At 1122 Garnet Ave in the heart of Pacific Beach's 92109, Guru Tattoo is an art gallery and custom tattoo studio founded by Aaron Della Vedova. Aaron opened the original location in 2001 after years of tattooing in a private studio, first launching his career in his hometown of Las Vegas before a brief stint in Portland, Oregon. He has spent more than two decades in Pacific Beach building Guru into a destination known for large-scale, brightly colored illustrative work, with full back pieces and torso-to-leg coverage as his signature projects. Aaron personally selects every resident artist, and the Pacific Beach shop currently houses ten, including Patrick Sweeney, Sean Dorfler, Lorenzo Gomez, Kenny Belling, and Andi Fitzgerald. Clients finishing a session often walk a few doors down Garnet Ave to The Grass Skirt for tiki cocktails in a dimly lit speakeasy setting. A constant rotation of internationally recognized guest artists keeps the lineup fresh, and the studio doubles as a fine-art gallery with original paintings displayed throughout. Appointment wait times for Aaron's own work can stretch beyond a year, a testament to demand for his surrealistic illustrative style. He also hosts the Chats & Tatts podcast, recorded at Guru's second location in Little Italy, where he interviews fellow artists and explores topics around creativity and spirituality. Reviewers consistently praise the shop's welcoming atmosphere and honest consultations, with longtime clients noting that the staff matches each customer to the artist whose style best fits the project. Garnet Ave neighbors like PB Sushi round out a full afternoon in the neighborhood. Guru operates Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. and accepts both appointments and walk-ins depending on artist availability.