Eventide Tattoo

Great local place; Billy has done several pieces for me over the years and I will continue coming back. Billy is responsive, extremely talented, and most recently worked with me to get me in on a tight schedule, which was very much appreciated. He makes the experience personalized to you and has a great vision for turning my description into art. Well worth your time!

Worked out an agreement with one of the artists here to work on a piece during multiple visits. Had my first visit for which the artist did a great job! I contacted the artist prior to my second visit and this person said that they are no longer tattooing at Eventide and was not currently doing any tattooing at all. I politely asked the artist to finish my job, and was told that I would be contacted when they were available. I then went into Eventide and discussed the issue with the owner and another artist, who didn't seem to want to help me, and we're generally dismissive. Ultimately they referred me back to the artist, who is no longer returning my emails. If you want work done by an artist that sticks to an agreement, or a shop that backs up an artist's work, don't go to Eventide. I picked this place because I'm a local and wanted to support a local shop. Shop acted like they didn't want my money. So, next time I'll spend it elsewhere.

Wonderful tattoo experience with Justin at Eventide. His artistic ability and his tattoo work are both high quality. He was pleasant and timely and my wife and I are both quite pleased with our tattoos. Thank you Justin, Billy and JoJo.

I’ve had all my work done there and it has always been great quality and the artists are all super friendly and talented. The inside also has a great vibe and is super cool with really awesome artwork on the walls that’s all done by local artists. I would definitely recommend.

Billy is the best. Excellent work, excellent shop, excellent guy!

My man Billy is one of the nicest artists I’ve ever been tattooed by. It’s a pleasure ever time….other than being stabbed by 1000 needles.

Got cherry sugar skulls from JoJo a month ago, it’s healed beautifully and I have to say she was super talented. Really clean work, light handed so absolutely 0 pain, and she was really kind. Fair price, and definitely will make it a point to be tattooed by her again with a bigger piece next time I’m in California

Billy exceeded my expectations and is a master of his craft. My tattoo experience was relaxed and Billy charged through my tattoo with accuracy and finesse. On top of all of that, out of all of my tattoos from different areas and artists, this one is healing the best.

Angel is great and did a great job thanks again! Very light handed and was nice to talk to.

Sea side tattoo shop. Owner is a quality artist without any ink of his own. Check out their portfolios and swing by for consultation. They do sometimes accept walkin if small. But recommend setting an appointment with a deposit down.

Jojo was awesome! My friend from out of town made appointments for both of us. Jojo was super responsive and accommodating as my friend was here from out of town! She designed a beautiful tattoo for my friend, and free handed my cover-up job! Thanks again!

The artists are all great they have done all my work and I've never been disappointed. The vibe in the shop is also super cool and it's an amazing location

Had my first tattoo with Justin last week and it was an excellent experience. Have been thinking about a tattoo for a long, long time and once I saw Justin's work and met him, I knew it was the right time. He took his time with me as I explained what I wanted and quickly drew a sketch that was near perfect to what I had envisioned. Returned a few days later and was blown away with the final sketch-and made zero changes. He is a true artist. The process was nothing like I expected; it was quite painless and he kept the conversation going with me and my friend and before I knew it-it was done! Am exceptionally happy with Justin and his work-he is extremely talented! Thank you Justin!!

I now live in Albuquerque New Mexico and almost every day I get compliments on the tattoo Billy did for me. And this is a very heavily tattooed population. Thanks again Billy all the best

THANK YOU MIKEY for making our daughter's first tattoo a great experience!! Thank you for your patience, your attention to detail, for doing the same tattoo on 4 of our family members, and your ability to make everyone comfortable and happy. Even Tide Tattoo is very clean and professional, and the staff is amazing. We definitely recommend it and we will be back.

BILLY IS Ah-may-zing!! I've been coming here for almost a decade now. I absolutely adore everything about this little shop. I'm overdue for a new tattoo! I'm coming for you Billy!

