PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing, while suppressing hydrolysis during purification process, a diaryl carbonate free from hydrolyzing chlorine acting as a polymerization catalyst poisoning substance in the production of an aromatic polycarbonate through melt transesterification. SOLUTION: This method for producing a diaryl carbonate comprises as follows: a reaction mixture containing the diaryl carbonate formed by reaction of an aromatic monohydroxy compound with phosgene or an aryl chloroformate is contacted with an aqueous alkaline solution to effect neutralization to pH 7.0 to 9.5 followed by separation of the mixture into organic phase and aqueous phase, the organic phase being then contacted with warm water to effect separation into aqueous phase and organic phase again, and the objective diaryl carbonate is recovered from the latter organic phase.