SOUTHEND is fast becoming the culinary epicentre of Essex, with varied and up-market offerings asserting the seaside city as a top destination for foodies.

The city boasts many top restaurants, with its roster set to be boosted by new Elysium Group restaurant ZINNIA this summer.

Building on the group’s successful establishments in Colchester, Hudson House, Mimosa and Pavilion, ZINNIA will offer residents pan-Pacific cuisine, bolstering the city’s already impressive offering.

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From the Pipe of Port, with its expertly crafted pies and long-list of curated wines and port, to the Roslin Beach Hotel’s two AA Rosette award-winning fine-dining restaurant, there is plenty to choose from.

“The city has an amazing selection of restaurants, whether you want a Thai, an Indian, a Mexican, French, Italian or English, we have everything you could want here,” said Jacqueline Dallimore, managing director at Roslin Beach Hotel.

“The whole city has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.”

Ms Dallimore, who makes sure to change her menu four times a year to match seasonal locally sourced food, added:“There is nowhere better than Southend seafront, with the views, and the weather improving, we have a real opportunity to become the number one destination in the country for evening meals.”

And then there is the Seven Hotel’s 70-seater Aurum Restaurant and gin-centric bar, serving British classic dishes.

The Seven Hotel manager Jonathan Peters said: “Southend has had a reputation for its working-class charm, with the amusements and arcades along the seafront, but there is another side to the city.

“We have some fantastic restaurants and hotels for up-market customers who want to enjoy fine dining and luxury experiences.”

He added: “With Southend now officially named a city, it’s a great chance for us to press on and build a reputation for restaurants and attract more visitors here.”

Restaurants such as Sands by the Sea, offering heritage fish and chips, the Boatyard in Leigh, specialising in fresh fish and steaks and Italian favourite Fellini's Dolce Vita in Leigh.

“There are plenty of great restaurants in Southend,” Daniel Burzotta, owners of Il Pescatore in Queens Road said.

“We are starting to get our respect as a town with a great selection for customers."