Bob Robert's Spotlight Tattoo

I’ve been tattooed here a few times by Miles, and have always had a great experience. Great conversation and very professional. My regular tattoo artist back home was super excited when I told him I got tattooed here and loved the souvenir sticker.

Great shop. Derek’s a pleasure to work with. Wish I could give him more stars.

Sean is the absolute best and he’s given me some of the most beautiful tattoos I have on my body. Wouldn’t go to anyone else :) you know a tattoo artist is talented when they can do any style of tattoo and do it wonderfully - that’s Sean. He doesn’t just do one style, he does them all.

As a 25 year out Tattooer myself this shops an absolute legend. I got tattooed by NORM RIP years ago. I am so proud and excited to bring my kid here to get a portrait and pay his respects to the true OGs in this industry that have always done it right. If you’re reading this review go here and get tattooed.

Just stopped in to buy a shirt and pay my respects to the late great, Bob Roberts. This is this still my favorite tattoo studio in LA — possibly all of the USA. Full of great art and decades of history.

Went and got a tattoo with Valerie and she was amazing!! Definitely love the staff, they're super friendly

What an amazing experience! As soon as I walked in I knew this was the place and when I heard the music they played I immediately felt at home. I've been looking for a few months for the right place and a couple that my wife and I met at Musso & Frank told us about Bob Robert's. I went and Sean (Arnold) did the most amazing job on my tattoo! He is an incredible artist and a very kind man. Funny thing, when I told him about the couple at Musso & Frank he told me that he actually has a reservation there with his friend that evening! We just clicked and to quote him: "Everything lined-up a 100%. This is THE PLACE to get a tattoo! A+++

Best traditional tattoo shop in L.A! Stevethejanitor was amazing and did a fantastic job on my piece. My son got a beautiful tat from another artist it's perfect! All the artists are talented in this shop.

Greatest tattoo shop ever!! Quality is fantastic! Artist are great!! And the Vibe is awesome! Will always love this place. Get your art work done here, for sure!

My bad review is specifically left for the artist Juan Teyer who works here and the unprofessionalism of his interaction with me. Such a bummer because this shop is timeless and his work is beautiful. Reached out to him over Instagram DMs to book an appointment as that's how he schedules, and asked him of his next availability. He proceeded to give me a date with a late afternoon time. I responded back, asking if he had a different date available with an earlier start time of 12pm, and he LITERALLY wrote back "Lol I'll pass thanks anyway." I would be traveling from afar for the appointment - three hours to be exact. I don't drive, and use the train to travel to LA when I have tattoo appointments. I simply asked about an earlier start time because I prefer to end a tattoo session earlier in the day so that I can arrive back home on the same day and work with the train's schedule. I've been getting tattooed for a decade now and I've never had a tattoo artist treat me this way in regards to booking an appointment. IF YOU HAVE A PROMPT TIME YOU BEGIN OR LIKE TO BEGIN TATTOOS AT, JUST TELL ME THIS. But giving me -there's no other way to word this - a dickish response?! What in the actual hell? Left such a bad taste in my mouth. Communicating professionally AND effectively is such a huge aspect of tattooing, and if that is beyond you, you have a lot to work on. Luckily I have close ties to legends of the tattoo world and will objectively share this experience of him with them.

I got both arms a back dragon and one leg from Bob. my parents disowned me, but it was worth it. Hermine Stover

The only place I will get my tattoos. First went here in 2007 and Baby Ray would do my tats. Went last year and got a few done by Valerie, she's really good. This is an OG spot I highly recommend

What an amazing experience! As soon as I walked in I knew this was the place and when I heard the music they played, I immediately felt at home. I've been looking for a few months for the right place and a couple that my wife and I met at Musso & Frank told us about Bob Robert's. I went and Sean (Arnold) did the most amazing job on my tattoo! He is an incredible artist and a very kind man. Funny thing, when I told him about the couple at Musso & Frank he told me that he actually has a reservation there with his friend this evening! We just clicked and to quote him: "Everything lined-up a 100%. This is THE PLACE to get a tattoo! A+++

