diff --git a/bootstrap.py b/bootstrap.py
index 78152fb72a9..1541886880a 100755
--- a/bootstrap.py
+++ b/bootstrap.py
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@
 
 options, args = parser.parse_args()
 
+# Store variable to be used in self.restart (restart spyder instance)
+os.environ['SPYDER_BOOTSTRAP_ARGS'] = str(sys.argv[1:])
+
 assert options.gui in (None, 'pyqt5', 'pyqt', 'pyside'), \
        "Invalid GUI toolkit option '%s'" % options.gui
 
diff --git a/spyderlib/config.py b/spyderlib/config.py
index f8a2dc5f0bb..e563e4ada47 100644
--- a/spyderlib/config.py
+++ b/spyderlib/config.py
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ def is_ubuntu():
               '_/save current layout': "Shift+Alt+S",
               '_/toggle default layout': "Shift+Alt+Home",
               '_/layout preferences': "Shift+Alt+P",
+              '_/restart': "Shift+Alt+R",
               '_/quit': "Ctrl+Q",
               # -- In plugins/editor
               '_/debug step over': "Ctrl+F10",
diff --git a/spyderlib/restart_app.py b/spyderlib/restart_app.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e2f519d8796
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spyderlib/restart_app.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright © 2015 The Spyder Development Team
+# Licensed under the terms of the MIT License
+# (see spyderlib/__init__.py for details)
+
+"""
+Restart Spyder
+
+A helper script that allows Spyder to restart from within the application.
+"""
+
+import ast
+import os
+import os.path as osp
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import time
+
+
+PY2 = sys.version[0] == '2'
+
+
+def _is_pid_running_on_windows(pid):
+    """Check if a process is running on windows systems based on the pid."""
+    pid = str(pid)
+
+    # Hide flashing command prompt
+    startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
+    startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
+
+    process = subprocess.Popen(r'tasklist /fi "PID eq {0}"'.format(pid),
+                               stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                               stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
+                               startupinfo=startupinfo)
+    stdoutdata, stderrdata = process.communicate()
+    stdoutdata = to_text_string(stdoutdata)
+    process.kill()
+    check = pid in stdoutdata
+
+    return check
+
+
+def _is_pid_running_on_unix(pid):
+    """Check if a process is running on unix systems based on the pid."""
+    try:
+        # On unix systems os.kill with a 0 as second argument only pokes the
+        # process (if it exists) and does not kill it
+        os.kill(pid, 0)
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+    else:
+        return True
+
+
+def is_pid_running(pid):
+    """Check if a process is running based on the pid."""
+    # Select the correct function depending on the OS
+    if os.name == 'nt':
+        return _is_pid_running_on_windows(pid)
+    else:
+        return _is_pid_running_on_unix(pid)
+
+
+def to_text_string(obj, encoding=None):
+    """Convert `obj` to (unicode) text string"""
+    if PY2:
+        # Python 2
+        if encoding is None:
+            return unicode(obj)
+        else:
+            return unicode(obj, encoding)
+    else:
+        # Python 3
+        if encoding is None:
+            return str(obj)
+        elif isinstance(obj, str):
+            # In case this function is not used properly, this could happen
+            return obj
+        else:
+            return str(obj, encoding)
+
+
+def main():
+    # Note: Variables defined in spyderlib\spyder.py 'restart()' method
+    spyder_args = os.environ.pop('SPYDER_ARGS', None)
+    pid = os.environ.pop('SPYDER_PID', None)
+    is_bootstrap = os.environ.pop('SPYDER_IS_BOOTSTRAP', None)
+
+    # Get the spyder base folder based on this file
+    spyder_folder = osp.split(osp.dirname(osp.abspath(__file__)))[0]
+
+    if any([not spyder_args, not pid, not is_bootstrap]):
+        error = "This script can only be called from within a Spyder instance"
+        raise RuntimeError(error)
+
+    # Variables were stored as string literals in the environment, so to use
+    # them we need to parse them in a safe manner.
+    is_bootstrap = ast.literal_eval(is_bootstrap)
+    pid = int(pid)
+    args = ast.literal_eval(spyder_args)
+
+    # Enforce the --new-instance flag when running spyder
+    if '--new-instance' not in args:
+        if is_bootstrap and not '--' in args:
+            args = args + ['--', '--new-instance']
+        else:
+            args.append('--new-instance')
+
+    # Arrange arguments to be passed to the restarter subprocess
+    args = ' '.join(args)
+
+    # Get python excutable running this script
+    python = sys.executable
+
+    # Build the command
+    if is_bootstrap:
+        spyder = osp.join(spyder_folder, 'bootstrap.py')
+    else:
+        spyderlib = osp.join(spyder_folder, 'spyderlib')
+        spyder = osp.join(spyderlib, 'start_app.py')
+
+    command = '"{0}" "{1}" {2}'.format(python, spyder, args)
+
+    # Adjust the command and/or arguments to subprocess depending on the OS
+    shell = os.name != 'nt'
+
+    # Wait for original process to end before launching the new instance
+    while True:
+        if not is_pid_running(pid):
+            break
+        time.sleep(0.2)  # Throttling control
+
+    env = os.environ.copy()
+    try:
+        subprocess.Popen(command, shell=shell, env=env)
+    except Exception as error:
+        print(command)
+        print(error)
+        time.sleep(15)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/spyderlib/spyder.py b/spyderlib/spyder.py
index ddff947cc4c..c28c8e2ce02 100644
--- a/spyderlib/spyder.py
+++ b/spyderlib/spyder.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright © 2009-2013 Pierre Raybaut
+# Copyright © 2013-2015 The Spyder Development Team
 # Licensed under the terms of the MIT License
 # (see spyderlib/__init__.py for details)
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
 import re
 import socket
 import shutil
+import subprocess
 import sys
 import threading
 
