Bella Riva

Bella Riva is a gated, Mediterranean-style condominium building on the Gulf side of Okaloosa Island, set at the end of Venus Court just off Santa Rosa Boulevard. Completed in 2007, it has 45 residences on a private stretch of beach more than 400 feet long, which keeps the building’s density low compared with many of its neighbors.

The condos here are large. Floor plans run from roughly 2,100 to 2,500 square feet, and many units have four bedrooms and three baths, making them one of the more spacious options on the island for bigger groups. Interiors were built with high ceilings of at least nine and a half feet, crown molding, travertine floors and commercial-grade kitchen appliances. Oversized Gulf-front balconies, some around 44 feet long, run across the front of many units, and hurricane shutters are built in.

Shared amenities include a heated beachfront pool with lounging areas, a fitness room, owner storage and a secure gated entry. The complex is small enough that the pool deck rarely feels crowded, and the walk from the building to the sand is short.

Bella Riva sits on the quieter west side of the island’s developed stretch, where the beach is wide and uncrowded most of the year. The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and the Boardwalk’s restaurants are a short drive east on Santa Rosa Boulevard. Destin Harbor and its charter boats are across the East Pass bridge, and downtown Fort Walton Beach is a short drive across the Brooks Bridge. Nearby Gulf-front buildings include Pelican Isle and El Matador, and the sidewalk along Santa Rosa Boulevard is popular for morning walks, bike rides and runs with the Gulf breeze at your back.

With its big floor plans and low density, Bella Riva suits multigenerational families and groups of friends who want to share one roomy condo rather than book several smaller ones. It is also a good match for longer stays, when the extra kitchen and living space matter most. Because the building is small and the units are large, availability can be limited in peak summer weeks, so groups planning a reunion or holiday trip often book early. Parking is inside the gated area, and the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is roughly a half-hour drive away.