I've been coming to Spotlight regularly for about a year and a half. My only precious experience with the shop was having Uzi tattoo me while he was working as a guest in the shop. My experiences at Spotlight have all been positive, though I've only been tattooed by Mark and Steve. As cliche as it may sound, walking into the shop can be a bit intimidating, and feels like a trip back in time. My first trip since becoming a regular was simply a phone call to the shop, asking if they took walk-ins. One of the artists, Mark, happened to have time that day. I drove over, he traced the spot, and discussed what I was looking to get. As discussed, I came back about 3-4 hours later for my session. As I came to find out later, Bob helped Mark with a few minor edits on the piece. Not because he was micro-managing, but because he cares about every tattoo put on a customer's skin inside the shop with his name on the door. As another reviewer detailed much more accurately, the "intimidation" is 100% mental. The shop employs professionals, that will be brutally honest with you about your idea (good or bad). As an individual who failed to listen in my early days of being tattooed, there is nothing I want more than an artist being upfront with what they think will work (look good), and what won't. Besides, they're the professionals; it's the same reason I don't self diagnose myself when I'm sick and I see my doctor. So if you're looking for professionals who have years of experience, a quality tattoo, artists that can work in many different styles, or simply some help in figuring out what you want, do yourself a favor and check out Bob & Charlie Roberts' World Famous Spotlight Tattoo. Cheers! Party on friends!!!

I had a surprisingly substandard tat from Lyle T. but I LOVED the work Bob Roberts did on me. I am a trained fine artist and degreed architect, so I am not easy to please. Bot is a true artist. I also have fine wrist bands by Leo Zulueta. These are also mighty fine.

Great shop! Everyone is super friendly and approachable and I love that every time I've been there I'm surrounded by women and men who are just all there for the love of the art of traditional tattooing. Miles Foxworthy is a gem - his work is amazing and he has a keen understanding of the art and craft, he makes his own machines, is an incredibly talented illustrator, and is genuinely passionate about just getting the chance to do what he loves in one of the most well-known spots in LA for the part Bob and Charlie played in making LA a destination for American traditional tattoos. I'll be spending a lot of time here as I work on my patchwork sleeves!

All the reviews for this legendary shop so far seem to be from some hardcore tattooed mofos. Which is totally swell but I'm going to give it an honest review from the perspective of an outsider to the tattoo community, a regular-ass LA kid who isn't on a body art odyssey. The shop is great. It's a little scary, I gotta be honest. Not because it's dirty or the crew is mean or there's blood on the floor or whatever.... but simply because this place oozes LEGITIMACY almost as much as it oozes black ink. Proprietor Bob Roberts is nothing less than legendary for his tattoo work and as a centerpiece in the whole socal punk scene back when that shit was what WASN'T on MTV. So walking into this no frills shop as an east-coast transplant with only one tattoo on my body is a little bit like crossing the prison yard if you know what I mean. That said, it's mostly mental, because these guys are unquestionably talented artists. The portfolios are thick and full of highly detailed work. They seem to be working mostly in a traditional style with the exception of Marco Cerretelli who is enormously talented and whose shit is outttt therrreeeee in an amazing way. I got tattooed by Charlie Roberts, son of Bob, and a fixture at the shop for many years. Charlie is the real deal, there is no question about that. His portfolio was full of elaborate work. I will be completely objective here though - he didn't strike me as much of a visionary. My impression is that he's an expert technical craftsman with a shitload of experience, but the artistry or imagination wasn't quite there for me (or perhaps wasn't activated by my prosaic request). That said, I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted so I kind of nudged his designs to where I wanted it and he went to work. It's kind of a trip getting tattooed at 9pm in some slightly dingy back room of what used to be an asian massage shack while these heavily tatted eat-sleep-die-socal cats are hanging out smoking cigs and talking shit. At one point, I asked Charlie to clarify what he meant when he was describing something he could do with my tattoo, and the shop-rat sitting kind of ominously behind me said "Hey homie, this is the point where you say 'whatever you want Charlie!'". And you know what I said? "Whatever you want Charlie!" It's just that kind of place. If you can hang, which I did BARELY, it's a great place to get inked. If you're an 18 year old girl from Valencia, I suggest you head over to High Voltage. Don't forget your Sidekick. $100 shop minimum. Don't use the restroom. Trust me.

