A method of preparing an aromatic carbonate includes reacting a dialkyl carbonate with an aromatic alcohol in the presence of a catalyst represented by Formula 1. With the method, aromatic carbonate can be prepared from a dialkyl carbonate in high yield using a catalyst capable of increasing initial reactivity of the dialkyl carbonate. wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and are each independently M—OR1)3 or  wherein M is a Group IV transition metal, R1 and R2 are the same or different and are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 hydrocarbon group, and R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C5 to C20 cyclic alkylene group or arylene group.