If you ever leave work early on a friday, go here.

Really. If you ever get to leave work at 4pm on a Friday - or any day, you need to do this.
Drive all the way out to the PCH. Yes, I know it's far, traffic's already bad, blah blah blah. Just do it.
Go to where Sunset meets the PCH, look for this sign:

...and pull into the Gladstone's parking lot. Walk your little feet up to the hostess stand and get a table by the window (or if you're outside, near the railing). Now sit back, relax and enjoy the best post-work evening of your life. Fine, maybe you'll disagree. But in terms of places you can drive to in LA that actually give you the utopic beach life we all dream of, Gladstone's is it.
To be realistic, you should probably make a reservation. But that's why the leaving work early thing is key. I can't imagine what the crowds are like late on Friday, or during the day Saturday or Sunday. And I'm sure your chances of a window seat are slim. So just figure out a way to make it happen.
My first sunset at Gladstone's was for a rehearsal dinner for a wedding. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding that...well...it was a little trying...to say the least. But the rehearsal dinner was fantastic - the best part!! We were in the Movie Room, a room for private parties in the back of the restaurant. Two sides were all glass for perfect ocean views. It also has a private door and staircase going straight down to the beach. Totally spectacular! For all the stress and shenanigans that had gone on, I felt like a different person when I sat down for that dinner. The food was amazing too - I'm not a big seafood person (anyone who knows me also knows that's the understatement of the year), but all of the cooked sea creatures looked fantastic and my steak was delicioso. The service was truly excellent too - which is always a challenge when dealing with large parties. I know most people probably go to Gladstone's within a month of moving out here. Well, it took me seven years to get there, but I can't wait to go back!