking for an artist to ink a wedding band on my ring finger. NO OTHER LOCAL SHOPS WOULD ENTERTAIN THE IDEA.
I contacted Keith, the owner, by email. I «challenged» him to do the tattoo. He replied quickly and said he would do it. The $ 100 minimum on hands didn’t bother me.
When I arrived, I found a beautiful, clean shop. The workers were dilligent and courteous. Plenty of artwork made the place feel comfortable.
Once there, we talked about his plan. Of course, I wanted the band all the way around my finger. He made it happen. We agreed he would leave some areas around the band lighter for shading. My wife had really wanted it «solid black». When I went back to Keith, he touched up the tat, no problem, no charge.
Not only is Keith a fantastic artist, but a cool guy to boot. I’ll DEFINETELY be back.
Randy G

When I am super stressed, I resort to body modification. It was 8pm and I was in need of a new tattoo like, right away. I am normally not the type to make snap judgements, but I drew up a little idea of what I wanted and zoomed off to a tattoo shop I had heard about a few months ago. One of the artists banks at my bank, and had given me his card.
When I walked into the shop there was just one artist there (makes sense at 8:15 on a weeknight) and his name was Mike. I didn’t even look at his portfolio, I just asked him «Do you want to give me a tattoo?» and he looked at my little sketch, re-​sketched it and got everything prepped.
Now here is the amazing part. A few years ago, I got a tattoo at Uptown Tattoo that has since faded a bunch and looked kind of sad. When Mike saw said tattoo he offered to touch it up for me, for pretty much free, when he had the black ink ready for my new tattoo. I expected him just to fixed the icky parts, but he completely re-​did the tattoo. It looks far better than it ever did before, much darker and more clear. I don’t know if the artist at Uptown tattoo did it too light or something (because it didn’t hurt there, and Mike made it HURT.)
So for $ 120 (w/​o tip) I got a brand new super cute new-​school diamond, and a complete update of my old tattoo as well.
I recommend this place.