Miles did an amazing job on my first tattoo! We drove down Melrose and saw the shop. We had a spontaneous outrage and decided to stop...best decision ever! The most friendly and welcoming staff out there! This was the result...!

Hands down one of the best Tattoo Parlors in SoCal, all hand drawn and painted Tattoo Flash, friendly experienced staff and a Tattoo icon in the City of Angels. Bob(dad) and Charlie(son) Roberts have been tattooing for a very very long time and they still do it old school, no bull shit, Bob, Charlie and the their tattooers won't just tattoo anything on anyone just to make the cash, they make sure any design a customer wants to get will be the right fit for the right spot.They're so proud of the art that comes out of Spotlight, they'll turn down putting on a tattoo if they feel it won't work and that comes from much respect for the art of tattooing and years of tattooing experience. Come by and see some Tattoo History and get inked. Yah that last bit was cheesy but what the fuck.

I've slow-danced with Bob Roberts and been tattooed by Grant Cobb - both, incredible experiences. Thanks to Grant, I have the best looking dinosaur tattoo on the West Coast. Even in black and white, the detail and shading really makes me happy that it's permanent and all mine.

I was stoked for Charlie to take me in last minute during a quick trip to LA. Having lived in LA for five years and a bit of history with the Roberts I wanted something I would always remember. We looked through books for about an hour and Charlie took his time drawing, sizing, positioning. Perfect line work and shading. Pro old school shop. I won't go anywhere else. Ps. If you see an angry looking korean slap him on his buttcheeks and tell him Anna said hi.

Always has been the best shop. Always will be the best shop. Many artists have sprung from Spotlight Tattoo- Spotlight is a historical tattoo establishment.

First tat ever. Heard about Spotlight from a personal reference. When I called up, after five minutes of talking with Steve, I knew this was going to work. Originally scheduled my tat for two weeks from now but called Steve yesterday to see if could fit me in asap. He was super flexible and down to do it that next day. Steve is incredibly passionate about what he does and didn't show any signs of burn out or plateau. He's a true artist and he listened well. My tat is simple but beautiful. He took my original design from a hard copy and gave me exactly what I wanted. The placement on my inner forearm and bicep was perfect the first time around. Although it was super painful, he did awesome clean work no rush. He checked in on me. He played a band called Bikini Kill the whole time. Just a really easy experience overall. I'll be back.

Got my chest tat done here through an appointment. I had the outline done two months ago and needed to finish it off, because the original guy messed up the shading. There was a guest tattoo artist, Alex Trufant that took the challenge. 7 hours later it was complete. During those 7 hours, most of the staff came up to check in and they were all really cool. I recommend this place.

I have been coming to Mark Lavelle at Spotlight for years now, and each time I leave I am more and more impressed with the quality of work produced by every artist at this shop. Everyone at the shop, both artists and clientele are always pleasant and eager to answer any questions. Whether you're looking for flash or custom work this is the place to do it. Bob and Charlie only allow top-notch artists to work at the shop. They call it "world-famous" for a reason!

Walked in with art, made and appointment for the next day - we agreed on a price. Baby Ray took care of me. Some tattoo artists really think that since you are trapped in a chair, you think that they are interesting. Baby Ray - he kept stopping his work and blathering on and on about shit that I just didn't care about - about his personal life. I don't give a shit if he was in prison or rolled with gangs. I'm from Detroit, this shit does not impress me. When my tattoo (realistically a 2 hour job) became more like a 5 hour job (I've had plenty of tattoos, so I appreciate the art and have a reasonable idea of time) Baby Ray started moaning about it being a $500 job, rather than a $300 job which he originally quoted. Several times, trying to get me to agree to pay more. It came highly recommended, I'm happy with the product. I'll never go back. I will never return.

