A two-stage synthesis of 5-aroyl-2-aryl-3-hydroxypyridin-4(1H)-ones (56–66% overall yields) was carried out by refluxing 5-aroyl-3-(benzyloxy)-2-(het)aryl-4H-pyran-4-ones with ammonium acetate in AcOH and subsequent debenzylation. The prepared N-unsubstituted 4-pyridones exist in the pyridone tautomeric form. © 2023 by the authors.