A new study cafe, O3 Space, has opened its first Sydney location on King Street, transforming a site previously occupied by a bookshop. The venue, which offers a study environment with laptops, lo-fi music, and matcha, is currently open from 10am to 9pm, with future plans for 24/7 access.
Luca Yang, founder of O3 Space, describes these 24/7 study cafes as common in Asia but relatively new to Australia. Yang opened his first cafe in Auckland in 2024, followed by two more in Melbourne's Southbank and Brunswick. The Sydney outpost, which opened one week ago, saw queues comparable to a nightclub during its first weekend.
Entry to the cafe requires scanning a QR code on the O3 app. Visitors receive three free hours per week, after which overtime is charged at $7.50 per hour. Alternatively, tiered membership plans are available, offering more hours for between $10 and $50 a week. Many students reportedly pay for the entry-level 10-hour membership.
The cafe's location is convenient for students from Torrens University. The space itself features sloping roofs, astroturf, and antique-looking sofas, with shoes often removed by patrons for comfort.