When I think of Spotlight Tattoo, I think of the scene from Grease - poor Sandy in her night gown wistfully looking into the kiddy swimming pool singing the heart-felt ballad "Hopelessly Devoted To You." Only it's not the face of John Travola reflecting back at me, but that of Juan Puente of Spotlight Tattoo - he is my Danny Zucco. I am hopelessly devoted to him. I was fairly nervous for my first tattoo experience but Juan kept me incredibly relaxed...even during the "holy-hell" painful parts (a tattoo needle rattling along the spine doesn't tickle). The tattoo came out beautifully - amazing. Love and devotion kicked in immediately thereafter. I went back again for tattoo #2. I brought in a very detailed drawing and Juan took the time to make several minor but imperative adjustments to make sure it was a masterpiece. The Mona Lisa ain't got nothin' on this one - the tattoo is perfection. I've brought friends from out of town to him for their tattoos. They have gone home with the best souvenir possible - body art from the Picasso of tattoo artists. They are all thrilled and now official members of the Juan Puente fan club. A word to the wise...definitely call ahead and make an appointment. You may have to wait a little while but it will be well worth it. You can't rush art.

Got my first ink done here by Charlie, son of Bob Roberts. Charlie is a really laid back, no-frills dude. I think that pretty much sums up his artwork too. Very traditional and no-frills. Technically he knows what he's doing, he has the experience to back it up and his lines are super clean and not sloppy at all. So if youre looking for a cookie-cutter type Americana-style deal then I recommend this place. Unfortunately I wanted something completely different with scripting very technical. Charlie did an decent job but only after I made him go back to the drawing room 3 times to edit his original sketch. I was ultimately very pleased with the outcome and he did a good job of adapting to a different style. Note: I also highly recommend Marco Cerretelli who is probably one of the best tattoo artists in LA, his scripting is better than even Mister Cartoon. However dont come in to Spotlight asking for Marco because he's parted ways from this place.

Went back to Marco Cerretelli - who does awesome work. He took an hour to sketch out the design and make sure it was 100% perfect. He took his time to tattoo and added fantastic detail and beautiful shading. After seeing an artist like Marco at work, it's hard to imagine that people don't take the time to research their tattoo artists and ensure that you're getting a work of art. For the ladies - Marco's a cool guy and totally not creepy like some other artists we ran across. He even remembered our last visit a year ago! Check out his work at www.MarcoCerretelli.com and call him directly for an appt. And this review is a star higher than my last review, because they seem to have cleaned the bathroom. :) It now no longer inspires fear.

This place is awesome, full of legendary tattoo artists. If you want solid tattoos and great company come on down! Miles is our normal tattoo artist and his work is killer.

Baby Ray is the shit, man. Got my first tattoo from him, and wow, I could not be more happy with it. I walked in with my buddy, who was also getting his first. We were both getting tattoos in Hebrew. I was getting it on my side, he was getting it on the inside of his arm. What can I say about Baby Ray? The man is a surgeon when it comes to this stuff. Barely hurt, no bleeding, and finished within 30-40 minutes. It's true what other people have said; he takes his time preparing. Once he gets going, he goes. But seriously, what's the rush? You're getting something that will remain on you for the rest of your life. Do you really want to rush the guy? Plus, the man is fascinating when you talk with him. He loves classic cars, music and he has a daughter who has diabetes. I'm diabetic also, so we talked about managing diabetes and all that stuff. Point is, if he is willing to share with you, whether you're interested or not, make a fucking effort to care. You're putting your tattoo in his hands. Price-wise, he is fair, and I genuinely believe that he gets more pleasure from seeing you happy than from the money he makes or how good he himself thinks he did. He's happy when you're happy. Also ran into the legend Bob Roberts while my buddy was getting his tattoo. Both of these guys are historic in Los Angeles culture. If you care about your tattoo, don't go to some glitzy place in Hollywood to pay more for the bells and whistles of the parlor. Get it done right.

Even better than getting inked by a 70 year old Chinese sailor named Pinky in a smokey Wan Chai dive. I highly recommend Baby Ray to anyone looking to get inked in LA. He specializes in old school Sailor Jerry type designs, bu all the pieces I've seen by him have been immaculate.

I saw Sean Arnold for my tattoos, and he is a true artist. He did some really fine line work on my arm, that healed beautifully. He has a very light touch compared to a lot of other tattoo artists I've had work done by.

