A reciprocating compressor includes a cylinder including a cylindrical cylinder portion and a cylinder head portion provided on one side of the cylinder portion, and a piston mechanism reciprocably fittedly inserted on an inner peripheral side of the cylinder portion and including a piston defining a compression chamber and a non-compression chamber. A bottomed hole-shaped valve body housing portion is formed at the cylinder head portion. The valve body housing portion is opened to a piston side facing the piston in an axial direction of the cylinder portion. Further, a discharge valve unit and a valve holding member are provided in the valve body housing portion. The discharge valve unit is inserted in the valve body housing portion. The valve holding member holds the discharge valve unit in the valve body housing portion, and includes a communication hole establishing communication between the valve body housing portion and the compression chamber.