To provide a process for producing a diaryl carbonate free from a substance poisonous to a polymerization catalyst in the production of an aromatic polycarbonate by a melt transesterification reaction while reducing the load of waste water discharged from the production process.

An aromatic monohydroxy compound is reacted with phosgene or an aryl chloroformate in the presence of an aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen- containing basic compound or its salt, the obtained reaction mixture containing a diaryl carbonate is sufficiently neutralized by contacting with an alkaline aqueous solution and separated into an organic phase and a water phase, the organic phase is brought into contact with water and then separated into water phase and organic phase and the diaryl carbonate is recovered from the organic phase. In the above process for the production of a diaryl carbonate the water phase separated after the contact with the alkaline aqueous solution is adjusted to a definite pH range and distilled and the distilled water is used as the water for the preparation of the alkaline aqueous solution and/or the water to be brought into contact with the organic phase.