Spotlight Tattoo is a good shop filled with Talented Artists. A shop like this is quickly becoming a thing of the past. When you walk in it feels like the old school shops that you read about in Tattoo Magazines. Its the kind of shop that you just have to walk into, they won't call you back but that just adds to the charm. My only complaints are that the place is in need of a MAJOR renovation, it just looks old Smokey and dirty and the bathroom is in poor shape the sink hardly works and I would be afraid to do a #2 on that shitter. For some that just makes it more endearing, but not for me. I've been tattooed by Steve Serazio, Brian Burke, and Marco Cerretelli while they were all there and I've been happy with every piece I have gotten.

I love this shop, it's "no frills" indeed, but therein lies the charm! It's like a ...tattoo shop. I don't know how long most readers have been getting tattooed, but tattoo artists aren't in customer service. Think about the beginnings of American tattooing....that's right, Sailors. Go to the goddamn Hilton if you want a fruit basket. I got an amazing anchor tattoo by Bryan, and it healed right away, whereas normally I scar (super sensitive and delicate skin). He's a doll, and a breathtaking artist. As for the bathroom, it's a tattoo shop. Not the Sanrio Hello Kitty store. In regards to the bathroom; as a girl, I find the "do not flush your tampons" signs pretty funny. I'm sure it's cleaner than most boyfriends' bathrooms...

Charlie cool guy but unavailable most of the time , and if he don't feel like tattooing you he won't lol I'm good I found my original artist again laters Charlie

Great shop, with cool folks. I started my tattooing odessy back in 2002 when I was studying in S. Korea. Once I was back in Los Angeles I began to read about tattooing and then began searching around. I got lucky that I ended up getting tattooed at Spotlight. I didnt know who they were or what their reputation was, but once inside their shop I realized that that would be the place. Since 2004 I have been going there to get tattooed. I've work by Baby Ray, Marco and Bob Roberts.

Ask price before you get your tattoo. My sister, my mom and I got half inch tattoos and got totally ripped off. We love our tats but were taken for a ride. We weren't asked to fill out any waivers and they pulled the prices out of their ass. Buyer beware. $100 for that. No way

Bubba was amazing! My sister and I got matching tattoos that he whipped up in no time and they turned out absolutely beautiful. He was friendly, clean, quick and sure. The tattoo was all lines and during the session he didn't do too much reworking of the lines (which can be painful, take longer and possibly flake later) because he was perfect and sure. Quality. Not to mention how friendly he was and how welcome we felt in the shop, which is super important! Pricing was more than fair especially considering the quality of work that was done. Would definitely recommend! I plan to go back when it's time to get another tattoo.

Went to the shop to get a small tattoo (about 2"x3"). Sat down with baby ray the morning that we arranged, around 10AM. After 2 hours of waiting for him to get coffee and energy drinks, price negotiations, listening to his stories about how good of friends with Metallica he is, how he bought a 4 carat diamond for the price of a 1 carat diamond, and then repeating all of his stories belligerently we decided to leave. We also endured him being a pervy creep to my girlfriend and him asking for an additional $200 for the tattoo that we had already agreed was worth $250 (which was already a lot to ask for it), which would have made it $450. Now, I understand that this place is badass and OG and all that shit, but please. FTS. If you want a rad tattoo from this place, bring ear plugs and make sure you don't bring a penny more than you're prepared to pay. Also, leave your girlfriend at home.

I recently got some tattoos at Bob Roberts shop by Mark Lavelle and I was impressed with how perfect my tattoos turned out the colors are some of the brightest and lines some of the cleanest. He also was super light handed and was very patient with me. I've had two from him both were relatively painless, so I will surely be getting more. I also appreciate the old school feel of the shop and how knowledgeable the artists are about the overall design of tattoos I have bad ideas often and they were able to explain to me why one of my ideas wouldn't work as a tattoo and then work with me to create tattoo with my theme but in a way that would look better in tattoo form.

I came here for my first tattoo (at 36 years old) I cannot say enough about what a wonderful experience the whole thing was. Bubba took the time to explain, give suggestions, and listen to my concerns. After reading other yelp reviews of this place I thought I was going to be scared out of my mind, but I was not intimidated or uncomfortable in any way. Thank you Bubba- I love my tattoo! and I know I and/or my friends will be back!

