I’d been seeing O3 Space on social media for ages, so I went on a weekday afternoon to use the free 3 hours you get each week. You need to download the app first and scan a QR code to get in. The app times you from the moment you walk in.
O3 Space is a study cafe at 32 King Street, Newtown. The building used to be Gould’s Book Arcade, a second-hand bookshop, and it’s been redone, but it still feels like one. There are lights and walls made from old books joined together, and piles of books in the corners. It’s easy to get into study mode in there.
The Seating
The seating is a mix. There are tatami seats, two-person desks with a lamp, high single-person desks with stools, big long tables, and bean bag sofas in the rest area. They have little blankets too.
The two-person desks are the most popular ones. If there are two of you, wait a bit and one will come up. If you’ve got a bad lower back, avoid the tatami seats. There’s a second level as well.
Is It Quiet?
Not really. Talking isn’t banned, and the cafe keeps calling out names for orders. They play their own background music too. I’d sit further inside, and bring noise-cancelling headphones if you need real quiet. I found it fine for working, but it’s not a library.
Wifi, Power And Toilets
The wifi was good. Nearly every seat has a lamp and a power point, but there are no USB ports, so bring your own charger plug. The toilets are single cubicles, two for women, two for men and one unisex. The floor was a bit dirty.
The App And The Free 3 Hours
You scan your phone going in and going out. The app counts down your time for the week and sends a reminder when it’s running out. If you use all 3 hours in one day, it warns you about the overtime charge. Secret Sydney says the free 3 hours come with buying a drink or food, and that it resets early every Monday morning.
The app has other things too: a members’ chat room, a shared playlist, and a focus mode that blocks your phone for 25 minutes. I don’t normally like downloading apps, but this one is well done.
What It Costs
Past the free 3 hours, it was $14.99 a week when we went. If you go a lot, a membership lets you stay all day. Check the app for the current prices.
Drinks and food aren’t cheap, but they’re not crazy either. My biscoff latte was a bit over $10 and tasted good, though I wish the cup was bigger. A small iced latte was $9, cakes were about $15 each, and other drinks were around $10. There’s a good range of drinks, and the cake was nice. I want to try the Basque cheesecake next time.
Hours And Queues
When we went it was open 10am to 9pm, so it isn’t 24 hours for the public. Secret Sydney describes it as 24/7, which may be for members, so check the app.
Weekdays were fine. On a Friday afternoon it wasn’t too busy, but you still had to look around for a seat. On a Sunday it’s much worse. Don’t expect to walk in: we waited about half an hour in a queue to get in.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, especially if you can’t focus at home and find the library boring. The free 3 hours make it worth trying once. Go on a weekday afternoon, sit away from the door, and bring headphones and a charger.
If you’re studying through the break, here are the NSW school holiday dates for 2026, and there are more ideas on our things to do with kids page.