O3 Space, a new study cafe in Sydney's Newtown, has quickly become a hotspot for students and young entrepreneurs, offering a unique blend of comfort and productivity. The venue, which opened just a week ago, has already seen queues rivaling those of a nightclub, according to founder Luca Yang.
A New Kind of Nightlife
Located on King Street, a strip known for rowdy live music, O3 Space offers a stark contrast: shoes off, laptops on, and matcha flowing. The cavernous interior features sloping roofs, astroturf, and an upside-down Japanese torii gate, creating a whimsical atmosphere. With 126 people inside on a Wednesday evening, the space is clearly resonating with its target audience.
Yang, 27, opened his first cafe in Auckland in 2024, followed by two in Melbourne. The Sydney outpost is his fourth, and the launch event exceeded expectations. "The whole point of it is that we don't want to remind you of work," Yang said, emphasizing the cafe's goal to provide a comfortable study environment.
Pricing and Membership
Visitors receive three free hours per week, after which overtime costs $7.50 per hour. Tiered membership plans range from $10 to $50 per week, offering more hours. Many students, like Renin Hamdan, are happy to pay for the entry-level 10-hour membership. "It's like the gym at this point. I'm always here. I'm always there. I'm happy," Hamdan said.
However, not everyone is keen on the app-based entry system. Annie McCann, an author who visited for a writing session, noted, "It was a bit strange … because you don't even need an app to enter a library or a university space."
From Radical Bookshop to Study Hub
The site previously housed Gould's Book Arcade, a beloved secondhand bookshop run by Bob Gould, an iconoclastic figure in Sydney's far-left movement. The original shop closed years ago, and the space stood empty until now. Some locals have expressed concern about the change, but Diane Fieldes, a longtime radical activist, welcomes the new use. "I figure it's better that it's used, than it just gets pulled down and turned into some soulless apartments that are too expensive for people to live in," she said.
Fieldes, a member of Sydney's Socialist Alternative, appreciates that the space is again bringing people together. "There is kind of a natural desire to … be around other people. You want a space where you can actually interact with them," she added.
A Third Place with a Price
The cafe's name, O3, references the concept of a "third place," a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg for social environments separate from home and work. McCann is pragmatic about the hourly charges: "It's a third space for three hours. And then you have to pay."
Students like Hiba Maricar and Zainab Kashif, who discovered O3 via Instagram, appreciate the freedom to stay without buying drinks. "I feel like I'm in my own room studying," Kashif said. The cafe's location, a 10-minute bus ride from Torrens University, adds to its appeal.
As O3 Space continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether this study cafe trend will become a staple in Sydney's urban landscape, offering a productive alternative to traditional nightlife.
