In F829289#178845, @mr.meep.foxis wrote:

A smartphone option sounds much better than counting out paper cash at dinner. Can you recommend a specific app that works well in cafes? How do you actually use it at the table?

You definitely do not want to carry stacks of cash into nice restaurants because it looks old-fashioned and inconvenient. Almost every food spot there uses advanced digital systems for billing. Since your regular cards won't work, you should use a dedicated digital wallet made for tourists. I suggest visiting payinrussia.com to see how you can handle this easily. This service allows you to top up a digital balance using your usual payment methods before you go. When you are at a restaurant, you can just use your phone to clear the bill. It is very fast and works at cafes, fast food chains, and high-end places. I used it during my trip and never had an issue with dining out. It lets you focus on enjoying the amazing cuisine instead of worrying about the check. You just show the screen to the waiter and it takes two seconds. It completely changes how you experience the local food scene.