Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus that includes: a polishing table; an atomizer configured to spray a fluid to a polishing surface; a polishing liquid supply nozzle configured to drop a slurry at a position that corresponds to a slurry dropping position set on the polishing table and is lower than the top surface of the atomizer; a nozzle moving mechanism configured to move the polishing liquid supply nozzle above the atomizer between the retreat position set outside the polishing table and the slurry dropping position; and a nozzle tip retreating mechanism configured to bring the tip end of the polishing liquid supply nozzle into a retreated position above the top surface of the atomizer when the polishing liquid supply nozzle moves between the slurry dropping position and the retreat position.