Beach spot on Krk near Rijeka Airport

I am not familiar with Krk, but to clarify: your friends will need to come and go by bus, correct? So that should be the determining factor. You'll just cross the bridge and meet them?
You can usually track down bus schedules online. I think the Jadrolinija ferry to Rab departs from Valbiska (corfirm that), so likely somewhere near there will be the best bet.

As I indicated in my initial message, my friends can rely on either bus or taxi and I’ll have a rental car. We can look up schedules and maps easily enough online, though what would be helpful from this forum is a particular recommendation or two on a town and/or specific beach or restaurant to meet up at.

I have not been to Krk island after the covid situation, but in the past, Njivice and Malinska were very nice both for beaches and restaurants. You would have to go back to the mainland to proceed to Rovinj, so Njivice would be slightly less driving for you. As it is smaller than Malinska, it may be easier to find a good restaurant.

I think we'll focus on Njivice then. If anyone has a particular beach or beachside restaurant there that they'd recommend, I'd be curious to know it.

You were lucky to find someone who has been to Krk here, but I would try Trip Advisor also, as the Croatia forum there is fairly lively. good luck!

Looking at Google Maps trying to refresh my memory, I think we ate at Konoba Nora, sitting outside and having excellent Italian style pasta. I was with my late husband and his son, both Italian, so they were good judges. Of course, this was some years ago. I see it is still highly rated on Tripadvisor.