From secret caves to private courtyards, five top menswear creatives reveal the places they visit when it’s time for time out.

At MR PORTER HQ we are more or less familiar with what designers do in the course of a season: scribble things in notebooks, pin things on fit models, leaf through fabric swatches, visit factories, answer endless streams of questions from the likes of ourselves. But on one not-so-balmy afternoon, while we were dreaming of sunnier climes, we had a thought: what happens to these notoriously hard-working creatives when the show is over, the collection is out the door and it’s time to relax? What do they do? Where do they go? And – given that these people tend to have a high degree of personal taste – well… can we go, too?

Accordingly, we reached out to discover getaway tips from some of the most trusted names in the fashion business, gleaning the following insider holiday destinations from the likes of Lanvin’s Mr Lucas Ossendrijver, Berluti’s Mr Alessandro Sartori and Mr Shinsuke Nakada, the director of Japanese brand Beams Plus. Now we can stop wondering and start booking, as can you. Read on to discover the only holiday hotlist this summer that is 100 per cent designer-approved.

Formerly a creative director at Ermenegildo Zegna, Mr Alessandro Sartori has served as artistic director of shoemaker-turned-style-titan Berluti since the brand’s relaunch in 2011. His designs combine a sleek, contemporary style with a dedication to quality and craft that speaks to the brand’s artisanal heritage.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Lisbon.

What is it that takes you there every year?

The vibe, the architecture, the design and the “magic decadence” that only Lisbon has.

How long have you been going for?

I’ve been going since 2001.

Any restaurants in the area worth recommending?

Restaurante Belcanto and Casa do Alentejo, both of which are in the centre of Lisbon.

Where is your favourite sunbathing spot?

Portinho da Arrábida, very close to Setúbal, is absolutely my favourite summer spot.

What is there not to miss?

Jerónimos Monastery (the resting place of the explorer Vasco da Gama) and the Torre de Belém – you will be charmed.

Any insider tips?

You can’t miss the restaurant Petiscos no Bairro, not only for the amazing location in the Bairro Alto district, but also for the traditional decor and for the amazing choice of petiscos (local tasty snacks like tapas).

After cutting his designer teeth at Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Dior, Paris’ Mr Alexandre Mattiussi founded his own brand, AMI, based on the concept of “real clothes for a real man” in 2011.

What is your favourite destination that you visit annually?

Marrakech, particularly the Beldi Country Club.

What is it about Marrakech that takes you there every year?

I really love to come to this quiet and beautiful place and unwind.

How long have you been going for?

The hotel was recommended to me by a friend two years ago and I have been going ever since.

Are there any restaurants in the area that you would recommend?

The Café des Épices in the centre of the Medina and the restaurant in the El Fenn hotel for dinner as it has a superb rooftop.

Where is your favourite sunbathing spot?

The gardens of the Beldi are perfect.

What is there not to miss in that area?

Even though it’s a cliché, Le Jardin Majorelle.

Do you have any more insider tips?

I would really recommend escaping to the city of Essaouira for a few days. I go there to feel the powerful energy coming from the Atlantic Ocean before returning to the vibrancy and stillness of Marrakech.

Since joining J.Crew in 2008 as menswear director, Mr Frank Muytjens’ eye for detail and love of American heritage has redefined the brand – he’s the man to thank for inventing the well-loved Ludlow suit.

What is your favourite destination that you visit annually?

I try to go to Big Sur on the Californian coast as much as I can. I’m actually there right now!

What is it about Big Sur that takes you there every year?

I feel tethered to it. It pulls you in with its rugged, unspoiled beauty; my senses work overtime to try to take it all in. The smells of eucalyptus, wild sage, juniper and rosemary... the stunning views around every corner. It’s a truly majestic place.

How long have you been going for?

I’ve been going for about 12 years.

Any restaurants in the area worth noting?

Dinner at the Post Ranch Inn. It’s set high on a cliff and you feel as if you’re floating above the clouds. It’s a very special place and the elegant food is all local.

Where is your favourite sunbathing spot?

Most of the beaches are inaccessible because they’re part of the national parks, so I usually lounge next to a pool.

What is there not to miss in the area?

Big Sur Bakery is a great place to stop for breakfast. Its breakfast pizza is legendary.

Any more insider tips?

Take a hike on any trail to feel a sense of solitude – but always check the local weather as Big Sur is famous for quick weather changes.

The Dutch designer previously worked with Mr Hedi Slimane before joining Lanvin Homme in 2005 alongside Mr Alber Elbaz. Together, they have redefined luxury menswear by creating trend-setting collections infusing classic tailoring with a unique, ruffled elegance and sporty futurism.

What is your favourite destination that you visit annually?

The Greek islands, especially Paxos.

What is it about Paxos that takes you there every year?

Everything is so easy. The weather is great, the food is great and if you choose well it is not crowded. I rent a house with a group of friends that’s five minutes from the beach and 10 minutes by foot from the village of Gaios.

How long have you been going to Paxos?

For three years now but I tried other places in Greece before that.

Any restaurants in the area that you would recommend?

There’s great seafood at some of the restaurants by the harbour and excellent spots in a village called Loggos and on the beach next to it. One of them is called Glyfada Beach.

Where is your favourite sunbathing spot?

There are plenty of small beaches but the best thing is to rent a small boat and cruise from one bay to the other.

What is there not to miss in the area?

The island of Antipaxos. Take a boat trip to the other islands, where there are incredible beaches and landscapes.

Do you have any more insider tips?

On the other side of the island there are caves you can swim in. You have to rent a boat to get there but it’s worth it. On the north side there is a restaurant called Taverna Sunset, which sits on top of a cliff with the best sunset I have ever seen. Also worth mentioning is Torri e Merli – a nice quiet hotel with a great restaurant.

Having worked his way up from the shop floor as a part-time sales assistant in 2000, Mr Shinsuke Nakada is now the director of Beams Plus, the Japanese brand known for its artful reworking of classic American garments.

What is your go-to summer destination?

A city called Kamakura in the Kanagawa Prefecture, about 50km from Tokyo.

What is it about Kamakura that takes you there every year?

Kamakura has the ocean and the mountains, which – in combination with its historical sights (it used to be the capital of Japan) and proximity to Tokyo – makes it a very attractive place to go. I work in the very congested capital so it’s a good spot for me to get a little space to feel refreshed.

How long have you been going for?

I have been going there for about 14 years.

Are there any restaurants in the area that you would recommend?

There is a great traditional restaurant called Dankazurakosuzu where they serve the Kamakura speciality, warabimochi: a sweet, jelly-like treat made from bracken starch and covered with or dipped in kinako [roasted soy-bean flour]. Another favourite restaurant would be Tsuruya, which opened in 1929 and is famous for its eel dishes. It serves kabayaki, a Japanese style of preparing fish where eel fillets are covered with a sweet soy sauce and then grilled. This is the famous restaurant known to be loved by Japanese novelist and 1968 Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Mr Yasunari Kawabata.

Where is your favourite sunbathing spot?

Isshiki Beach, Hayama, next to Kamakura.

What is there not to miss in that area?

Hokokuji Temple, which is known for its stunning, bamboo-tree backdrops, is one of my favourite Zen spots to make me feel spiritual and connected to nature.