Playa La Romanilla sits on the northern side of Roquetas de Mar, on the Costa de Almería, towards Aguadulce. It runs for about 1.3 kilometres and is some sixty metres deep, and the sand is dark and coarse — coarse enough that a few visitors call it small pebbles, though it packs down more comfortably underfoot than it first looks, and it has the practical advantage of not blowing about on a windy day. The water is notably clear, and the beach has a local reputation as the cleanest in the town.

It is also the liveliest: of all the Roquetas beaches this is the one people single out as the busiest, with a steady flow of walkers on the paseo marítimo and restaurants doing brisk trade behind. The promenade is a feature in its own right, fitted with outdoor exercise machines and linked to a cycle path running towards Aguadulce one way and into Roquetas the other. On the sand there are playgrounds for children, a sports area, toilets near the entrance, a kiosk selling coffee, ice cream and waffles, lifeguard cover in season and adapted access. Loungers come with a mattress and a small side table, and there is parking close by.

It is fairly exposed, so expect a breeze and some swell, though the shore shelves very gently, which makes it an easy one for small children. It suits families, walkers and cyclists, and anyone who wants a lounger with food and drink within easy reach.