My first tattoo could not have been a better experience than the one I had at Even Tide. Justin made the process super easy so I understood exactly how it would turn out. You can tell he makes every effort to make certain his work station is clean and sterile. Oh! And he LOVES hugs. :)

Wow...my first tattoo! Thank you, Justin for listening and working with me on my desired design, explaining the process all the way through, and the engaging conversation!

THANK YOU DENNIS!!! Came up with a design beyond what I imagined for my little girl, Ava Rose Will be returning for tattoo #2!

Ah! Can't believe I forgot to review here. I had a great experience getting a tattoo here. Staff is clean, professional, and nice. I came in with a design and Justin drew up an even nicer one for me, even showing me multiple sizes so I could really decide which one I wanted best. Justin was mostly a quiet worker, which was fine, because I was with a very chatty friend. Next time I need a tattoo in the san diego area, I'll definitely be coming back here. Pricing is also very fair! Plus, it's right next to a bakery with amazing cookies! You can't go wrong!

I received my 1st ever tattoo from Billy over a week ago. I am so happy & lucky I found him. He's so professional, personable and is an incredible artist as well. I was freaking out before getting my tattoo and literally the moment I walked in and sat down to get started I felt this calm energy wash over me. Billy was light handed with me and I didn't feel much pain, I kinda went into this trance and took a nap. I keep hearing from people that tattoos are addictive. I didnt really understand until Billy was finished. Not only do I absolutely love the finished product but the EXPERIENCE of getting the tattoo was the best part. Thanks again Billy!

This tattoo shop is clean and neat and a great staff Hogan did my tattoo and everything was done professional I highly recommend this shop If you want some good looking art on your body it's right Next to VG's bakery in Cardiff the best bakery around in Cardiff Encinitas area thank you Horgan

Even in North County, it's the most random strip mall around - VG Donuts, the divey Office, the Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop, a freaky curiosity shop that will most likely end up being the place where they rip off the Seventh Seal of the Apocalypse, a head shop and Even Tide Tattoo. I've had my last couple of pieces done elsewhere but one of my buddies had a killer shoulder piece done by Dennis here, so I decided to check it out. Basically I wanted a dagger on the inside of my forearm and I brought a couple of pictures in to Dennis. He checked it out and asked me a few unanticipated questions about the details that made me feel good about my decision right away - he was already coming up with ideas as I showed him what I generally had in mind. He said he'd have something sketched by the end of the day. I gave him my deposit and two hours later, he called to say that he not only had a design done but he had an unexpected opening at 5 p.m. STOKED. The design he showed me exceeded all expectations. All sorts of rad detail in the handle, the inside of the blade and the skull I requested in the middle. The whole piece took 4.5 hours, which he handled in one sitting. This was the first black and white tattoo that I had and the shading blew me away. Through subtle texturing, fine lines and flecks of white, the finished piece looked like somebody had laid a dagger on my arm. He's easy to chat with, the site is pretty chill (Billy had great tunes cranking) and it was a complete pleasure from start to finish. I get more compliments on this piece than any other tattoo I've ever had. I'm already putting together ideas for my return visit.

I've gotten five tattoos now from Justin Dilmore and love every one of them! Each experience has been really great - he calls the same day I reach out via email with an idea to set up an in-person consult, gives awesome and honest feedback about my ideas, and gets me on the schedule usually within the next week to get tattooed. Each time I'm there is great conversation not only with Justin, but the other artists in the shop as well. Each tattoo has healed really well (and quickly) following their aftercare instructions and I get a lot of compliments on Justin's work! I wouldn't trust anyone else to finish my sleeve. If you're thinking about stopping by Even Tide for your next tattoo, stop thinking and do it!

