Inn your skin: City’s first hotel tattoo studio opens on LES

The Untitled Hotel at 3 Freeman Alley on the Lower East Side is chucking the traditional hotel gift shop for something a tad more permanent: Unscripted Ink, the city’s first in-hotel tattoo studio. 

But this is no late-night, regrettable “I ♥ NY” stamp shop. Unscripted Ink is about immersive experiences, offering everything from the fleeting beauty of made-to-fade ink (these tattoos last 1 to 3 years) to the permanence of a classic black outline in a speakeasy-style shop. 

Gather inspo as you walk down the alley to the hotel — it’s famed for its graffiti, street art and murals. Then, make your way through the lobby and restaurant before reaching an inconspicuous door on the way back, which is the entrance to the tattoo shop. 

Now that you’re here, picture this: a tattoo happy hour where your fresh ink comes with a complimentary drink atop the hotel’s 11th-floor rooftop bar, Unlisted.

Plus, Unscripted Ink treats hotel guests to a weekly flash tattoo deal, knocking $50 off regular prices. These pre-designed tattoos, which change weekly, highlight favorites among customers. This offer extends to locals, too, during hotel-affiliated events.

The inspiration behind this bold move? “It came from tattoos being the ultimate souvenir of a person’s travels,” said resident tattoo artist and co-founder of Unscripted Ink, Liv Novotny. “A piece of art on you for life that always reminds you of the city you traveled to and the adventure you had.”

Because, let’s face it, who needs another refrigerator magnet when you can get a lifelong memento stamped directly onto your epidermis?

Starting at $150 for small tattoos, prices for custom or larger pieces vary with their size and detail. Reserve your spot online with a $50 deposit, applied to your tattoo’s final cost. Co-founder Sarah-Michelle offers piercings, too — book or walk in. Ear piercings begin at $80, body at $100, with surgical steel jewelry and upgrade options available.