To provide a method for simply obtaining an optically active ester having high optical purity in a high yield.

A 2-hydroxyfatty acid ester of general formula [I] (Ar is an aryl group; R1 and R2 are mutually same or different ester residues; (n) is an integer of 1-3) containing an R-isomer and an S-isomer is treated with an esterifying agent in an organic solvent in the presence of an enzyme capable of stereoselectively esterifying either of the R-isomer and the S-isomer of the ester and the hydroxyl group of one optical isomer is stereoselectively esterified to form an optically active ester of general formula [II], and the other optically active alcohol of general formula [III] is made to remain.