Tatts were done 2 weeks ago. Today I looked back at the pic we showed him and what ours looked like...I would have liked it to have been more petite like the Pinterest pic...we should really double checked ourselves but we trusted him...it took about 30 mins for each and was charged $120 for each plus I gave $40 tip....was I over charged?...I feel like I was taken advantage of! Oh well it was a mom-daughter moment...I like it and it was my daughter 's first and she loves it. I read on other reviews that the same artist laughed and joked around with them he barely said boo to us. The young man at the counter has good customer service.

Got my tattoo done by Hagen best first tattoo experience ever!! So sweet explained it all to me very well and it didn't hurt. Definitely going to go back to him. The shop is very clean and the staff is very friendly!

This tattoo photo is from September: my LP Matador congas and bamboo Indian bansuri flutes. The design was mine, but I'm amazed at how owner/artist Billy Barnett brought it to life! If you check out their work online, you'll see Even Tide has done far more elaborate work, but on my simple design I was thoroughly impressed with Billy's patience, attention to detail, skill and creativity. The shop was clean, with friendly staff who observed all COVID precautions. I highly recommend Even Tide.

I got my first tattoo with Justin and he was amazing!!!! He's super nice, super funny, and super understanding. His work is gorgeous and I'm so so so happy with my line work tat. I only had to take one break and he gave me instructions on how to slowly stand up, I ended up getting a little dizzy and he immediately got me a soda and helped me feel better. I definitely recommend this place and him.

I have been going to Billy for a few years now at 454. He is wonderful and does amazing work!

I have to say the reviews are right...great shop. I looked at a lot of others..this place made me feel at home. They listened to me..they tweaked the art that I wanted enough to call it my own. Great experience. ..I will be back for more work soon.

I had a great experience here with Justin. He was super nice and my tattoo was simple and my first but he did a great job with what I have him to sketch and he was patient and did more sketching to my tattoo to get it just right for me. I will definitely come back here and recommend to my friends. Price was okay too, $60 for my elephant

Hagen was the man!! Very interesting!!! Cool dude. It's clean in there and he did amazing on my new tat and cleaned up an old one! Much appreciated Hagen!!!!! Cheers to your talent!!!! I'll be back for sure!

This place is great, they have great music. The staff is super friendly, Hagen Holzer did a fantastic job and I was just a walk in. 10/10 recommend. Will be referring my friends here.

I couldn't be happier that I was recommended to come to this shop and see Hagen. From the minute I talked to him on the phone he made me feel so at ease. I was bringing in a sketch my husband had done and Hagen was able to take that and we made some tweaks to have it look perfect. He is very funny and professional and super clean. The space is great being right by the beach and it doesn't hurt that it's next to VG's so you can drown out any residual pain with a donut! Hagen made our experience perfect and I can't wait to return to have him work his magic some more!!

Dennis is amazing. All the artwork and fine lines in my tattoos from him are unbelievable, so far it's six tattoos and counting, I've been tattooed all over the world but will continue to return here.

Even Tide is by far the best spot to get your tattoo work done. Scheduling time can be a little bit of an issue, but they work with you as much as possible. I met with a dozen tattoo artists from almost as many shops before I selected Billy to start working on my tat idea. I envisioned a large project and it will take a lot of artistic talent and patience to pull it off. Most everyone I talked to elsewhere was too intimidated or wouldn't buy into the fusion of photorealism and traditional Japanese designs I was going for... but Billy was both professional and accomodating. And his artistic skills are unsurpassed. For my first piece with him, I emailed him a number of pictures of the species of fish I wanted to portray. Billy did an absolutely fantastic job of fitting the fish to the space available, and creating a realistic looking impression of the actual species used as a model for the piece. We took a few artistic liberties with some aspects, but he discussed them with me first to make sure I was OK with his recommendations. He was right, of course, and his changes make the piece "pop" as a tattoo, whereas a truly photorealistic rendition would have lost those tiny details in the darker ink of the overall piece. In the end, I couldn't have been happier. I will definitely be back to Even Tide for more tat work in the future! My only regret is that I live so far away (Northern CA) and can only get work done here once in a while. But I'll make it a point to visit San Diego just so I can get work done by Billy at Even Tide.

