The NAD(P)H‐dependent carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 catalyses the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4‐phenyl‐2‐oxobutanoate to ethyl (R)‐4‐phenyl‐2‐hydroxybutanoate, a precursor of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors such as Cilazapril and Benazepril. The carbonyl reductase was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by GST‐affinity and size‐exclusion chromatography. Crystals were obtained by the hanging‐drop vapour‐diffusion method and diffracted to 1.86 Å resolution. The asymmetric unit contained two molecules of carbonyl reductase, with a solvent content of 48%. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a search model.