In the five years since Spain’s economy took a nose-dive, madrileños never stopped going out, but they did become more judicious in their spending. While not easy on businesses, this has ultimately been good for consumers, as retailers and restaurateurs dug deep in the treasure chest of Spanish talents and traditions — not to mention agricultural bounty — to weather the economic storm. Before that storm, Madrid seemed frantic to become a copy of any other European metropolis, but now the city feels more Spanish again. Resourcefulness, creativity and reinvention are bubbling up in art galleries, designer ateliers and restaurants. The city’s symbol may be a bear, but for style, culture, history and sybaritic delights, there are plenty of reasons to be bullish on Madrid.

FRIDAY

1. Hit the High Seas | 4 p.m.

Get a maritime perspective on world history and the naval events that shaped Spain’s vast empire from 1492 to the present at the Museo Naval (3 euros, or $4 at $1.33 to the euro). Against a backdrop of wall-size paintings of Christopher Columbus stepping ashore in the Americas, or bird’s-eye depictions of famous battles like Trafalgar, emblems of Spanish naval prowess abound, from the earliest explorers to the last days of empire. There are hundreds of intricately rigged model galleons and clipper ships, some large enough to sail away on, vivid reminders that Spain once ruled the seas and apparently kept excellent records of every voyage. As the museum is part of a government ministry, visitors need a valid photo ID.

2. Locals-Only Shopping | 6 p.m.

Global luxury brands once dominated the prime storefronts in Madrid’s upscale shopping district known as Barrio Salamanca, with local talent and independent designers shoehorned into tiny spaces and appointment-only ateliers. With the city’s real estate correction has come a new visibility for top-quality Spanish designers and craftsmen. Check out gorgeous men’s shoes handmade in Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, at Berwick 1707. Other exquisite leather goods — these manufactured in Ubrique in Andalusia — can be found at La Portegna and include purses, supple travel slippers and 21st-century accessories like iPad covers and yoga bags. For edible souvenirs head to La Conservera, a new specialty boutique opened by the fish canner Frinsa with its line of delicacies from the rivers and coasts of Galicia. As security gates start rolling down at 8, shoppers can ease the transition from retail to relaxing by sampling Spanish wines at Lavinia, one of the city’s most esteemed vinotecas.