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@
 from spyderlib.baseconfig import (get_conf_path, get_module_data_path,
                                   get_module_source_path, STDERR, DEBUG, DEV,
                                   debug_print, TEST, SUBFOLDER, MAC_APP_NAME,
-                                  running_in_mac_app)
+                                  running_in_mac_app, get_module_path)
 from spyderlib.config import CONF, EDIT_EXT, IMPORT_EXT, OPEN_FILES_PORT
 from spyderlib.cli_options import get_options
 from spyderlib import dependencies
@@ -853,10 +855,16 @@ def create_edit_action(text, tr_text, icon_name):
                                         icon='exit.png', tip=_("Quit"),
                                         triggered=self.console.quit)
             self.register_shortcut(quit_action, "_", "Quit")
+            restart_action = create_action(self, _("&Restart"),
+                                           icon='restart.png',
+                                           tip=_("Restart"),
+                                           triggered=self.restart)
+            self.register_shortcut(restart_action, "_", "Restart")
+
             self.file_menu_actions += [self.load_temp_session_action,
                                        self.load_session_action,
                                        self.save_session_action,
-                                       None, quit_action]
+                                       None, restart_action, quit_action]
             self.set_splash("")
 
             self.debug_print("  ..widgets")
@@ -2653,6 +2661,59 @@ def start_open_files_server(self):
                 self.sig_open_external_file.emit(fname)
             req.sendall(b' ')
 
+    # ---- Quit and restart
+    def restart(self):
+        """Quit and Restart Spyder application"""
+        # Get start path to use in restart script
+        spyder_start_directory  = get_module_path('spyderlib')
+        restart_script = osp.join(spyder_start_directory, 'restart_app.py')
+
+        # Get any initial argument passed when spyder was started
+        # Note: Variables defined in bootstrap.py and spyderlib\start_app.py
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        bootstrap_args = env.pop('SPYDER_BOOTSTRAP_ARGS', None)
+        spyder_args = env.pop('SPYDER_ARGS')
+
+        # Get current process and python running spyder
+        pid = os.getpid()
+        python = sys.executable
+
+        # Check if started with bootstrap.py
+        if bootstrap_args is not None:
+            spyder_args = bootstrap_args
+            is_bootstrap = True
+        else:
+            is_bootstrap = False
+
+        # Pass variables as environment variables (str) to restarter subprocess
+        env['SPYDER_ARGS'] = spyder_args
+        env['SPYDER_PID'] = str(pid)
+        env['SPYDER_IS_BOOTSTRAP'] = str(is_bootstrap)
+
+        # Build the command and popen arguments depending on the OS
+        if os.name == 'nt':
+            # Hide flashing command prompt
+            startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
+            startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
+            shell = False
+        else:
+            startupinfo = None
+            shell = True
+
+        command = '"{0}" "{1}"'
+        command = command.format(python, restart_script)
+
+        try:
+            if self.closing(True):
+                subprocess.Popen(command, shell=shell, env=env,
+                                 startupinfo=startupinfo)
+                self.console.quit()
+        except Exception as error:
+            # If there is an error with subprocess, Spyder should not quit and
+            # the error can be inspected in the internal console
+            print(error)
+            print(command)
+
     # ---- Interactive Tours
     def show_tour(self, index):
         """ """
diff --git a/spyderlib/start_app.py b/spyderlib/start_app.py
index b89a5321e3e..341bc9b98ce 100644
--- a/spyderlib/start_app.py
+++ b/spyderlib/start_app.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import os.path as osp
 import random
 import socket
+import sys
 import time
 
 # Local imports
@@ -63,6 +64,9 @@ def main():
     # Parse command line options
     options, args = get_options()
 
+    # Store variable to be used in self.restart (restart spyder instance)
+    os.environ['SPYDER_ARGS'] = str(sys.argv[1:])
+
     if CONF.get('main', 'single_instance') and not options.new_instance \
       and not running_in_mac_app():
         # Minimal delay (0.1-0.2 secs) to avoid that several