Not a fan of the work I got done. It was a very simple tattoo idea and it just didn't turn out how I wanted it.

Justin, you are incredible! He did a beautiful cover up for me and I couldn't be happier. Everyday I fall more in love with my new lion tattoo. Thank you! I can't wait to get more work done!

I heard GREAT things about Billy through a friend so I stopped by to check out Even Tide. I had been looking for a special tattoo for awhile but things didn't work out with a couple other artists. I walked in told him what I wanted and he sketched something amazing right away. I was stoked on the vibe I got from him and Dennis super friendly and mellow. Most importantly my money was well spent and I couldn't be happier with the tattoo Billy did. It is flawless and more than what I envisioned. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back for more. Thanks Again!!

tattoo done by the talented Dennis Hamilton. Not only did he create a beautiful piece better than i ever imagined but he made my first tattooing experience comfortable and friendly. I would highly recommend Dennis and eventide to anyone and everyone!

Billy is extremely talented. He gave me my first tattoo several years ago when he was working out of 454. I was so excited to see him succeed in opening his own shop. Billy is a true artist, passionate about his craft, and patient with his clients. He also has a light hand and works quickly, which is a great quality in a tattoo artist.

Dennis is an amazing artist and can create combined images based on what you want. I have had two pieces done and am planning a larger third piece!

Billy is the best tattoo artist ever! If my husband or I ever get another tattoo which we are hoping to soon we will go to Billy! We wont ever go to anyone else! Billy knows exactly whats he doing, he has so much experience and such and amazing talent! Billy was recommended to us by one of our best friends who got a sleeve. He is GREAT with everything my husband got a HUGE tattoo on his leg to honor his dad and it had so many different elements and also had a Portrait of his dad which obviously is so hard to do but billy made the portrait better than we could ever imagine! I went to billy shortly after and got my last name on the top of my right foot and again billed nailed it! All the tattoo artists at Even Tide are great but my family and friends will always go to billy! THANKS BILLY YOU ARE THE BEST! You will hear from us soon! R&C

My friend has been getting her back piece done from Dennis and I loved the detail and colors. You could really tell he is very talented and cares about what his artwork looked like. I decided to make an appointment with Dennis to get a tree put on my side. Doug is very patient and very talented. After 2 hours, my piece was finished. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my tattoo. He did such a great job. He took his time and was very forgiving when breaks were needed. And bonus he is not heavy handed. I am so glad I chose to come here and very happy. Cannot wait to get another tattoo from him!!!

I came in to Even Tide at the suggestion of another artist based off the type of work I wanted done. Spoke with Billy about my idea and was relieved that he immediately got my idea. Cool little shop with a killer view of the ocean, if you're fortunate enough to be in Billy's chair. Prices are super reasonable, too. Billy's a good dude, easy to talk to and super patient. I will absolutely be back in the future for more work. Oh, and if you do end up in the first chair, don't be too alarmed at the throngs of window shoppers that come and go, looking into the window and watching you get your work done. It's weird at first, but eventually you get used to it -- much like a cat at a pet store waiting to be adopted.

Absolutely love Dennis! first he did some lettering on my ribs...and I just got done with a thigh piece. He puts so much thought into the tattoo and definitely produces a much greater product than you could ever expect.

Sooo happy with my tattoo and overall experience! I only have one other very small tattoo so when I decide to get something a little bigger I was super nervous. Justin was helpful in guiding me through the process and making suggestions to make my idea even better. I'm in love with my new piece, he did a fantastic job and was such a nice, fun person to talk to. I'm definitely seeing him again for the next one. Everyone who worked there was kind and welcoming too. It was a great time, thanks Justin!

I've had two pieces done by the shop owner, Billy, and he is now my go-to artist! Super nice guy with a very light hand and an eye for detail. Everyone at the shop is very friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend Even Tide Tattoo!

