Playa Flamenca

Playa Flamenca is a lovely residential area of the Orihuela Costa that offers visitors pristine Blue Flag beaches, activities, attractions and lively entertainment venues. It is one of the most popular areas for British and Irish expats living in Orihuela Costa. Due to its popularity many holidaymakers have friends or family living in the area. This is great as it can save on taxis, car hire and accommodation, depending of course on how generous your hosts are 🙂

Playa Flamenca
Source: Flickr / Werner Wilmes

Playa Flamenca Accommodation

Those without contacts in the area are fairly limited to accommodation options which mainly comprises holiday rental apartments, townhouses bungalows and villas. As is the case in the majority of Orihuela Costa's coastal and inland areas, there are very few hotels or guest houses. Many of the accommodation options here are located in gated communities. This not only makes them safer to stay in, but visitors can usually enjoy the perks of communal swimming pools, sports facilities, parks and playgrounds that are shared between the community.

Central Playa Flamenca

Spread over a large area, the central part is on the inland side of the N-332 dual carriageway with the coastal part of Playa Flamenca on the other. Various commercial centres are built facing the N-332 where there are bars and restaurants and a variety of shops. The small centre on the Mercadona roundabout is home to the very popular Maxx Gym and a recently opened small indoor market. opposite this is the Town Hall/Council Offices.

A bit further north along the N-332 is the popular Flamenca Beach Commercial Centre. Some of the areas best bars and restaurants are located here. Carnivorous holidaymakers should not miss the Argentinian Chimi Churi Grill House. Here for a very reasonable set price you can tuck into mounds of different grilled meats, brought around at regular intervals on huge metal skewers. Well known bars include The Celtic Drop, Family Sports Bar and The Lansdowne.

Next door is the Mosca Centre with a supermarket, further bars and restaurants and a roof top mini golf course. Next to the centre is the much loved Rocky's Arena Pub that do some of the best pizzas in the area, all named after famous boxers. The highlight of the central area is the huge Playa Flamenca Saturday Market. This has hundreds of excellent stalls and food and drink wagons, all surrounded by a good selection of bars and restaurants.

Playa Flamenca Beach

Flamenca Beach has two main sandy coves connected by the wonderful coastal path that runs the entire length of the Orihuela Costa. The main and most popular cove is a lively, family friendly place where the hub of the action revolves around the busy wooden beach bar. There are great facilities, lifeguards, beach and water sports and a first aid station in the summer.

The cove next door is similar in size but has less facilities. This doesn't have a bar right on the beach but just behind is a small commercial centre. Here visitors will find a handy little post office, bakery, ice cream parlour, a couple of restaurants and the lively Surfers Bar & Grill.

Los Balcones

Los Balcones is in fact a residential area of Torrevieja that borders Orihuela Costa. With a regular and efficient bus service between the two, it has a high number of Spanish residents.