Praia Negra is a dark-sand beach on the eastern side of Praia, close enough to the city to feel urban rather than escapist. It is not the polished beach image visitors may have in mind for Cape Verde, but that makes it more revealing of everyday Praia.
Come for a look, a walk, and the coastal setting, not for resort facilities. Conditions can vary, and swimming is not always the point; the beach is more useful as a piece of the city's geography than as a full beach day.