I went in unannouced on a Sat. night & was able to get 2 lil tats from Marco. He was nice & did a great job! His tracing was AMAZING! He's a good example of someone who's not a tattoo artist: but an artist who tattoos. I'll definetly go back to this place: it's close by & no-nonsense!

We're big fans of the fellas at Spotlight. I highly recommend Christian Cerevantes. In August 2013, he took care of my with a grapefruit-sized dragon holding the Filipino sun and stars and sitting upon my son's name. When he finished inking me, he gave my wife her virgin tatt, a small gray Chinese dragon on the small of her back. Christian is a pro -- good guy, great artist. We'll be back!

Just got a tattoo from Charlie yesterday; he was so awesome and gentle. I recommend all the girls and those who look for a nice experience with no unnecessary pain. Pretty impressive and professional.

Hi my name is Greg, and just had a design put around a old tattoo. stars and more clouds around my screaming eagle tattoo. The artist was Bubba i told him what i was thinking he gave me his thoughts. And did a kick ass job. It looks f.....kin awesome. I feel they could have had a couple topless girls just hanging around would have been nice better then tattooed guys. I was a little afraid cause well its a tattoo its going to be there for the rest of your life. But he assured me he was all warmed up. And pow killer job Bubba. You guy got 4 out of 5 stars from me. Greg Robert he worked on me for at least a hour. well worth it. He just got here from Dallas tell him Greg said hi.

This is an institution of American tattooing. It's been open since 1982! Bob is a legend. Go get a tattoo from a living part of history! Staff is so friendly and every single artist there is great at what they do. Thank you spotlight and bob for keeping the tradition alive and well!

See Christian if you want some great work done. I went back 2 days after the last work I had done by him. He's got a really nice Indian maiden flash I wanted. This piece kicks ass. Love it.

Got my first Tatt there and I love it. I brought in a sketch and Charlie improved on it significantly. It's not glamorous or kiss ass, just fine work. I will go back some day.

I will forever use Marco Cerretelli for every tattoo I decide to get! He is soo great with detail and shading. My husband and I got anniversary clock tattoos, and I recently got a Lion tattoo on my birthday. Both look amazing and the detail is just awesome. It was a great experience getting tattooed by Marco while listening to his rad Italian tunes from his ipod. If you are interested in getting tattooed please go to Spotlight and ask for Marco. You will not be dissapointed.

I made an appointment with Steve Serazio (btw, he's not on the Spotlight Tattoo website which they gotta update). Anyway, I came down from San Francisco and was in the LA area and wanted to get another tattoo and after much searching on the net, I settled for Spotlight. Steve did a fantastic job on my tattoo of a pair of Sailor Jerry Boxers that are slugging it out. He was quick, professional and easy going. Highly recommend him. PUT HIM ON THE WEBSITE DAMN IT! hahaha.

I've had many tattoos and so far have only been here once but it was a great experience. Bubba took care of me, only got a small sparrow to fill in some space I had on my arm but the tattoo was awesome. I'd definitely come back.

Best experience I've had getting tattooed was at spotlight by the master him self Bob Roberts. Bob did my entire chest and its with out a doubt my favorite tattoo. If you get a chance to get tattooed by Bob don't hesitate, he's one of the original LA tattooers. Do your self a favor and get a cool eagle, pin up or skull and rose you won't be disappointed

Juan Puente is the man!!!! I actually never came to this spot but I got tattooed in Fullerton and another spot in Hollywood. He is really a great guy and I would love to get more work done from him in the future.

My brother and his friend had some work done by Norm. We missed Baby Ray and I was pretty bummed. From what I hear he is a pretty funny dude. Maybe I can see him next time. Nice work Norm.

Baby Ray is a pro, completely knows what he's doing. He turned my husbands horrible outline he received from an armature artist and turned it into the coolest tattoo ever. He works fast and knows his craft. I highly recommend this place! This is where I'll be referring people to and getting a tattoo for myself. Very fun unique experience!

Great art, great legacy. Wish i had been able to stop by earlier than i did so I could have talked to him. He was working and it was closing time.