A new hi-fi listening room is turning up the volume on Government Hill nightlife. Volta, next door to Slow Ride at 1522 Grayson St, debuted November 27 with cocktails, community spirit, and a deep record library.

Volta is the newest concept from prolific San Antonio barman Danny Delgado, whose portfolio includes popular haunts such as Hi-Tones, Faust Tavern, and Lowcountry. It joins a growing list of restaurants, shops, and apartment units transforming the East Side neighborhood into a live-play hub.

Over the past five years, hi-fi bars have become a worldwide phenomenon. The idea has its roots in Japan's '50s kissatens, small coffeehouses that provided space for listening to rare jazz recordings and quiet socializing. Post-pandemic, the idea is finding resonance with Zoomers and Millennials wanting an alternative to the oonce-oonce throb of traditional nightlife.

The idea isn't entirely unexplored in San Antonio. In 2023, Shiro Japanese Bistro chef Grey Hwang opened Yozoro at 22211 W. I-10 #1111, a Dominion restaurant that incorporates traditional listening lounge features like a turntable and massive cork speakers.

During the Thanksgiving Eve soft opening, Volta was a bit more clamorous than most hi-fi bars —filled with the buzz of well-wishers. But it has all the elements for a mellow night on the town.

Green bankers' lamps provide a warm glow to the record shelves and the deejay booth. Kitschy thrift store art and slatted panels dampen sound, and banquettes line the walls so patrons can listen to a soundtrack of everything from ESG to Thelonius Monk.

Like most of Delgado's bars, the place doesn't have a cocktail menu, but the bartenders can mix up everything from an old-fashioned to a green tea shot. A small patio out back gives guests an opportunity for a quieter sip.

During its soft launch, Volta has not yet revealed its official opening hours. More details will be announced on its Instagram page.