I am so impressed and in love with my experience today. We called and Justin Dilmore said, he could squeeze us in between sessions. The entire experience was two thumbs up, 5 star, I've never gotten a tattoo in the same place but after this... I definitely will come back. My best friend and I wanted matching tattoos (cheesy, we know) and told us that it should be with one of our handwriting instead of just some generic font from the Internet. I am so glad he said that. It means so much more to me now, being in my best friends handwriting. Clean, professional, amazing service, great people, AMAZING MUSIC. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. They deserved and have earned 5 stars through and through

Billy did the most beautiful mastectomy tattoo of 3 rosebuds turning into a fully blossomed rose. Not only is it symbolic and has so much meaning but it truly is a piece of art. He was professional, quick and does amazing art work. This was my first tattoo and he was very realistic yet thoughtful about the pain. Highly recommend. Do make an appointment as they book up.

I've now how 2 tattoos done by Justin at this shop and both experiences were great. Justin is an awesome artist. The shop is small, but comfortable and clean. It's in a great spot too for looking at the ocean when you need a break. Will go back.

Dennis is an amazing artist that can bring together different pieces of your dream idea into a masterpiece! Started out over ten years ago with him for my Phoenix when he was first starting out, and I'm so happy that now that I have the resources to really commit to my dream back piece, he is even more talented and a remarkable of an artist for me to depend on to bring my vision to life. The level of detail and perfectionism that he exhibits in his work is unparalleled and the amount of comments I have received from people of all walks of life, and even those who admit they usually hate tattoos, just demonstrates that a true artist can touch even those that might have believed they would never like a certain expression of art.... and now with my dragon and Phoenix complete, and my tiger lily which I mistakenly got done by another artist when I was 18 now touched up and made to look beautiful, we move on to the water element! So excited!!!

Billy is Amazing artist. Perfect lines and great eye for perfection. I just got my 4 tattoo from Billy and i am super stoked!! Thx for always doing amazing work.. This shop is super clean and very welcoming so if your looking for a place to go check out this shop!!

Was sent to this place by a class mate and im so happy i landed in Billy's hands. I am not a tattoo gal at all so Billy made sure i felt comfortable and informed about the whole deal. The design was better than i expected. I absolutely love it!

Dennis did an amazing job on my tattoo, and was so kind and professional! I was very nervous at first to have this piece done since it is quite visible (on my upper left arm), and he did such an amazing job that I purposely wear tank tops to show it off! It has been healed for a year, and I get compliments on it every day! At least a few times a week I have people stop me asking to see it when the bottom part is sticking out of my shirt sleeve. I am absolutely stoked on the tattoo, and will definitely be coming back to Dennis for more work in the future!

Thanks Dennis! You're an artist, gentleman, professional and all around great guy! KUDOS to for your workmanship!!!

If you have been looking for a great tattoo shop in this area, this is the one! I found Even Tide Tattoo after being relatively unhappy with the work from another shop around Vista. An artist from the other shop, who had just started my huge sea life chest piece, quit and moved away without even trying to contact me. I felt like my half complete piece would definitly look out of place if it were completed by a different artist, which made me apprehensive about working on it at all. Eventually I walked into Even Tide Tattoo to get a consulation. Billy Barnett immedietly came over to talk to me, and calmed my mind down by confidently assuring me that he could get it done and get it done right. Four sessions later, it was complete, and I honestly could not have been happier! The prices were fair, Billy was knowledgable and fun to talk with, the tattoo looked perfect, and I even got a free shirt ;) Now, months later, my girlfriend and I are hooked. I have had tattoo's done by a few shops, and after personally getting artwork done by all three artists at Even Tide, I will not goto any other shop. All three artists are extremely talented, and the atmosphere is great. Just recently, I pitched a large tattoo idea to Dennis that I had been planning in my head for awhile. Dennis' drawing was so much better than what I had put together in my head, that I felt the need to sign up for Yelp just to rate this one shop. I promise you will not be disappointed!